May 21, 2026

We want your feedback!

Community feedback on these draft Arlington Guiding Principles and Supporting Statements is essential so that community members' lived experiences, needs, and values are reflected in the Comprehensive Plan Introduction.

Share your input here now.

Please provide input by Sunday, June 7.

You are Invited!

Drop in to our open office hours or visit us at a pop-up to learn more and ask questions!

Office Hours

• Thursday, May 21, 6-8 p.m., Fairlington Community Center Room #118
• Tuesday, June 2, 12-2 p.m., Hendry House
• Tuesday, June 2, 6-8 p.m., Hendry House

Pop-ups

• Saturday, May 30, MetPark Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Sunday, May 31, Columbia Pike Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Draft Arlington Guiding Principles

Today, we're spotlighting Infrastructure‑Ready Arlington. The Guiding Principle and Supporting Statements reflect community input and build on existing County-adopted policies and initiatives.

Read previous newsletter editions on other Arlington Guiding Principles:

• Economically and Socially Resilient Arlington
• Healthy and Safe Arlington
• Inclusive Arlington

What are Guiding Principles? 

They are value-based statements that express the Comprehensive Plan's intended direction at its highest, overarching level, and guide its goals, policies, maps, and any other related components.

What are Supporting Statements? 

They are descriptive statements that indicate policy direction and provide greater clarity and definition to each Guiding Principle.

View the Project Documents webpage to read more details on the County-adopted policies and initiatives with which the Guiding Principles and Supporting Statements align.

Ensure Arlington supports the community’s current and emerging needs through future-ready infrastructure and public facilities, technological innovation, and accountable stewardship of public resources.

Supporting Statements:

• Emergency and Essential Services Readiness: Align public facilities and emergency response services with anticipated growth, and modernize aging systems, while investing in clean and renewable energy, backup systems, climate resilient and future-ready infrastructure and technology.
• Technology and Innovation: Ensure that technology infrastructure is accessible, reliable, secure, scalable, equitably distributed, and supports innovation to improve efficiency and respond to changing community and market needs.
• Educational Facilities: Plan for schools, educational spaces, and alternative learning environments to meet projected student enrollment and learning needs.
• Workforce Readiness and Access: Plan for and provide accessible, technology‑enabled spaces and public facilities that support learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and future‑ready workforce and industries, while fostering career opportunities in green and technology‑driven sectors.
• Accountable Stewardship of Public Facilities and Infrastructure: Coordinate long-range planning, siting, and co-location of public facilities and infrastructure to maximize community outcomes, reduce costs, ensure lifecycle stewardship, and align investments with land use decisions and community growth.