** About The Rosemont Citizens Association
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The Rosemont Citizens Association is a 100% volunteer-run organization working to promote the interests and welfare of its members.
Everyone who resides or owns a property in Rosemont is automatically a member; we rely on contributions from citizens like you to sustain our mission and operations.
Contributions to RCA, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, are not tax deductible.
Please consider a gift to the RCA today!
DONATE – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CNVBSGUW8WLX6
** November Elections
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Early voting is available in Alexandria through Saturday, November 2. For more information, please visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/elections/key-early-voting-dates-deadlines. In addition to the Presidency, the ballot includes candidates for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, Mayor, City Council, and the School Board.
** Friends of Duncan Library Fall Book Sale
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Love libraries? Looking for great deals on books? Join the Friends of Duncan Library for its annual fall book sale on November 13 – 16! All proceeds go directly back to Duncan Library to support the purchase of books, programming, materials, community events, equipment and more. See https://www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/book-sales/ for more information.
** Next RCA Meeting
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The next RCA meeting will be held at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue, at 7pm on Wednesday, November 20th. The agenda includes presentations from the City’s Sustainability Coordinator, Samantha Heitsch, including about the City’s Eco-Homes Program (see https://www.alexandriava.gov/eco-city-alexandria/eco-city-homes-recognition-program-0) as well as from the Friends of the Duncan Library. We also hope to hold our annual holiday decorating contest in December, but need to round up some volunteers. Hope to see you there!
** PELT Committee Update:
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Zoning for Housing—What’s Going On?
What We Know
The City Council adopted a series of Zoning Text Amendments, Policy Revisions and Master Plan Updates on November 23, 2023 to implement the Zoning for Housing initiative. The initiative allowed up to four residential units to be permitted by-right within single-family residential zones subject to existing regulations on minimum lot size, setbacks, open space, floor area ratio, and tree canopy. This initiative was adopted to help facilitate housing production and affordability, and to address past and current barriers to housing access. At the time of adoption, City staff estimated that the initiative would yield between 150-178 new units within the City over a ten-year period.
According to a conversation with staff in early October, no new units have been generated under Zoning for Housing provisions since adoption of the amendments. This has not been independently verified. The City intends to implement a tracker to document new units created under this tool, but this work has not yet commenced and is not within the current staff work plan.
Legal Status
Zoning for Housing follows on the heels of many similar initiatives for zoning reform across the country, including – famously – in Minneapolis, Portland, the State of California, and Arlington, VA. In fact, Alexandria’s neighbor to the north, Arlington, has gone through a legal saga that could portend serious issues for our own zoning reform law. On September 27th, Circuit Court Judge David Schell struck down Arlington’s Expanded Housing Options law on four counts: 1) that there was “no evidence” presented that there were adequate studies done on the impacts to stormwater or sanitary sewer systems; 2) that there was inadequate advertising related to the intention for Arlington’s County Board to amend its Zoning Ordinance; 3) that the law “unlawfully delegated legislative responsibility” to County staff; and 4) that the law exceeds the authority granted to localities with respect to tree planting and placement standards under the Code of Virginia. The judge did not issue a written opinion but instead read the ruling from the bench.
A similar lawsuit has been brought against the City’s Zoning for Housing law and is also being heard by Judge David Schell. On August 26, 2024 the judge ruled that the plaintiffs have standing. Therefore, it is likely that the suit will proceed to trial.
We will update neighbors as events occur. Stay tuned!
** Keeping Informed
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We provide regular updates on local news, Rosemont history, and general happenings in the neighborhood.
Sign Up for RCA Monthly Updates – https://RosemontCitizens.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RosemontCitizensiation
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@rosemontcitizens
Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/RosemontCitizen
Rosemont Group (Independent community email list) – https://groups.io/g/rosemontva
Jol Silversmith
President, RCA
