The County is developing policy guidelines for evaluating County-owned sites that are proposed for public needs, such as public facilities, schools or affordable housing.
- Public Land Site Evaluation Guidelines (Draft)
- A message on the Public Land for Public Good issues/process from the County Board
- A compiled list of public comments received about the draft guidelines (comments through October 31, 2014)
The draft guidelines set goals, evaluation criteria and a process for determining how to balance public priorities. It is intended to inform the analysis of a site’s feasibility, but does not include the site selection process for an identified public facility need. Potential uses for public land could include public facilities, affordable housing, schools and recreational facilities and parks. Potential sites include:
- Sites identified in the County Manager’s Public Land for Public Good report
- Sites identified for additional study in the FY 2015-2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
- County-held land identified as a potential new school site in the Arlington Public Schools CIP
Upcoming studies that could be influenced by this policy include:
| Project | ||
| North Side Salt Facility | 26th St North & Old Dominion Dr | Spring 2015 |
| Lubber Run Community Center | 300 N Park Dr | Spring 2015 |
| Jennie Dean Park & Adjacent Land | S Four Mile Run | Spring 2015 |
Public Feedback
At its July 24 hearing, the County Board tasked the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) of the Planning Commission to receive and review public comments on the draft guidelines. Public comments were collected through email and online forums from July 25 – October 31, 2014. View a compiled list of public comments received about the draft guidelines.
The LRPC and the Planning Commission reviewed the public comments and presented recommendations to the County Board at their December 17 Recessed Meeting. The County Board will respond to the Planning Commission’s public land recommendations at their January 27 Recessed County Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Broad-based Facilities Study for 2015
On January 1, 2015, County Board Chair Mary Hynes announced a broad-based long-range planning effort aimed at developing a framework for assessing the County’s public facilities and establishing criteria for locating new facilities and financing their construction. Hynes said the Arlington Community Facilities Study – a Plan for the Future will be her primary focus during her 2015 chairmanship.