County Looking for Public Opinion on Future of Lee Highway

Arlington County is looking for participants for a four-day workshop focusing on the future of the Lee Highway corridor.

A consulting team will run the workshop, which is meant to help the county shape its vision for the Lee Highway corridor.

“Lee Highway isn’t going to plan itself,” Arlington County Planner Justin Falango said in a statement. “The people who live or work there, own businesses or land, or just visit, need to be integrally involved in this effort — and that begins with crafting a vision for the corridor’s future.”

The four-day workshop will take place at the Langston-Brown Community and Senior Center (2121 N. Culpeper Street) and starts on Friday, Nov. 6, with an introduction to the design team from 6-8 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, participants will draw their vision for the corridor as part of a community hands-on design session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will then have the opportunity to take a tour of a temporary design studio to watch designers work on the plans for Lee Highway on Sunday from 3-5 p.m.

The workshop will end on Monday, Nov. 8, with a wrap-up open house from 7-9 p.m., where participants will hear the first draft of recommendations for the Lee Highway corridor.

While picturing the vision for Lee Highway, participants and county staff will discuss:

• pedestrian accommodation
• cyclists and vehicles
• issues for commuters
• opportunities for housing
• appropriate development
• transitions from commercial zones to single family homes
• streetscape design
• the preservation of cultural resources

Planning for a redeveloped Lee Highway Corridor is an partnership effort between the county government and multiple civic associations that are affected by the road. The county is currently in a planning phase for the development project, and has been conducting multiple walks and hearing to gather information about the state of the corridor.