County Board | ARLnow.com

County Board Grants Outdoor Permit with Restrictions for Ballston Bar

Published June 18, 2019 at 11:00AM

Site of The Bronson's proposed outdoor cafe (Image via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board granted new Ballston bar Bronson a permit for an outdoor patio and live music, following initial wariness from staff and neighbors over bad experiences with its predecessor, A-Town Bar and Grill.

The County Board reviewed a use permit application from Bronson — which is currently under construction atat 4100 N. Fairfax Drive and billed as a German craft beer bar — on Saturday. It unanimously approved the bar’s request to seat patrons along the sidewalk and to host live music.

Schools

County Board Eases Classroom Trailer Approval Process

By Airey

Published June 17, 2019 at 4:45PM

The Arlington County Board has approved zoning changes to make it easier for county schools to add temporary trailers to school grounds.

After a brief discussion, Board members voted unanimously on Saturday (June 15) to allow Arlington Public Schools administrators to add so-called “relocatable structures” to schools without needing to go through the county’s lengthy use permit amendment process.

News

County Board Members to Vote on Increasing Their Salaries

By Airey

Published June 17, 2019 at 11:00AM

Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse (file photo)

This week, Arlington County Board members will consider a proposal that would allow them to raise their salaries for the first time since 2012.

Members are scheduled to vote tomorrow (Tuesday) to raise the maximum level at which they can set their salaries, choosing from one of three possible options:

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 17, 2019 at 7:30AM

Police Nab Sex Assault Suspect — “Following a tip from a member of the public, the suspect has been identified as Wondimagegn Azemach, 19, of Riverdale, Maryland. He has been charged with Abduction with Intent to Defile and Sexual Battery.” [Arlington County]

Fire at Ambar in Clarendon — A small fire temporarily closed Ambar restaurant in Clarendon during prime brunching time on Saturday. [Twitter, Twitter]

News

New Arts Space Coming to Virginia Square

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2019 at 2:30PM

Latitude Arts Space in Virginia Square

A new arts space, paid for in-part by Arlington County and run by George Mason University, is coming to Virginia Square.

The Latitude Arts Space is an art installation planned for the southeast corner of Latitude Apartments (3601-2625 N. Fairfax Drive). The site will be operated by the GMU College of Visual and Performing Arts.

News

I-395 and I-66 Projects Causing Contractor Shortages, Higher Costs

By Airey

Published June 13, 2019 at 3:45PM

A proposed streetscape improvement project has revealed rising construction costs in Arlington County due to ongoing work to add new lanes to I-66 and I-395 — and associated projects.

“We believe the shortage of qualified contractors resulting from the abundance of work generated by the I-66 & I-395 Express Lanes projects is contributing to the higher than expected bid prices,” according to a county staff report.

News

County Board to Vote on Paving New W&OD Trail Connection in Barcroft

By Airey

Published June 11, 2019 at 4:45PM

Diagram of proposed W&OD trail connection to 9th Street S. (Image via Arlington County)

Arlington County Board members are scheduled to consider paving a connection between the W&OD Trail and 9th Street S. in Barcroft by the Buchanan Community Garden.

The proposal is to put an asphalt connection and a stop sign between 9th Street and the trail, crossing an area on the side of the trail currently used by Dominion subsidiary Virginia Electric Power Company.

News

County, State Pitching in Millions for Veterans-Focused Affordable Housing Development

By Airey

Published June 5, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated June 5, 2019 at 4:25PM

Gov. Ralph Northam (center) holds the checks announcing $13,700,000 funding for the affordable housing development in Virginia Square together with Sen. Barbara Favola (right) and APAH CEO Nina Janopaul (left)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) The Commonwealth of Virginia and Arlington County are loaning a combined $13,700,000 to a Virginia Square affordable housing project focusing on veterans.

Officials announced yesterday (Tuesday) evening that the Virginia Housing Trust Fund will loan $700,000 and Arlington County will loan the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) $13,000,000 to build a seven-story, 160-unit building on the site of the American Legion Post 139 (3445 Washington Blvd).

Opinion

The Right Note: Trouble Paying Your Taxes?

By Mark Kelly

Published June 4, 2019 at 2:30PM

If you are having trouble scrubbing the family budget enough to help pay for the rising tax rates here in Arlington, try this solution: just raise your salary.

That is apparently what the Arlington County Board plans to do this month.

News

National Park Service: Gravelly Point Not Ideal for Boathouse

By Airey

Published May 24, 2019 at 2:45PM

Diagram of proposed Gravelly Point site for the boathouse (Image via National Park Service)

Arlington County may be moving forward with plans to build the long-awaited boathouse in Rosslyn, but some are wondering why a site at Gravelly Point wasn’t chosen instead.

National Park Service spokesman Aaron LaRocca tells ARLnow that Rosslyn was chosen because “it best meets the purpose and need statement in the [environmental assessment] to enhance waterfront access and provide a boathouse facility along the Virginia shore of the Potomac for non-motorized, water based recreation” better than Gravelly Point.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 24, 2019 at 7:30AM

Landmark Trees Felled During Storm — A well-known, historic oak tree near the Reevesland farmhouse, one of seventeen designated specimen trees on private property in Arlington, was among the trees that fell during yesterday’s storm. Trees were also downed in Arlington National Cemetery; one tree crushed a car. [Twitter, Twitter]

May 23 Storm vs. 2012 Derecho — “The ~36,000 Dominion customers without power in Arlington at the post-storm peak today is just over half the ~68,000 after the 2012 derecho.” [Twitter]

News

County Board Considering Giving Themselves a Salary Raise

By Airey

Published May 23, 2019 at 9:00AM

Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse (file photo)

Arlington County Board members announced they were considering giving themselves a raise in the coming year, pending input from residents.

Vice Board Chair Libby Garvey broached the topic during the Tuesday night meeting, saying she’s “concerned increasingly about the level of salary” that the county currently offers to Board members, and she intends to ask the public what they think.