Aurora Highlands

A great place to live in Arlington, Virginia

 
 
 
 
Aurora Hills Senior Program

Crystal City Development

In 2006, the Arlington County Board established the Crystal City Task Force. The purpose is to create "a vision for the next generation of development in Crystal City." The charge of the Task Force is three-fold:
  • Help identify planning issues for the future development of Crystal City and review the County staff/consultant-generated concept plan and policy framework (Phase I);
  • Advise the County Board on the final concept plan and policy framework recommended by staff (Phase I);
  • Review a Phased Development Site Plan proposal for Crystal City to determine whether it meets the adopted policy framework and concept plan (Phase 2)."

  • Membership in the Task Force is designed to maximize citizen input and AHCA is one of the participants. Ted Saks is the AHCA representative. He welcomes your comments, questions, or concerns. Ted Saks uses our listserve (join the community listserve on Yahoo Groups ) and oral reports at the AHCA meeting to keep all apprised of Task Force activities, which is currently in Phase 2.

    More information about Crystal City redevelopment, including the preliminary concept for the future of Crystal City, a list of questions and answers, dates and locations of upcoming meetings, and summaries of previous meetings are available on the Arlington Economic Development Website.

    Pentagon Centre Site

    The third and final meeting of the County's Long Range Planning Commission, devoted to general planning for the Pentagon Centre site, provided an opportunity for discussion of the draft Guiding Principles. These principles include: compatibility with surrounding existing uses, a balanced mix of uses, heights and densities tapering down to meet adjacent existing low-rise residential development, well-designed publicly accessible open space, improved pedestrian, bicycle, transit and vehicular access, streetscapes that maximize pedestrian-friendly features, below-grade parking, green building principles, and phased design.

    The County's Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) schedule has information on upcoming meetings. The posted site plan calls for a new network of streets, buildings, and open space, and shows the three phases of development.

    Tim Weberstein is the AHCA representative. He welcomes your comments, questions, or concerns. Ted Saks is a member of the SPRC as a result of his three terms (12 years) on the Arlington Planning Commission (elected Chairman twice) and welcomes input from the neighborhood.

    Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP)

    The Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) "is being upgraded and expanded to meet new state and federal regulations, continue safely processing wastewater for a growing population and preserve our environment." Much of the plant lies within the boundaries of the AHCA.

    Residents of AHCA and the adjoining Arlington Ridge Civic Association have suffered from months of pile driving. AHCA is working to hold County officials accountable for the negative effects on our neighbors and ensuring our neighborhood receives the positive benefit from the County commensurate with shouldering the burden of the WPCP.

    The WCPC Website notes phase one of the pile driving is complete. Pile driving is scheduled to resume in 2009 for three, two-month periods during February - March, July - August, and November - December. The WCPD Website also has a link to sign up for a listserv to get regular updates on the progress of the plant construction. More information is available from Phil Loar (703-228-6867), the County's designated point of contact.

    The AHCA sent an e-mail letter to the County Manager and Board, asking them to adopt noise abatement measures to alleviate citizen distress when pile driving resumes. Summary of meeting at the Water Pollution Control Plant on June 26, 2008.


    Four Mile Run Restoration Project

    Keep abreast of the latest information on the Four Mile Run Project at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission website .