Plan Lee Highway: Process, Scope & Timeline

Process

The multi-year Plan Lee Highway process will refine, validate and build upon the community’s vision and the guiding principles and goals as expressed in the 2016 Lee Highway Visioning Study report . The process will include a study of interrelated key planning elements, such as transportation and public space, for the full Lee Highway corridor and potential land use changes within a Core Study Area (see map below). The anticipated outcomes are that the study results in a County Board-adopted plan that establishes a high-level framework for the corridor.

Study Area

Lee Highway is one of Arlington’s major east-west arterial streets, spanning the full length of the County from Rosslyn to East Falls Church. It is a major commuter corridor and gateway from the City of Falls Church. It also serves as a primary commercial destination for the northern half of the County, providing access to convenience goods, services, and dining for many residents. Characterized by low-rise commercial development and prominent surface level parking lots, the auto-oriented public realm and general development pattern is typical of commercial corridors found throughout Arlington.

Timeline

PHASE 2: Developing Ideas (currently underway)

Time frames are subject to change, pending project needs.
As each key event is confirmed, it is posted to the project calendar with complete meeting details. View all scheduled meetings and events.
As each key event concludes, available materials are posted to the study documents page.

TIME FRAME	MILESTONES, ACTIVITIES		KEY EVENTS
Sep – Dec 2020	Development of Land Use Scenario Analysis	Evaluate: different land use mixes and intensities within activity nodes (in core study area and residential edges) strategic combinations for public open spaces or other amenities street and transit access improvements Identify specific outcomes for each scenario Provide feedback on land use and mobility alternatives to rank and compare land use scenarios Identify challenges and opportunities for achieving goals Highlight how well scenarios balance nodal and corridor-wide priorities	Property Owner Interviews (October – December 2020)
Jan – Feb 2021	Neighborhood Focus Groups	Results of Land Use Scenario Analysis	Neighborhood Focus Group Meetings (Areas 1 – 5)
Feb – April 2021	Development of Preliminary Concept Plan Report	Prepare Preliminary Concept Plan Report, to include: Summary of Community feedback on Land Use Scenario Analysis Corridor-wide land use scenario incorporating preferred land use scenario for core study areas and residential edges Preferred locations for public open spaces or other amenities Preferred transportation strategies Refined analysis of key planning elements including refined vision principles and goals Recommendations for changes to land use and zoning Anticipated phasing of development, based on understanding of market conditions Anticipated outcomes and impacts of proposed development	Additional Focus Group Meetings, as needed
April / May 2021	Neighborhood Focus Groups	Presentation of Preliminary Concept Plan Report	Neighborhood Focus Group Meetings (Areas 1-5)

PHASE 1: Gathering Information (completed)

TIME FRAME	MILESTONES, ACTIVITIES		KEY EVENTS
Jan – Feb 2019	Project Kick-off	Team kick-offs Share scope Refine schedule Gather input on 2016 Visioning Study	Community Forum & Working Group Meeting (January 30) Community Kick-off (February 12) Initial Focus Group Meetings (February 2019) Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Feb – Oct 2019	Existing Conditions Analysis Historic and Cultural Resources Analysis	Analysis to focus on planning elements: Land use and zoning Urban design and building form Housing Transportation and connectivity Open spaces Historic and cultural resources Economic vitality Sustainability Public facilities Research, documentation and survey of historic and cultural resources Significant buildings, events, places, people and stories in planning area	Working Group Meeting: Kick-off Debrief (March 21) Follow-up Focus Group Meetings (April 2019) Working Group Meeting: Existing Conditions Analysis (May 8) Educational Forum: Land Use and Zoning (June 8) Working Group Meeting: Existing Condition Analysis (June 19) Working Group Meeting: Existing Conditions Analysis (July 10) Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Feb – Oct 2019	Land Use Scenario Methodology Development	Identify key factors (land values, development costs, density, etc.), performance indicators, and prioritization system that will be used for evaluating land use scenarios in Phase 2 Select a sample node-based redevelopment area to test methodology	Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Nov – Dec 2019	Community Forum	Results of Existing Conditions Analysis	Community Forum & Working Group Meeting (Nov. 2) Follow-up Community Forum Meetings Public Space, Mobility and Connectivity (11/21) Land Use (12/3) Neighborhood Character and Building Form (12/9) Working Group Meeting (12/18) Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Jan – Feb 2020	Public Workshop	Results of Existing Conditions Analysis Feedback from previous community events on areas of change and areas of preservation Identification of neighborhood concerns and priorities	Public Workshop (1/31 and 2/1) Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Feb – Aug 2020	Development of Neighborhood Inspiration Report	Prepare Neighborhood Inspiration Report, to include: Highlights of conditions and attributes of different neighborhoods Feedback from community workshop on areas of change and areas of preservation Summary of neighborhood aspirations Guiding ideas for future development patterns for areas of change General recommendations for network-wide planning elements	Meetings suspended due to COVID-19