CPHD
The Comprehensive Plan
The Arlington County Comprehensive Plan
Arlington will be a diverse and inclusive world-class urban community with secure, attractive residential and commercial neighborhoods where people unite to form a caring, learning, participating, sustainable community in which each person is important. – Arlington County Vision
The Code of Virginia requires all governing bodies in the Commonwealth to have an adopted Comprehensive Plan. Arlington County’s Comprehensive Plan was established in order that Arlington County may remain a safe, healthy, convenient and prosperous community and an attractive place in which to live, work and play, with stable or expanding values and potentialities for growth and continued economic health. The purpose of Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan is to guide the coordinated and harmonious development of the County through the provision of high standards of public services and facilities.
Arlington County’s Comprehensive Plan was established by resolution of the County Board on August 27, 1960. This resolution called for the preparation of Arlington County’s Comprehensive Plan, which originally included five elements. In later years, additional elements were added to the Comprehensive Plan and some were replaced by new plans. Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan has been continually updated and expanded and now comprises nine elements: the General Land Use Plan, the Master Transportation Plan, the Storm Water Master Plan, the Water Distribution System Master Plan, the Sanitary Sewer Collection System Master Plan, the Recycling Program Implementation Plan and Map, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance and Plan, the Public Spaces Master Plan and the Historic Preservation Master Plan.
Goals and Objectives
The following general principles were adopted by the County Board as part of its 1960 resolution concerning the Comprehensive Plan:
- Retention of the predominantly residential character of the County, and limitation of intense development to limited and defined areas;
- Promotion of sound business, commercial and light industrial activities in designated areas appropriately related to residential neighborhoods;
- Development of governmental facilities which will promote efficiency of operation and optimum public safety and service, including the areas of health, welfare, culture and recreation;
- Provision of an adequate supply of water effectively distributed;
- Maintenance of sewage disposal standards acceptable to the immediate County area and its neighbors in the entire Washington Metropolitan Area and consistent with the program of pollution abatement of the Potomac River;
- Provision of an adequate storm water drainage system; and
- Provision of an adequate system of traffic routes which is designed to form an integral part of the highway and transportation system of the County and region, assuring a safe, convenient flow of traffic, thereby facilitating economic and social interchange in the County.
Elements of the Comprehensive Plan
- General Land Use Plan
- Master Transportation Plan
- Storm Water Master Plan
- Water Distribution System Master Plan
- Sanitary Sewer Collection System Master Plan
- Recycling Program Implementation Plan and Map
- Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance and Plan Ordinance
- Public Spaces Master Plan
- Historic Preservation Master Plan
Related Documents
