CPHD
Reviewing and Amending the General Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Plan
By state statute, each governing body of the Commonwealth must review the adopted Comprehensive Plan at least once every five years. In Arlington, the Comprehensive Plan elements are reviewed and amended on a continuing basis, as needed. In addition, every five years the Planning Commission and the County Board receive a summary of the reviews and amendments to the Comprehensive Plan over this period of time. This five-year review of the Comprehensive Plan also gives the County Board an opportunity to determine whether any element of the Plan should be considered for review or amendment over the next five-year period. The most recent Five-Year Review summarizes amendments to the Comprehensive Plan approved by the County Board between July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2010 with an update covering July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
The General Land Use Plan may be amended through two processes: 1) as part of a long-range planning process for a designated area or 2) as a result of an individual request for a specific change. The first process includes detailed land use studies which may be undertaken for designated areas of the County at the County Board’s directive where conditions warrant a comprehensive framework of policies for community improvement through redevelopment, revitalization or conservation. Alternative land use policies are developed for the area by the Planning staff in cooperation with other County agencies, the Planning Commission, County Board appointed commissions and task forces, neighborhood and civic organizations and the business community. The Planning Commission and the County Board hold public hearings on the various proposals and adopt a series of recommendations for future development that may include extensive changes to the General Land Use Plan. This process was used to develop the Sector Plans for each of the Metro Station Areas in the Rosslyn-Ballston and Jefferson Davis Metro Corridors. A similar process is used in developing plans for Neighborhood Conservation Areas or any other large area of the County requiring comprehensive study.
The second process includes an individual request for a change (amendment) to the General Land Use Plan by writing a letter to the Chairman of the County Board identifying the specific area and the General Land Use Plan designation being requested. Upon receipt of such a request, staff will review it and determine whether the “Policy for Consideration of General Land Use Plan Amendments Unanticipated by Previous Planning Efforts” applies. If the GLUP amendment policy does not apply, a “Request to Advertise” report will be prepared by staff for consideration by the Planning Commission and County Board. If the policy applies, then staff will work with the Planning Commission to develop a special process and meeting schedule to study the site and/or issues related to the requested GLUP amendment. Depending on the GLUP amendment being requested, the scope of the study process could range from a few meetings organized under the auspices of the Planning Commission to review staff analysis, to a more extensive process where a plan with recommendations is developed. At the conclusion of the public review process, staff will prepare a “Request to Advertise” report, which includes the results of the study, for consideration by the Planning Commission and County Board. If the County Board decides to authorize advertisement of the proposed GLUP amendment, public hearing dates for the Planning Commission and the County Board will be set and publicly advertised. At the public hearings, which will be set on dates concurrent with hearings for the site plan project, the Planning Commission receives a recommendation from the County Manager and hears public testimony. The Commission makes a recommendation to the County Board regarding the requested amendment. The County Board at its meeting also receives the County Manager’s report, hears public testimony, and makes the final decision.
Contents of GLUP Booklet
Purpose and Scope
Arlington's Origins and Governmental Framework
Planning History and The Development of the General Land Use Plan (GLUP)
Development and Growth Goals
Affordable Housing
Special Planning Areas
Special Planning Resolutions and Policies
Special Planning Programs
Implementation
Reviewing the Comp Plan & Amending the GLUP
Related Publications and Documents
Appendix 1: Special Planning Resolutions & Policies (full text)
Appendix 2:Planning Document & Policy Matrix
