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Alexandria BZA approves Old Dominion Boulevard second-story addition

Alexandria BZA approves Old Dominion Boulevard second-story addition

Rule Changes Alexandria, VA local

Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 on October 19 to renew the special exception for 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard

October 19th, 2026: BZA approves Old Dominion Boulevard addition, 4-0

Overview

Updated Oct 24

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 on October 19 to renew a special exception for a second-story rear addition at 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard. The approval lets the homeowner build 6.07 feet into the side yard that Alexandria's R-8 residential zone requires.

The earlier approval, BZA2025-00002, lapsed because construction had not started within a year, staff told the board. The applicant said caring for grandchildren had delayed the work. The house's existing side yard is 7.3 feet; the R-8 setback is 13.37 feet.

Why it matters

The board's decision will determine whether the homeowner can build the second-story addition into the required side-yard setback.

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Key Indicators

BZA2026-00015
Application number
The docket number for the special exception re-approval request.
4-0
Approval vote
The board approved the re-approval as submitted on October 19, 2026.
6.07 ft
Side-yard relief
Depth the addition reaches into the required setback: 7.3-foot existing yard against a 13.37-foot requirement.

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People Involved

JS
Jane O'Connell Seward
Applicant for BZA2026-00015
Won re-approval of her special exception on a 4-0 vote on October 19, 2026

Organizations Involved

Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals
Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals
Municipal zoning board
Approved the Old Dominion Boulevard re-approval 4-0 on October 19, 2026

The appointed body that hears variance and special exception requests under Alexandria's zoning ordinance.

Timeline

September 2026 October 2026

2 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago

  1. BZA approves Old Dominion Boulevard addition, 4-0

    Latest Hearing

    The board voted 4-0 to re-approve the special exception, letting the homeowner build a second-story rear addition into the R-8 side yard. Staff said the earlier approval had expired because construction did not start within a year.

  2. Agenda published listing Old Dominion Boulevard hearing

    Procedural

    The BZA public hearing agenda lists BZA2026-00015, the re-approval request for 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard.

Scenarios

4

Renewed exception lapses before construction starts

Possible Resolves by Oct 19, 2027

Discussed by: BZA staff, who told the board the original approval expired for lack of construction

Staff said the first approval ended because construction did not begin within a year. If the renewed exception carries the same condition, a second lapse would send the homeowner back to the board for another re-approval.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

July 2026

BZA rear-yard addition hearing in Alexandria (2026)

The BZA was scheduled to hear a special exception request for an addition in the required rear yard of a residential townhouse at 414 Duke Street on July 22, 2026, along with a variance request at 412 Duke Street. Public comments were accepted at the hearing.

Then

The board heard the requests per the published legal notice in the Alexandria Times.

Now

Illustrates the board's routine handling of residential addition special exceptions.

Why this matters now

The Old Dominion Boulevard request uses the same mechanism: a homeowner seeking board approval to build into a required setback.

January 2026

Court of Appeals upholds Alexandria density approval (2026)

The Court of Appeals of Virginia ruled in a published opinion that Alexandria's City Council acted within its authority when it approved a 48-unit residential building at 301 North Fairfax Street with a floor area ratio of 2.5, double the baseline. The court held the ordinance allowed the density with a special use permit.

Then

The neighboring landowners' lawsuit was dismissed, and the project can proceed.

Now

The published opinion sets precedent for interpreting similar zoning provisions across Virginia.

Why this matters now

Shows Alexandria's zoning decisions face court review, and recent rulings have sided with the city. A challenged BZA decision could face similar scrutiny.

Sources

(5)
City of Alexandria Legistar Alexandria Times Citizen Portal City of Alexandria Legistar Open Publica