April 2026 Arlington County Board Wrap-up
The Arlington County Board considered and acted on dozens of agenda items at its April 2026 Regular and Recessed County Board Meetings. These include the following:
Saturday, April 18, 2026 – Regular County Board Meeting
Item 29 – 3130 Langston Boulevard (Walgreens Site) Redevelopment
The Arlington County Board approved items associated with the 3130 Langston Boulevard (Walgreens Site) Redevelopment. Item 29A comprised a general land use plan amendment, a rezoning, and a new site plan to demolish the existing commercial building on site to construct a new 13-story building. Item 29B included vacations for easements related to storm sewers, a public sidewalk, a bus stop, and utilities related to the property.
This 13-story building will contain 300 residential units, approximately 7,200 square feet of ground-floor retail, and 361 parking spaces in below- and above-grade structured parking. The applicant/site will also:
- Include 19 on-site committed affordable housing units;
- Contribute $1,775,110 to the County’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund;
- Provide overland relief through its site and provide stormwater management infrastructure that will allow for potential future improvements in the vicinity; and
- Construct a new public space on the southwestern corner of the site which will nearly achieve (within a single percentage point) the tree canopy targets in the Langston Boulevard Area Plan.
Item 30 – 2134 N. Taylor St. (Waverly Ridge site) Townhouse Development
The Board also deferred a site plan amendment to facilitate construction of 47 townhouse units. This item will be heard no later than the May 2026 County Board Meeting.
The April 2026 proposal consisted of six (6) sticks of for-sale townhouses, private internal streets, and approximately 10,279 sf of new public space. The proposal also included a major site plan amendment to the previously approved and valid site plan at the subject site, known as Artis Senior Living, which consists of a 6-story assisted living facility with 175 units and approximately 10,174 sf public space. To date, the Artis Senior Living project has not been implemented, and the site remains developed with several vacant single-family detached properties.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 – Recessed County Board Meeting
Item 31 – Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget Adoption
The County Board adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and set the Calendar Year 2026 real estate property tax rate and other tax rates and fees. The Board voted 4-1, with Board member Susan Cunningham voting no, to adopt the previously advertised 2-cent real estate tax rate increase, changing the rate from $1.033 to $1.053 per $100 of assessed value.
The public budget process began in December 2025, with the Board's Budget Direction to the County Manager, and included a series of public work sessions, virtual and pop-up public engagement, and public hearings on the Proposed Budget and the advertised Tax Rates and fees.
The adopted $1.7 billion budget, a 0.7 percent increase over FY 2026, continues investments in the County’s workforce, critical services, and fiscal sustainability. The real estate tax rate increase will result in an average real estate tax payment increase of $466 for homeowners, based on the average home value of $882,900. The average apartment renter could see an increase of $317, based on an average apartment value of $373,772 and assuming this increase is directly passed on to the renter by their landlord.
“I am keenly aware that raising tax rates, when our federal employees and community as a whole are reeling from the decisions and impacts of the Federal Administration’s actions, is difficult” said Chair de Ferranti. “I hope and respectfully submit that the choices we made are sufficiently aligned with Arlington's ideals as we work to meet this difficult moment."
Read the full press release on the adopted FY2027 Budget
Additions to the Budget and Supplemental Guidance to the County Manager
The County Board also voted to include additional funding and supplemental guidance to the County Manager on key County and community priorities. These include (but are not limited to):
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$1,455,619 total funding to the Sheriff’s Office to be used for salary increases;
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$1,300,000 in one-time funding to the Department of Human Services, to cover additional housing recipients prior to the implementation of the Housing Grants waitlist, which starts no later than Oct. 1, 2026;
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$650,398 in total funding to the Arlington Housing Investment Fund;
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$437,050 in one-time funding for additional Opportunities Grants funding;
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$367,000 in total net tax support ($145K ongoing; $222K one-time) to the Department of Parks and Recreation, to restore the Barcroft Recreational Gymnastics program, with adopted fees to provide greater cost recovery;
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$334,487 in total net tax support (all ongoing) to the Department of Parks and Recreation, to restore the Barcroft Competitive Gymnastics program, with adopted fees to provide greater cost recovery;
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$350,000 in one-time funding for humanitarian assistance;
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$292,768 in ongoing funding to keep the Cherrydale Library branch open, partially offset by eliminating the proposed hiring of an additional outreach librarian;
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$250,000 in one-time funding to Arlington Economic Development, for initiatives and grants at the discretion of the new AED director;
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$200,000 in ongoing funding to the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, to fund its restorative justice efforts ($150K) and its conversion of a Paralegal position to a Paralegal Supervisor ($50K);
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$197,000 in ongoing funding to the Office of the Independent Policing Auditor, to support a new Deputy Independent Policing Auditor ($172K) and for non-personnel costs ($25K);
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$150,000 in ongoing funding for Vision Zero initiatives;
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$150,000 in ongoing funding for Food Security mini-grants, to ensure continued grant funding availability for local non-profits to implement select aspects of the county’s Food Security Strategic Plan;
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$107,150 in one-time funding to the Office of the Public Defender, for an additional paralegal fellow for mitigation and investigation;
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$74,913 in ongoing funding to the County Manager’s Office, to restore the Associate Environmental Management Specialist;
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$70,000 in one-time funding to the Arlington County Board Office, to continue supporting Ranked-Choice Voting Education efforts.
Read the full Board’s Supplemental FY2027 Budget Guidance
The new fiscal year begins July 1, 2026.
Item 32 – Allocation of State Personal Property Tax Relief Monies
The Board adopted a resolution that adjusted the state Personal Property Tax Relief Act monies allocation to direct a greater share of funds to residents who own lower-value vehicles to help ease the burden on lower-income households. Under the revised allocation method, full tax relief will be provided on the first $4,000 of vehicle value, compared to the previous $3,000 threshold in CY 2025. Additionally, taxes on the remaining vehicle value (up to $20,000) will be relieved at a rate of 13% for both conventional and clean fuel vehicles.
Item 33 – FY27 Opportunities Grant Awards
The Board approved $1,687,050 in awards to thirty-one (31) recipients via the FY27 Opportunities Grant. While $1.25 million was available from FY2026, the Board provided an additional $437,050 in one-time funding through the FY2027 Budget to further support these awards.
The full list of recipients, award amounts, and summaries of projects funded, are available in the Board report, but the needs supported through this grant can be grouped into the following categories:
- $564,931 for Economic Security;
- $457,050 for Education;
- $305,069 for Legal Services or Justice-involved Support;
- $290,000 for Health; and
- $70,000 for Social Connections & Community.
The Opportunities Grant began in FY 2025 as the RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community Grant and stemmed from the County’s ongoing racial equity work and direction from the County Board. Local leaders representing the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community and United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) collaborated with County staff in the development of the grant process which focuses on responding to community-defined human services needs. The resulting grant program intends to support nonprofits in their work creating opportunities for Arlington residents to thrive by reducing, eliminating, and preventing inequities.
Item 34 – Initiating Resolution for 750 23rd St. LHD Designation
The Board adopted a resolution to initiate an Arlington County Zoning Ordinance amendment regarding the Local Historic District (LHD) Designation for the Nelly Custis Elementary School property (also known as the Melwood site) located at 750 23rd St. S.
Initiation of this amendment was for procedural purposes only. Staff will proceed with following the required steps identified in §11.3.4, Establishment of Historic Districts, of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO).
As a reminder, the timeline of this process is as follows:
- In April 2024, the Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) Neighborhood Services Division-Historic Preservation Program received a Local Historic District (LHD) designation nomination application for the Nelly Custis Elementary School.
- In June 2024, the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) reviewed the LHD request and made a motion for Historic Preservation Program (HPP) staff to study the property, as information provided in the nomination application suggested the property may meet at least two criteria to become an LHD.
- At the March 18, 2026, HALRB public hearing, the HALRB made a motion that the Nelly Custis Elementary School met two of the 11 designation criteria enumerated in ACZO §11.3.4.A.6 as necessary to receive a local historic district recommendation. Pursuant to its authority under ACZO Section 11.3.4.A.7 and 11.3.4.A.8, the HALRB favorably transmitted such recommendation to the County Board for further consideration.
This request to initiate review of the LHD designation was the next procedural step in the process before staff bring the HALRB’s recommendation forward for Resolution to Authorize Request to Advertisement (RTA) and, later, for consideration of adoption by the County Board.
Registering to Speak at Future Public Hearings
Registration to speak on an item with a scheduled public hearing opens approximately a week before the meeting, and members of the public can either register online or call in at 703-228-3130.
Those wanting to participate in these hearings can do so in person, virtually, or by phone and will receive instructions on these options once they have completed their registration. Members of the public wanting to speak on a Consent Agenda item may do so by notifying the County Board Office before 10 AM at Regular Meetings to request the item be pulled from the agenda. Members of the public may then register to speak on pulled agenda items at the upcoming Tuesday Recessed Meeting. Agendas will note which consent agenda items are subject to public hearing requirements and which require Board member consent to be removed.
Members of the public are also strongly encouraged to subscribe to the County Board's News and Updates service to be alerted when meeting agendas are posted. Board meeting and agenda information can be accessed on the County Board's webpage. Visit 2026 County Board Meeting and Procedures on the County website to learn more.
Media Contact
David R. Barrera
Arlington County Board Office
Communications & Constituent Services Manager
dbarrera@arlingtonva.us
703-228-3121
View this release in our newsroom
