Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Contact: Michael Leventhal 703-228-3813 (voice) 703-228-4743(TTY)
Arlington County Board Approves Historic Preservation Master Plan
Plan establishes overall vision for historic preservation; retain Arlington’s special character
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today approved the Historic Preservation Master Plan to establish an overall vision for historic preservation efforts in the County over the next 10 years, and to support the retention of Arlington’s special character as the County continues to evolve.
“The Historic Preservation Master Plan is an important planning tool that will help us protect Arlington’s historic context,” said Arlington County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman. “As we continue to develop, the Master Plan will help us identify those essential elements of our built environment.”
Master Plan Strategies
The Historic Preservation Master Plan sets goals for historic preservation efforts in Arlington and articulates strategies for attaining them. Within each goal are a series of strategies that cumulatively builds a supportive stewardship amongst the County residents and within the County government for the County’s historic resources:
Enhance the understanding of Arlington’s history and historic character;
- Better integrate preservation values into County planning, land use, and other policies and practices; and,
- Protect historic neighborhoods, corridors, commercial centers, and civic buildings.
Background
As a result of a work session with the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) in November 2001, the County Board approved funds in the FY 2003 budget to hire a consultant to assist the County in investigating and developing a proposed Historic Preservation Master Plan.
Over the course of three years, two major documents – the Master Plan and an Implementation Framework – were developed. Numerous revised drafts of each document underwent significant review, with feedback obtained at public forums in 2003 and 2006, as well as from members of a specially-created Master Plan Advisory Committee, an Interdepartmental Task Force, and several County commissions. The final documents that emerged from this lengthy review process represent a broad community consensus for both a proactive historic preservation policy and a practical action implementation approach.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.