CPHD
Special Planning Programs
Several Planning Programs, listed below, support Arlington's development goals and land use policy. More detailed information is available from the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development.
Neighborhood Conservation Program
The Neighborhood Conservation Program was established in 1964 to conserve and improve Arlington's residential areas through public and private cooperation and to encourage neighborhood participation in the planning process. The program enables organized citizen groups, with support from County staff, to initiate, prepare, develop and implement a Neighborhood Conservation Plan. These plans generally address issues of neighborhood land use and zoning, traffic management, capital improvements, parks and community facilities, and recommend actions and policies to improve conditions. Once accepted by the County Board, these plans serve as guides to the Board and staff when considering proposals for General Land Use Plan amendments, rezoning applications, site plans, use permits, variances and capital improvements within the neighborhoods' boundaries.
This program is overseen by the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC), a County Board advisory group composed of representatives selected by neighborhood organizations. The NCAC reviews conservation plans, makes recommendations on allocating funds to improvement projects and promotes neighborhood conservation. Under this process, a neighborhood organization first submits a "Letter of Commitment" to develop a plan, then prepares a plan with staff assistance, and submits the plan to the NCAC for review. Following acceptance by the NCAC, the plan is presented at public hearings before the Planning Commission and the County Board. Currently, approximately 49 neighborhoods have joined the program and 46 have plans accepted by the County Board. Neighborhoods with accepted plans can submit capital project funding requests twice a year.
Commercial Revitalization Program
The purpose of the Commercial Revitalization Program is to provide for targeted commercial revitalization within (1) major commercial areas throughout Arlington and (2) smaller commercial areas within Arlington neighborhoods. The development of a strategic geographical focus serves to maximize the County's capital investments and enhance the County's image. It incorporates the previous County programs of Streetscape, Utility Undergrounding, and Apartment and Business Conservation.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides federal funding for a wide range of housing and neighborhood improvements that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. The CDBG funds are used to support the Neighborhood Strategy Area Program that concentrates planning, housing improvements, code enforcement, social services and economic development activities in eligible low- and moderate- income neighborhoods or block groups. These areas are designated by the County Board as part of the County's Consolidated Plan.
Cooperative Forecasting Program
The Cooperative Forecasting Program develops, every three to five years, long-range forecasts of population, households and employment for Arlington County as part of a regional process coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development coordinates the review of existing and potential development for each round (series) of forecasts, and develops forecasts based on development capacity and an analysis of demographic, construction, and employment trends.
The most recent series of forecasts, Round 8.0, was completed in October 2009. Arlington's forecasts are based on and are consistent with adopted land use and transportation policies. The General Land Use Plan, the Master Transportation Plan, the Zoning Map, sector plans, and other adopted planning studies together form the foundation for residential and office/commercial development capacity figures, one of the key elements of the long-range forecasts.
Historic Preservation Program
The Historic Preservation Program is responsible for developing strategies for and
responses to the County’s historic preservation issues while offering preservation guidance through its participation in Site Plan Review, the development of Sector Plans and in other special planning projects. Its programs and projects provide valuable historical and preservation-related information via the identification and recordation of historic resources and through the research undertaken for nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, local historic district designations, and historic markers.
Contents of GLUP Booklet
Purpose and Scope
Arlington's Origins and Governmental Framework
Planning History and The Development of the General Land Use Plan (GLUP)
Development and Growth Goals
Affordable Housing
Special Planning Areas
Special Planning Resolutions and Policies
Special Planning Programs
Implementation
Reviewing the Comp Plan & Amending the GLUP
Related Publications and Documents
Appendix 1: Special Planning Resolutions & Policies (full text)
Appendix 2:Planning Document & Policy Matrix