The amount and type of housing within a city can serve as a snapshot of what it's like to live there.

City planning officials are hoping to learn more about the kinds of housing available in Arlington and what residents and local stakeholders think could be done differently or improved. The effort is designed to both satisfy federal fair housing guidelines and create a long-term Comprehensive Housing Strategy for the City.

Leaders said they hope that the project will provide insight that Arlington needs to develop effective, informed and focused housing policies as well as guidance toward any future plans or programs that would create and maintain a spectrum of housing choices.

Consultants and City planners are in the process of collecting data and opinions through a variety of means including a resident survey and public meetings with residents, realtors, community service providers, neighborhood groups, government officials and financial professionals.

"We're hoping that this provides a real cross section of information and opinion,"said Sarah Stubblefield, a strategic planner for the City."We want to develop a tool box of strategies to help make our City better. That's the overall goal."

The online resident survey-which was offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese also was available in all public libraries and upon request-asked questions about current housing, housing needs and fair housing. More than 450 residents completed the survey.

As part of the Comprehensive Housing Strategy, City planners also are working to update a required federal document called the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) that must be approved by the City Council and submitted for approval to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The document helps identify any impediments to fair housing choice and describes how the City would overcome the effects of those impediments. The primary objective is to provide detailed information and data to municipal officials and staff, policy makers, housing developers, lenders and fair housing advocates.

A public hearing will be held to discuss the document and gather public input at 6 p.m. on June 5 in the City Council Briefing Room, 3^rd Floor, 101 W. Abram Street.

The City will hold a 30-day public comment period from June 6 to July 5, which is a requirement of the process. Written comments will be accepted by e-mail to [email protected], by mail to City of Arlington, Attn: Elaine Dennehy, 101 West Abram Street, P.O. Box 90231, MS 01-0260, Arlington,Texas, 76010, or hand-delivered to the One-Start Center on the second floor of City Hall, Attn: Elaine Dennehy.

Updated information about the Strategy can be found at webapps.arlingtontx.gov/tmp/planning/comprehensivehousingstrategy.html.