On Tuesday, July 16, the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the county’s Comprehensive Plan aimed at expanding affordable home ownership opportunities. The move comes after a series of recommendations from the Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) For-Sale Policy Task Force, which addressed affordability challenges and aimed to enhance the WDU program.
The Plan amendment, identified as PA 2023-CW-1CP, incorporates changes to the Housing and Land Use Elements of the Policy Plan and other comprehensive plan volumes. Key changes include:
- Adjusting the affordability level of the WDU program to serve households earning up to 70% to 100% of the 2024 Area Median Income (AMI). The adjustment makes affordable homeownership accessible to individuals earning up to $108,000 for an individual, and $155,000 for a family of four. Previously, the program AMI range was up to 80% to 120% AMI.
- The amendment also expands guidelines for proportionality of bedroom counts, allowing flexibility for family-sized units.
- It also extends the policy's geographic applicability to properties outside designated development centers.
“The updates to the WDU homeownership program reflect a thoughtful re-evaluation of the program’s scope and impact, making the dream of homeownership accessible for a broader segment of the Fairfax County community,” said Tom Fleetwood, Director, Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development.
The county’s Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) and WDU programs, which facilitate home purchases and rental opportunities at below-market prices for eligible low- to moderate-income households, are a cornerstone of Fairfax’s strategy to provide affordable housing. These programs incentivize developers to include affordable units in exchange for the potential to build more market-rate units.
The amendment supports One Fairfax, the county’s equity policy goal of creating a full spectrum of housing opportunities. It also aims to make affordable homeownership more accessible by lowering the income threshold and addressing the need for larger family-sized units. Expanding the policy's reach beyond development centers also increases the potential supply of affordable housing.
The amendment aligns with Fairfax County's Communitywide Housing Strategic Plan, which highlights the broad benefits of affordable housing, including better educational and health outcomes, increased economic mobility, and reduced traffic congestion. Community input was integral to the amendment process, with discussions held at public meetings, virtual town halls and with various associations and organizations throughout the county.
SIGN UP FOR DAILY EMAIL HEADLINES