Arlington County participates in several major planning and development projects that are initiated by the federal government, regional agencies and adjacent local jurisdictions. This engagement also includes the review of various development plans and projects within and adjacent to the County’s borders.
Many of the federal plans and projects are coordinated by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is the federal government’s central planning agency for federal land and buildings in the Capital Region. There are also various regional entities that oversee a number of plans and studies, such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. This agency consists of 22 local jurisdictions, including the County, with a mission to enhance the quality of life and competitive advantages of the Washington metropolitan region in a number of areas such as transportation and the environment. Adjacent local jurisdictions provide notice to the County on their respective planning initiatives, including the City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church and Fairfax County.
When plans and projects are received, they are circulated to appropriate County departments and staff for review and comment. Typically, the Planning Division of the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development is responsible for coordinating the engagement and/or review of such projects.
Below is a summary of federal, regional and local jurisdiction plans and proposals that have been recently approved, completed, or are currently underway. The summary includes a general description of the project and a description of the County’s engagement and/or review efforts as well as the potential implications of such proposals. These efforts are categorized by the following areas: Plans and Studies, Development Projects and Ongoing Coordination.
- Federal Government
- Regional Jurisdictions
- Local Jurisdictions
- Historic Preservation
- Archived Projects
Federal Government
Ongoing Coordination
Theodore Roosevelt Island Cultural Landscape Reports/Environmental Assessment and Assessment of Effect
Contact: Brenda Wasler | 703-289-2540
The National Park Service is preparing a Cultural Landscape Report/Environmental Assessment and Assessment of Effect for Theodore Roosevelt Island, a park site administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Washington, D.C. and Rosslyn, Virginia.
The purpose of the project is to provide guidance and recommendations for the long-term stewardship and preservation of the park. The project will result in recommendations for preserving historically significant features within the site and improving or modernizing certain visitor amenities, access areas, and conditions. Arlington staff are monitoring this process for any impacts to County infrastructure.
Plans and Studies
National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) Master Plan Update and Related Projects
Contact: Alexis Gray | 202-260-6895
In the Spring of 2016, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the State Department initiated an update to the Master Plan for the NFATC, the first Master Plan Update conducted for the campus, located in the Alcova Heights Neighborhood, since 1989. The purpose of the update was to provide for facility renovation, expansion and security improvements to support population growth at the NFATC campus over the next decade. Following the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, GSA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on April 6, 2017 and the National Capital Planning Commission approved (NCPC) approved the Master Plan Update on June 1, 2017.
Working with the adjacent communities, as well as other interested stakeholders, County staff have identified three key priorities to be addressed:
- Improving and strengthening pedestrian and bicycle connectivity around the NFATC campus
- Improvements to and longer-term County use of the West Parcel
- Identify and address any transportation impacts on the adjacent road network
Most recently, the Master Plan update was approved, with information on the implementation of individual projects forthcoming.
- Background Documents
- National Capital Planning Commission Actions
- Arlington County’s Comments on the Final EA
- 2008 MOU between State Department and Arlington County – West Parcel and Trail Access
- State Department Letter to Arlington County – notification of trail closure
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee Letter to the County Manager – Scoping
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee Letter to the County Manager – Draft EA
- Environment and Energy Conservation Commission Letter to the County Manager
- Alcova Heights Citizens Association Comments
- Arlington resident petition regarding trail access and connectivity
- Rep. Don Beyer’s comments on the EA
For more information, visit GSA’s website.
Regional Jurisdictions
Ongoing Coordination
VRE Crystal City Station Improvements
The VRE (Virginia Railway Express) Crystal City Station Improvements project will identify a location for an expanded station with a longer island platform served by two tracks instead of one. As the project’s sponsor, VRE’s key goals for the project are to: (1) remove an operational bottleneck and expand train capacity in the most heavily trafficked part of this rail corridor; (2) improve the safety and reliability of the railroad; and (3) encourage easy transfer to other transportation options.
For more information, visit VRE’s website.
Demographic and Economic Research and Forecasting
As part of a regional process coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, County staff contribute data to the Cooperative Forecasting Program, including long-range forecasts of population, households and employment for Arlington.
Local Jurisdictions
Ongoing Coordination
Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment (PA 2017-I-B1) and Rezoning (RZ-MA-005)
Contact: Michael Lynskey | Zoning Evaluation | 703-324-1204
Arlington staff reviewed and provided comments to Fairfax County on a 37-unit townhouse development at 6060 Arlington Boulevard. The Comprehensive Plan Amendment was approved on July 25. Public Hearings on the rezoning will be held on Oct. 12 by the Planning Commission and Oct. 24 by the Board of Supervisors.
For more information, visit their website.
North Potomac Yard Small Area Plan Update | City of Alexandria
Contact: Richard Lawrence | Urban Planner | 703-746-3849
Arlington staff are reviewing Master Plan Amendment #2017-003 in the City of Alexandria for the North Potomac Yard Small Area Plan Update. The amendment will be heard by the Alexandria Planning Commission on June 6, 2017 and the City Council on June 13, 2017.
The update would allow for the existing Target and shopping center to remain for longer than originally planned and redevelopment to proceed on the former theater site including the new Metrorail station. Neighboring civic associations and the Crystal City Citizens Review Council have been notified.
For more information, visit their website.
Potomac Yard Metrorail Station; Environmental Impact Statement | City of Alexandria
Contact: Jason Kacamburas | Potomac Yard Metro Coordinator | 703-746-4049
An infill Metrorail station is being planned for the Potomac Yard development along the yellow and blue lines in Alexandria, just south of the border with Arlington. The environmental review process is nearing completion while the development of a conceptual design has just begun.
County staff reviewed the preliminary Environmental Impact Statement documents prior to agency review and continue to monitor design.
For more information, visit their website.
Historic Preservation
Contact: Rebeccah Ballo | 703-228-3812
- Arlington Memorial Bridge Repairs | National Park Service (NPS)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Path/Air Traffic Procedures at Reagan National Airport | FAA/Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Rehabilitation of Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial | NPS
- Rehabilitation of the United States Marine Corps War Memorial | NPS
- Road Improvements Along the George Washington Memorial Parkway | NPS
- Transform 66: Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Environmental Assessment and Cultural Resources Study | Virginia Department of Transportation
Archived Projects
If you don’t see the project you’re looking for, it may have moved to our archived projects page.