Arlington County Planning Division
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| Arlington County Planning Division | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arlington County Planning Division |
| Formed | 1930s |
| Jurisdiction | Arlington County, Virginia |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
| Parent agency | Arlington County Department of Environmental Services |
Arlington County Planning Division is the primary land use and urban design office for Arlington County, Virginia, responsible for long-range planning, zoning guidance, and development review. The Division works with the Arlington County Board, Arlington County Manager, and Arlington County Department of Environmental Services to implement plans such as the Arlington County Master Transportation Plan and the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor strategy. It liaises with regional bodies including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to coordinate transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and environmental stewardship.
History
The Division traces roots to early 20th-century planning efforts that paralleled suburban growth after World War I and the creation of Arlington County institutions linked to the Virginia General Assembly, the Arlington County Board, and the National Capital Planning Commission. During the mid-20th century, planners in Arlington engaged with projects tied to the Interstate Highway System, the Washington Metro expansion by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and suburbanization patterns shaped by entities such as the Federal Housing Administration and National Archives. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Division contributed to redevelopment initiatives influenced by the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor study, the Clarendon-Ballston policies, and partnerships with the Urban Land Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on airport-area planning and economic development. Recent decades saw integration of climate resilience strategies promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the American Planning Association into county plans.
Organization and Governance
Reporting to the Arlington County Manager and subject to policy direction from the Arlington County Board, the Division operates within the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services and collaborates with Arlington County Public Schools, Arlington County Parks and Recreation, and the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office for cross-cutting initiatives. Staffed by planners with affiliations to the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Planners, and regional planning groups such as the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission, the Division coordinates with state agencies including the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Board-level oversight connects to elected officials who interact with federal representatives from the United States Congress and state legislators in the Virginia General Assembly on matters like tax policy, land use authority, and historic preservation tied to the National Register of Historic Places.
Functions and Services
The Division produces comprehensive plans, zoning recommendations, urban design guidelines, and environmental review supporting capital projects such as road improvements in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation and transit expansions by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. It manages small area plans, like those for Rosslyn, Ballston, Crystal City, and Pentagon City, aligning with redevelopment efforts related to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. Services include review of site plans and special exceptions that involve stakeholders such as the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and civic associations like the Arlington County Civic Federation. The Division also implements policies on affordable housing working with nonprofit partners including HousingConnection, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, while integrating climate and stormwater strategies promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Major Plans and Initiatives
Key planning documents include the Arlington County Master Transportation Plan, the General Land Use Plan, and small area plans for corridors such as Rosslyn-Ballston and Crystal City-Pentagon City, developed in coordination with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Initiatives include transit-oriented development linked to Metro expansions, the Columbia Pike Initiative tied to multimodal improvements, and the Long Range Plan informed by research from the Brookings Institution and analysis by the Urban Land Institute. The Division has led redevelopment efforts in neighborhoods affected by federal projects like the Pentagon Renovation and the Base Realignment and Closure process, while pursuing sustainability goals aligned with programs from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Sierra Club.
Community Engagement and Public Participation
The Division conducts public hearings before the Arlington County Board and Planning Commission, forums with neighborhood civic associations such as the Clarendon Alliance and Lyon Village Citizens Association, and workshops involving stakeholders like the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and local chapters of the American Institute of Architects. Outreach includes coordination with Arlington County Public Schools on facility planning, engagement with regional agencies including the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and participation in national conferences of the American Planning Association. Public participation mechanisms follow procedural standards set by the Commonwealth of Virginia and involve consultation with advisory bodies such as the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board and the Environmental Advisory Commission.
Projects and Development Review
The Division reviews site plans, special exceptions, and subdivision plats for major projects including mixed-use developments in Crystal City, office redevelopments in Rosslyn, and residential infill across neighborhoods such as Clarendon and Courthouse. Major development reviews often interface with federal entities like the General Services Administration when projects abut federal property, and with transit agencies including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for station-area work. Projects undergo environmental review for stormwater management and tree canopy requirements consistent with guidelines from the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Environmental Protection Agency, and coordinate affordable housing commitments with partners like Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and regional funders such as the Virginia Housing Development Authority.