Arlington Sun-Gazette Article:
Battle Over Zoning Changes Hits Public Radar Screen

The first public skirmishes are beginning to appear over County Board plans to revamp zoning rules that could affect nearly 30,000 properties in Arlington.

Though public hearings on the proposed ordinance changes won't be held until September, voices of concern are already being raised from those worried that new rules could hurt property values and the rights of homeowners.

The new proposals, being worked out by a committee of the county's Planning Commission, would add new restrictions to developers and homeowners eager to build new homes, and expand existing ones, on Arlington's traditionally small lots.

The process, known as infill, has raised the ire of many neighborhoods throughout the county.

For the most part the county has lacked a comprehensive approach to addressing infill concerns, in part because in Virginia, property owners have more rights than in other states.

Timothy Wise, president of the Arlington County Taxpayers Association, agreed that there have been extreme examples of large homes being shoehorned into tiny lots in established neighborhoods. But he said those examples are not enough reason to enact sweeping new regulations.

"The desire to prevent a few ugly examples of infill development may result in draconian measures," Wise predicted.

County Board members, meeting Saturday, took a different view. They said proposals being looked at are modest in scope, and may work to enhance property values by establishing more order in residential neighborhoods.

"The limitations would not affect the majority of properties," County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman said.

UPDATED MONDAY, JULY 16 AT 5 P.M.

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