Skip to content

Projects & Planning

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.

Lee Highway Proposed Study Area

 

Timeline

PHASE 1: Gathering Information

  • Below is a projected timeline of Phase 1. 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
Jan – Feb 2019 Project Kick-off
  • Team kick-offs
  • Share scope
  • Refine schedule
  • Gather input on 2016 Visioning Study
Feb – May 2019 Existing Conditions Analysis Analysis to focus on planning elements:

  • Land use and zoning
  • Urban design and building form
  • Housing
  • Transportation and connectivity
  • Public spaces
  • Historic and cultural resources
  • Economic vitality
  • Sustainability
  • Public facilities
  • Working Group Meeting: Kick-off Debrief (March 21)
  • Follow-up Focus Group Meetings (April 2019)
  • Working Group Meeting: Existing Conditions Analysis (May 2019)
  • Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Jun – Aug 2019 Land Use Scenario Methodology Development
  • Look at sample node-based redevelopment area
  • Test and evaluate key factors (land values, development costs, density, etc.), performance indicators, and rating system
  • Working Group Meeting: Land Use Scenario Methodology (June 2019)
  • Educational Forum: Land Use and Zoning (June 2019)
  • Community Forum & Working Group Meeting #2 (July 2019)
  • Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Sep – Oct 2019 Public Workshop
  • Results of Existing Conditions Analysis
  • Feedback from community events
  • Metrics of success for evaluating Land Use Scenarios in Phase 2
  • Refinement of vision principles and goals
  • Identification of preliminary character areas
  • Community Forum & Working Group Meeting #3 (September 2019)
  • Public Workshop and Educational Forums (September 2019)
  • Educational Forums (October 2019)
  • Character Area Focus Group Sessions (October 2019)
  • Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)
Dec 2019 Character Area Development Write Character Area Development Report, to include:

  • Areas of change and areas of preservation
  • General descriptions of future development patterns for areas of change
  • General recommendations for network-wide planning elements
  • Refined vision principles and goals
  • Working Group Meeting: Character Area Development Report (December 2019)
  • Open Design Studio (bi-weekly, ongoing)