Blogs

Construction

Development Community Comments on Recent GFA Memo

Recently, the Arlington County subcommittee for NAIOP met with Bob Duffy and members of the County staff to discuss the County’s February 9, 2015 Memo regarding policies related to GFA calculation for site plan projects in Arlington County. The Arlington Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development recently issued a memo outlining how GFA is…

April 1, 2015

Construction

What’s in a Name?: Properly Appealing Adverse Zoning Determinations

Recently, the Virginia Supreme Court clarified how property owners appealing adverse zoning determinations must style their case and who must be named as a party to such a proceeding. In Frace v. Johnson, the Virginia Supreme Court held that the landowner had not properly appealed an adverse zoning determination to the Fairfax Circuit Court where…

March 25, 2015

Construction

Arlington County Board Adopts Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (with a Few Exceptions)

The Arlington County Board recently approved, with a few exceptions, the proposed amendments to the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance. The amendments to Articles 1-18 and Appendices A and B, to incorporate a use classification system; update use tables and definitions; update use standards, including new standards for short term uses and accessory uses; allow off-site…

March 18, 2015

Real Estate

Arlington County Board Revisits the Retail Action Plan

On January 20, during a special work session (open to the public) the County Board considered updates to the Arlington County Retail Action Plan (the “Retail Plan”). County Board members met with Arlington Economic Development staff, the Arlington Retail Task Force of the Economic Development Commission and members of the Planning Commission. Also in attendance as part of the audience were members of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the local Business Improvement Districts. The Retail…

March 3, 2015

Construction

Arlington’s New Take on Density Exclusions

A new memorandum issued by Arlington County’s Director of the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Bob Brosnan, is proposing to change which areas in a building developers can expect to exclude from density calculations in a 4.1 Site Plan application.

February 25, 2015

Construction

Legal Steps to Start a Construction Company in Virginia

I am often asked, “What are the basic steps of starting a construction company?” We help with many of these steps, but we also advise clients how to do it on their own. Here are some of the basic steps. Create Your Entity Given the threat of personal injuries and property damages, construction contractors and…

February 11, 2015

Construction

Protecting Your Brand: A Gift Not Reserved for the Holidays

In light of the recent holiday season, one thing that all construction industry professionals can agree on is that brand protection is a gift whose usefulness never ceases. You understand the significance of it. Your logo may appear on scaffolding, on the tops and sides of buildings, or in trade publications. Your workplace safety and…

February 6, 2015

Construction

Arlington County Retail Action Plan Update

On January 20, during a special work session open to the public, the County Board considered updates to the Arlington County Retail Action Plan (the “Retail Plan”). County Board members met with Arlington Economic Development staff, the Arlington Retail Task Force of the Economic Development Commission and members of the Planning Commission. In the audience…

February 4, 2015

Construction

Fairfax Circuit Court Limits Homeowners’ Ability to Challenge Zoning Administrator

Contentious land use approvals often result in lawsuits, which, even when unsuccessful, can lead to costly delays for developers. In the recent case styled In Re: November 20, 2013 Decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals of Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Circuit Court threw out one such legal challenge by homeowners to a controversial…

January 28, 2015

Construction

The City of Fairfax and Affordable Housing

Legislation proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates would give the City of Fairfax specific authority to adopt an affordable housing ordinance offering bonus development density in projects that provide an affordable housing component. Legislation at the state level is necessary, because under Virginia’s Dillon Rule a locality has only those powers that are expressly…

January 22, 2015