County Board | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published October 14, 2020 at 7:30AM

Changes Proposed to Rosslyn Development — “Arlington County Board members on [October] 17 will be asked to ratify relatively minor changes to the approved-in-2019 redevelopment of the Rosslyn Holiday Inn site. The request, if approved, would add residential units and delete hotel units from the project, while keeping the overall density of the project unchanged.” [InsideNova]

Today: Online Discussion With ACPD — “On Wednesday, October 14, 12-1 p.m., CPRO will be joined by members of the Arlington Police Department and County staff for our next Connecting & Collaborating Session: ‘Working Together to Keep Arlington Safe.’ We’ll be discussing safety concerns across the County and the effect on Columbia Pike.” [ARLnow Events, Zoom]

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 21, 2020 at 7:30AM

Boat Catches Fire Near Gravelly Point — “Update boat fire Gravelly Point. Vessel is well involved. #DCsBravest Fireboats in active attack on burning vessel. The 11 occupants are being transported to Fire/Police pier for evaluation.” [Twitter, Twitter]

Flags at Half Staff in Va., U.S. — “Per an order from @GovernorVA, the Virginia flag is to be lowered to half staff at all federal, state and local government facilities across Virginia in memory of U.S Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday. Flags are to remain lowered until burial.” [Twitter, White House]

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Arlington County to Launch Review of Logo, Street and Place Names

By ARLnow.com

Published September 18, 2020 at 3:15PM

Former Arlington County logo on basketball court in Waverly Hills (staff photo)

Three days after members of the Arlington County Board expressed support for changing the county’s logo, officials outlined a process for changing it, the county seal and, potentially, names of some local roads and places.

The logo change comes after a push from the Arlington branch of the NAACP, which earlier this summer called the illustration of Arlington House a “racist plantation symbol” that “divides, rather than unites us.”

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Officials Sound Warning About County Budget Shortfall

By ARLnow.com

Published September 17, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated September 17, 2020 at 3:04PM

County revenue sources impacted by pandemic (via Arlington County)

(Updated at 3 p.m.) Arlington County is facing a possible budget gap in the tens of millions dollars during the current fiscal year, as a result of the pandemic.

That’s the message from county staff, who raised the alarm during Tuesday’s County Board meeting.

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County Board Approves Contract for New ART Bus Facility

By ARLnow.com

Published September 17, 2020 at 10:00AM | Updated September 17, 2020 at 11:02AM

An Arlington Transit (ART) bus in Clarendon in 2019 (staff photo)

(Updated at 11 a.m.) The Arlington County Board has approved a nearly $4 million contract to plan, design and manage the construction of a new bus facility in the Green Valley neighborhood.

The Board unanimously approved the contract for a new Arlington Transit (ART) operations and maintenance facility at its Tuesday night meeting. The new facility will be built on a property along the 2600 block of Shirlington Road that the county bought for $24 million in 2018.

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Lee Highway McDonald’s Backs Off Plan for Second Drive-Thru Lane

By ARLnow.com

Published September 16, 2020 at 2:00PM

McDonald's at 4834 Langston Blvd (via Google Maps)

The McDonald’s at 4834 Lee Highway is backing off plans to reconfigure its drive-thru, at least for now.

The fast food restaurant withdrew a use permit application at the Arlington County Board over the weekend. That followed a drubbing at the Board’s April meeting, during which county officials blasted the plans, which included a second drive-thru lane and a new recirculating lane that would run between the restaurant and Lee Highway.

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County Board Votes to Discontinue Sidewalk Crowding Ordinance

By ARLnow.com

Published September 16, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:13AM

Something exceedingly rare happened during last night’s County Board meeting.

A broad spectrum of Arlington civic life — including progressives, the Chamber of Commerce, business owners, county commissions and a local civic association — all lined up to speak against an ordinance recommended for approval by county staff — one that was temporarily approved by the Board a month and a half ago.

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County Board Approves Zoning Change to Benefit Duplex Owners

By ARLnow.com

Published September 15, 2020 at 10:40AM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:26AM

(Updated at 11:30 p.m.) The County Board over the weekend approved a zoning change that will make life a bit easier for owners of a few hundred duplexes in Arlington.

The change affects “non-conforming” duplexes in certain zoning districts, which under existing zoning code were prohibited from any exterior change or expansion without permission of the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals. Single-family home owners in the same districts are allowed to make such changes by right, without a zoning variance.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 15, 2020 at 6:00AM | Updated September 15, 2020 at 9:20AM

Western Smoke Causing Hazy Skies — “The local National Weather Service office pointed out today in its technical discussion that the smoke is caught in the jet stream and moving overhead around 20,000 to 25,000 feet high. Smoke from the historic fires out West now covers much of the country, and it is expected to continue to be an issue in the days ahead.” [Washington Post, Twitter]

Board Approves Road Project — “Arlington County Board members on Sept. 12 approved a contract worth up to $805,000 for improvements to the intersection of 18th Street North with North Glebe Road and North Wakefield Street, aimed at providing a better walking and biking experience for children and others headed to Glebe Elementary School.” [InsideNova. Arlington County]

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Board Approves Gun Ban in County Buildings and Parks

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2020 at 3:55PM

The Arlington County Board over the weekend voted to ban guns in county buildings, parks and at some special events.

The new ordinance was made possible by the Virginia General Assembly, which recently approved legislation allowing localities to adopt certain prohibitions on firearms.

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County Board Expresses Support for Changing County Logo

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated September 14, 2020 at 2:56PM

Arlington County Board member Takis Karantonis holds up his business card, with the county logo, at the Sept. 12 Board meeting (via Arlington NAACP)

(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) A month and a half ago, the Arlington branch of the NAACP publicly called for the county’s logo to be changed. Over the weekend, members of the County Board voiced support for that change.

Arlington’s logo, along with its flag, depicts Arlington House, the county’s namesake that sits atop a hill in Arlington National Cemetery. The house was built by enslaved persons in the early 1800s on the orders of George Washington Parke Custis, George Washington’s adopted son.

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County Board OKs New $14 Million, Amazon-Funded Park in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2020 at 11:40AM | Updated September 14, 2020 at 12:02PM

Metropolitan Park Central Green rendering (via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has given its unanimous stamp of approval to plans for a revamped public park in the shadow of Amazon’s HQ2.

The Board approved a master plan and design guidelines for Pentagon City’s Metropolitan Park, which as currently configured is perhaps best known for being a large patch of grass where dogs from neighboring apartment buildings relieve themselves.