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TextADOPTION OF A POLICY SUPPORTING THE ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Attachment 1
Adopted March 8, 2007
RESOLUTION NUMBER 08-07
ADOPTION OF A POLICY SUPPORTING THE ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FAIRFAX COUNTY
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988, as amended, Title VIII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination in housing and
mandate specific accessibility features in new construction of
multifamily housing covered under these laws, as well as certain
rehabilitation or renovation of covered multifamily housing;
WHEREAS, the principle of Fair Housing has been declared a fundamental
human right for all Americans; and the dearth of affordable, accessible
housing options contributes to the isolation, segregation and, at times,
institutionalization of individuals with disabilities;
WHEREAS, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
recognizes its compliance obligations under all applicable laws and
standards related to accessibility, including Section 504, Uniform
Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and International Building Code
(IBC), and seeks to move beyond basic legal requirements by using
principles of universal design in construction owned or financed by the
FCRHA;
WHEREAS, the FCRHA recognizes that non-“accessible” residential
construction not only negatively impacts persons with disabilities, but
also diminishes the quality of life for those without disabilities who
benefit from the ease of use that universal design and/or accessibility
features offer;
WHEREAS, incorporating universal design and/or accessibility features
into the initial design and construction phase of multifamily residential
housing is highly cost-effective;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that all new multifamily residential
structures built by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing
Authority (FCRHA) will incorporate principles of universal design;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all multifamily residential structures
which the FCRHA renovates will, to the maximum extent feasible, move
beyond basic legal accessibility requirements and incorporate the
principles of universal design; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in support of this policy, the FCRHA will
recommend to the Board of Supervisors an amendment to its Affordable
Housing Partnership Program as follows:
(1) require applicants for funding through the Affordable Housing
Partnership Program (AHPP) to meet the accessibility guidelines of
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Transition Plan (1988)
(accessibility guidelines) for new construction and, wherever feasible,
for substantial rehabilitation,
(2) provide certifications from a licensed professional that (1) the
accessibility guidelines are met in the plans and (2) that the
accessibility guidelines have been carried out after construction is
complete, and
(3) award bonus points in its Threshold Analysis to applicants who
provide accessibility using the concept of universal design principles
exceeding those that are required in the accessibility guidelines.
To view the PDF version of the Resolution, click here.
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