Our strategy to focus effort and time
Earlier this year, the Town Council adopted four priorities to support decisions about how time is spent in research, community input, and decision-making during the year. We settled on four priorities that received the support from the greatest number of Councilmembers and agreed that a new priority would be selected when a priority is completed. While working on the four priorities, the Council also continued to consider other matters as necessary and appropriate.
Here is some more information about why each priority area had support, what has been happening, and what we will work on in the coming months.
Zoning Ordinance: Select and consider possible changes to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance that were not included in the update adopted in 2023, and track developments made in response to the new code. Major changes to the Town’s zoning ordinance were finalized in 2023. I had the opportunity to be a part of that while serving on the Town’s Planning Commission, which advises the Town Council on land use issues. Both the Planning Commission and the Town Council expressed that we would be interested in tracking how the new options available in Town would be used by residents, businesses, and developers. This year, Town Council went through the issues that had not been addressed in the code updates to ask staff to conduct more research on a variety of issues – like lighting in commercial areas, increasing housing options, and parking. More information about these topics will be coming in the months ahead.
Tree Ordinance: Enact changes with a goal to preserve more mature trees in residential areas where new homes are built. There has been a significant decrease in the amount of trees in the Town in recent years. In addition to contributing to the Town’s beauty, healthy mature trees can support the environment in a number of ways, including storm water management. Under Virginia State law, local areas have two options — either to require that a new residence has a plan to have 20 percent of the home’s lot covered with tree canopy in 20 years after the home is built, or to have a preference for preserving trees and offering incentives for retaining mature trees when building. This year, the Town Council approved a change to the second approach — to give preference to preserving mature trees in residential areas where there is new development. The new code went into effect in July 2024, so new projects submitted to the Town after that time will be held to the new requirements. The Town Council is currently interviewing candidates for the new Tree Advocacy Committee that was established in the new ordinance and will advise the Town Council. You can learn more at https://www.viennava.gov/residents/sustainability/trees.
Parks Master Plan: Gather information and input about the Town’s parks, make a decision about the short-term use of the Annex site on Center Street across from Waters Field, and research costs involved with possible long-term options for use. The Town’s parks are a wonderful feature of our neighborhoods. To inform how to focus our efforts on our spaces and programming, the Town has been asking for feedback from the community through meetings and surveys. One key question we’ll be considering is how to balance maintenance and efforts to upgrade. We are also discussing possible uses for the Annex site, including by inviting input from the Vienna community and hearing feedback from neighbors who live next to the property. The neighbors have done a lot to inform discussions, and I have enjoyed my meetings and conversations with them. I have also worked with Town staff to communicate more clearly about the status of the Annex and how to learn more. Do you have thoughts about the Town’s parks? Here is information about an upcoming session. I would also be happy to hear from you.
Diversity in Housing Options: Explore options for increasing the variety of housing options in Town. In a variety of ways, residents have communicated interest in having different types of housing options available in Vienna and the Town has considered options. A previous version of the Town code allowed some changes that led to some new projects along Maple Avenue, and then those code changes were reversed. Some updates to the Town code adopted in 2023 reflect this goal by allowing new housing options in buildings two and a half stories tall, not to exceed 35 feet. Some individual projects are being considered or developed based on proposals submitted by developers, for feedback from Town staff and the Planning Commission, and decision by the Town Council. One area we are considering this fall is a position on Accessory Dwelling Units, which are secondary housing options located on the same lot as a primary residence. The Town staff shared a memo for our Town Council work session that summarizes some of our discussion and options related to diverse housing options. You can find that memo, which was prepared for our September 9, 2024 Town Council work session, here: Town memo on housing options.
Jessica Ramakis, Vienna Town Council 