Despite opposition from Alexandria and other Northern Virginia localities, bills permitting by-right multifamily development in commercial zones are advancing in the Virginia General Assembly.
HB 816 by Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) and SB 454 by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16) would require local zoning ordinances to permit by-right multifamily and mixed-use residential development on a portion of commercial or business zoning district land. The amended bills calls for localities to allow by-right development on at least 50% of commercially zoned land, which is less than the 75% originally proposed.
According to the bills, eligible by-right developments would go through localities’ administrative approval processes and not require a special exception, special use or conditional use permit — processes that typically require public hearings and board approvals…