A Neighborhood Plan, which is the official City policy regarding the future of a neighborhood, contains recommendations that are developed by the residents of the neighborhood itself and then approved by City Council. After adoption, the Neighborhood Plan becomes part of the Comprehensive Plan.
The Neighborhood Planning program is an effort to address both opportunities for change and promote stability in neighborhoods.
Emerging Neighborhood Groups may find it helpful to read the Neighborhood Organizational Handbook before considering engaging in the neighborhood planning process. Learn more about organizing your neighborhood group here.
Getting Started
Residents of a neighborhood may consult with the Office of Strategic Initiatives about their desire to start the process, the suggested neighborhood boundaries and their reasons for wanting to create a neighborhood plan. City Council may also recommend the creation of a neighborhood plan for a particular area.
What is the Process?
To begin the preparation of a neighborhood plan, the Office of Strategic Initiatives staff will meet with the neighborhood residents. Residents are encouraged to appoint a volunteer committee to represent all interests in the neighborhood during the preparation of the plan. The committee and staff will work as a team to prepare the neighborhood plan.
Developing the Plan
The first phase of the planning process involves gathering and analysis of background information. Public meetings are used to hear neighborhood concerns and identify issues and problems, while extensive analysis is done of lot sizes, setbacks and other aspects of the neighborhood.
The planners, with advice from the committee, will then write draft recommendations that address the issues and propose solutions to the problems that were identified in the first phase of the planning process. The recommendations reflect the neighborhood’s own desires for its future.
After the recommendations have been drafted, the planners and committee discuss how to best implement the recommendations. Among these recommendations, a neighborhood plan can recommend a change of zoning. One zoning change option is the Conservation District Overlay, which was created especially to work with the neighborhood planning process and protects the unique character of a neighborhood.
Once the draft neighborhood plan is complete, the planners arrange for a public hearing on the plan before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. Notice of the hearing is mailed to all property owners and residents in the neighborhood. Once the plan is adopted, it becomes part of the Comprehensive Plan.
For more information, please send your questions to [email protected]
Adopted Neighborhood Plans
Since 2006, nine Neighborhood Plans have been developed, reviewed, and adopted and serve as a component of the City's Comprehensive Plan and guide future development in Arlington.