November 6, 2025

Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Guiding Principle Spotlight

Today, we’re diving into the final two American Planning Association guiding principles: Resilient Economy and Responsible Regionalism

A thriving Arlington depends on a strong local economy and smart collaboration with our neighbors. How do we build resilience and work as a region?

Resilient Economy

Economic resilience means building an economy that adapts to challenges and opportunities—whether from market shifts, climate change, or public health emergencies. Resilient communities with diverse local economies and opportunities for all can better manage stressful events and reduce long-term harm to residents and businesses.

Arlington’s economy is strong and diverse, supported by strategic planning, strong transit, a highly-educated community, skilled workforce, and thriving commercial corridors with support for small businesses, but faces pressure from high living costs, economic inequality, office vacancies, and limited authority granted by the state (i.e., the Dillon Rule). Future success will depend on diversifying industries, expanding tourism, reusing office space, and balancing growth with housing affordability and sustainable, lasting, and equitable economic outcomes for everyone.

In Arlington, a resilient economy could be achieved through:

• Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially in underserved areas
• Workforce development and job access
• Affordable, stable housing to prevent displacement
• Strengthening social safety nets
• Helping businesses stay open and recover after an incident or disaster

Responsible Regionalism

Responsible regionalism recognizes that our success depends on collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions in the region. People, jobs, and ecosystems cross jurisdictional boundaries. Coordinating with neighboring areas can help address shared challenges, including traffic congestion, housing, and economic development. It is also helpful for regional infrastructure like transit, water systems, and natural resources.

Arlington is a regional leader, collaborating across jurisdictions to advance housing, transit, environmental goals, workforce development, health services, and emergency response, while achieving affordable housing targets and advancing smart growth and sustainability initiatives. However, Arlington’s reliance on external agencies, limited data sharing, interjurisdictional competition, fragmented social service coordination, and demographic shifts that threaten workforce retention pose challenges. Future success will depend on expanding partnerships, regional housing solutions, coordinated infrastructure investments, shared data systems, and leveraging innovation in areas like AI, green infrastructure, and biophilic design. Strong partnerships with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), neighboring jurisdictions, federal agencies, and private institutions strengthen the region’s economy, infrastructure, and quality of life.

In Arlington, responsible regionalism could be achieved through:

• Participating in MWCOG and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA)
• Aligning land use and transportation with regional transit investments
• Adopting affordable housing policies to address regional housing targets
• Coordinating on emergency preparedness, water management, and environmental protection

We want your feedback.

Your voice will help shape the introductory chapter of the Comprehensive Plan! We want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

Share your input here now.

Please provide input by Sunday, November 16.

Join us tonight!

Join us at the virtual community meeting this evening to learn more and ask questions!

• Virtual Community Meeting: November 6; 7-9 p.m.

October 24, 2025

Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Guiding Principle Spotlight

Today, we’re diving into the next two American Planning Association guiding principles: Interwoven Equity and Healthy and Safe Community.

Communities thrive when everyone has access to opportunity, health, and safety. How do we make Arlington fair, healthy, and safe for everyone?

Interwoven Equity

Equity means ensuring that everyone—regardless of race, income, age, ability, or background—has fair access to opportunities, housing, jobs, transportation, and community resources, and a voice in shaping the future of the community. Not all communities in Arlington have benefited equally from past planning and investment decisions. Planning with equity helps correct historical injustices and builds a more resilient, inclusive county. A more equitable Arlington means better outcomes for everyone—socially, economically, and environmentally.

Arlington has made equity a central focus, with strong policies, services, and programs—like the Equity Resolution, Equity Lens, and targeted investments—that support diverse residents and promote broad communication and inclusive decision-making. Yet persistent disparities in income, housing, health, and representation highlight the need for more housing and childcare, stronger data, partnerships to address systemic inequities, and strengthening community trust to achieve lasting equity.

In Arlington, equity could be achieved through:

• Inclusive engagement with underrepresented voices
• Affordable housing strategies that provide opportunities for various income levels
• Transportation improvements in areas with limited options
• Health and environmental justice plans to reduce pollution and improve wellness
• Removal of language barriers and improved digital access
• Using data to close equity gaps

Healthy and Safe Community

Health and safety in planning goes beyond access to healthcare, addressing crime, and emergency preparedness—it means reducing health disparities and supporting physical, mental, and social well-being as well as mitigating flood risks and other climate related impacts through thoughtful design and services. Where you live affects how long and how well you live. Communities with safe housing, clean air, walkable streets, access to parks, and healthy food lead to better health outcomes.

Arlington has strong public health systems, emergency planning, and community programs for recreation, crisis response, and food and housing assistance that support safety, wellness, and resilience. Still, disparities in health, food security, and housing—along with aging facilities, climate impacts, and limited resources—pose ongoing challenges that require collaboration and innovation.

In Arlington, a healthy and safe community could be achieved through:

• Design that enhances safety, reduces injury risk, and promotes social connection
• Safe, affordable housing embedded near services for upward mobility
• Clean air, quality water, and improved noise regulations
• Access to fresh food through farmers markets, grocers, and urban agriculture
• Walkable, bikeable neighborhoods
• Access to parks, recreation, and open space

We want your feedback.

Your voice will help shape the introductory chapter of the Comprehensive Plan! We want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

Share your input here now.

Please provide input by Sunday, November 16.

You are Invited!

Join us at one of the community meetings to learn more and ask questions!

• In-person Community Meeting: October 28; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Virtual Community Meeting: November 5; 6-8 p.m. (Language Interpretation)

October 10, 2025

Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Guiding Principle Spotlight

Today, we’re diving into two of the American Planning Association’s six guiding principles: Livable Built Environment and Harmony with Nature

Careful planning is essential to creating livable communities and protecting our natural environment. How do we balance people, places, and nature?

Livable Built Environment

Livability refers to how well a place meets the needs and improves the quality of life for all its residents, workers, and visitors. It means making sure our neighborhoods, streets, housing, businesses, and infrastructure all work together to create safe, healthy, sustainable, and welcoming communities. Livability focuses on creating communities that are safe, healthy, inclusive, walkable, equitable, and environmentally and economically sustainable.

Arlington is nationally recognized for its livability, sustainability, and walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods, but faces challenges with rising housing costs, aging infrastructure, and limited land. Future success will depend on updating plans, exploring housing solutions, and integrating equity and climate resilience into development while balancing growth, preservation, and infrastructure.

In Arlington, livability could be achieved through:

• Walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods near transit where people live, work, shop, and play
• Diverse and affordable housing options across all neighborhoods
• Streets that support walking, biking, transit, and driving
• Parks, trees, green space, and community facilities that promote inclusion and wellbeing
• Climate-facing design and policies for resilience now and in the future

Harmony with Nature

Harmony with nature means growing in a way that protects and maintains the natural systems, so people and the environment thrive together. Healthy environments improve public health with clean air and water, provide natural spaces for recreation, and enhance climate resilience.

Arlington is a national leader in sustainability, parks, renewable energy, and green infrastructure, but faces challenges from aging systems, past development decisions, and state restrictions. Looking ahead, the County can expand tree canopy, restore ecosystems, and grow renewable energy while navigating climate change, costs, and limited land.

In Arlington, harmony with nature could be achieved through:

• Preserving streams, forests, and tree canopy
• Adding and enhancing green spaces in urban areas and reducing paved surfaces
• Nature-based solutions for stormwater, cooling, and habitat restoration
• Expanding parks, trails, and green infrastructure
• Promoting environmental awareness, conservation, and stewardship

We want your feedback.

Your voice will help shape the introductory chapter of the Comprehensive Plan! We want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

Share your input here now.

Please provide input by Sunday, November 16.

You are Invited!

Join us at one of the community meetings to learn more and ask questions!

• In-person Community Meeting: October 14; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Virtual Community Meeting: October 23; 7-9 p.m. (English only)
• In-person Community Meeting: October 28; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Virtual Community Meeting: November 5; 6-8 p.m. (Language Interpretation)

September 26, 2025

Did you know Arlington is updating its Comprehensive Plan?

We are excited to launch a new mini-series within this newsletter to keep you informed—and involved—as we work toward drafting a new introductory chapter for Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan.

This series will walk you through the American Planning Association’s (APA) guiding principles and ask for your input on how we can make them meaningful for Arlington.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A comprehensive plan is a long-range plan for livability and what the community wants to look like in the future. Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan highlights values and priorities and guides the County Board’s decision making as the community grows. In 2024, Arlington County kicked off the Comprehensive Plan Update Project. Phase 1 includes developing a new introductory chapter for the plan. 

The introductory chapter will include:

• data about what life is like in Arlington today and trends 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 algin 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

American Planning Association’s Guiding Principles

The American Planning Association (APA) recommends using the following six principles to prepare and update comprehensive plans.

As a starting point, the County is using these APA principles to inform the creation of tailored Guiding Principles for Arlington County. Community feedback is essential so that Arlington's Guiding Principles reflect people’s lived experiences and align with community needs and values.

Learn More on our Webpages

Share your input here now.

We want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Your feedback will help us develop the new introductory chapter. 

Responses are saved as you progress through the form if you would like to complete it in more than one sitting.

Please provide input by Sunday, November 16.

عربي

简体中文