Arlington County Comprehensive Plan Update
Comprehensive Plan Update Project
A comprehensive plan is a long-range plan for livability, what the community wants to look like, and a statement of our long-standing values. It is a tool that highlights priorities and guides decision making as the community grows. A comprehensive planning effort aims to meet the needs of current and future generations by coordinating and integrating the systems on which they depend (like transportation, housing, public spaces, facilities and services).
Virginia Code requires localities to review their comprehensive plans at least once every five years. The County’s last review recommended refreshing the Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives, which have not been changed since 1960.
Background
Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan was established in August 1960, and while the elements of the plan have evolved and been updated over time, the overarching goals and objectives have not. In January 2023, following the last Comprehensive Plan Review, County staff and the Arlington County Planning Commission recommended that the County refresh the goals and objectives that were established more than 50 years ago.
Today, Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan includes 12 elements covering the following topics:
Updates to each of the 12 elements of Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan occur on their own schedule. For example, in recent years, the Forestry and Natural Resources Plan was adopted and the Historic & Cultural Resources Plan was updated. Currently, Arlington County is working on a revision of the Transportation Element of Arlington's Comprehensive Plan.
Phase 1
In 2024, Arlington County kicked off the Comprehensive Plan Update project. The first phase of the project includes developing a new introductory chapter for the Comprehensive Plan. The new chapter will not change the existing 12 elements, the County Vision, or zoning or land uses.
The Comprehensive Plan's new introductory chapter will include:
- data about life in Arlington today and projections for the future
- an overview of the County’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges
- guiding principles that reflect people’s lived experiences and align with community needs and values
- an overview of how the 12 elements of the plan work together to support the County’s goals and realize Arlington’s vision
- an outline of the process for future Comprehensive Plan element updates to align with the guiding principles
Phase 2
In winter 2025-2026, the County Board and staff will discuss the next steps for the Comprehensive Plan Update project.
Subject to direction from the County Board and draft scoping, an update to the General Land Use Plan, one of the 12 elements of the Comprehensive Plan, may be considered. Depending on direction from the Board about a draft scope, the planning team anticipates the update could consider things such as:
- revised land use and placemaking goals that reflect Arlington’s vision for growth and development
- updates to the GLUP Map and GLUP Booklet
- an explanation of what is allowed where in Arlington
Comprehensive Plan Update Timeline
