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Since we last reported on car title lenders in December 2013, another Virginia county has been successful in restricting the locations of so-called "Alternative Lending Institutions." Following that lead, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is poised to adopt some restrictions of its own.
The proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment would define Alternative Lending Institutions as payday and car title lenders. Their location would be restricted to C-7 and C-8 zoned land within a shopping center (no freestanding buildings). In addition, these lenders would be prohibited from locating within Commercial Revitalization Districts and Commercial Revitalization Areas, and could not locate adjacent to or across the street from a public facility, place of worship, private school or child care center.
One important note: Newly-adopted restrictions can be imposed only on new stores. Along Richmond Highway, this may feel like the barn door being locked after the horse is already stolen, as we have a large number of existing Alternative Lending Institutions in our corridor. However, as redevelopment and road projects occur, stores which close will not be able to re-open here along the Highway except under very tight circumstances.
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