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May 13, 2026
Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Draft Arlington Guiding Principles
Today, we’re kicking off a seven‑part series on Arlington’s draft Guiding Principles, starting with Economically and Socially Resilient Arlington. Each Guiding Principle includes Supporting Statements shaped by community input and existing County‑adopted policies and initiatives.
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 fosters economic resilience and community prosperity by promoting innovative and market-responsive growth, supporting diverse businesses, and offering equitable access to essential services and amenities.
Supporting Statements:
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Value Aligned and Fiscally Responsible Growth: Guide public and private investments that reflect adopted plans and policies and advance community values and priorities, while maintaining quality and responsible stewardship of public resources.
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Economic Diversification and Investment: Foster long‑term economic strength and diversification that supports business investment, retention, and expansion, and promotes thriving mixed-use places, anchored by arts, culture, tourism, and community‑serving institutions.
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Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Business Ecosystem: Enable inclusive entrepreneurship and small business success by reducing barriers to entry and growth and by offering access to new networks and opportunities so small businesses can thrive.
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Flexibility and Commercial Resilience: Enable flexibility in changing market conditions through dynamic, market responsive land use policies and regulations that support adaptive reuse and strengthen the vitality and resilience of commercial corridors.
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Workforce Opportunity and Economic Mobility: Advance economic mobility and strengthen talent pipelines through access to life-long education and training opportunities that match jobs and skills in evolving industries and technologies.
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Household Stability and Wealth Building: Promote planning, policies, and accessible supportive services that strengthen household stability, enable wealth building, enhance homeownership pathways, and reduce barriers to workforce participation.
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Social Infrastructure and Preparedness: Protect livelihoods and wellbeing and prevent long term economic loss and service disruption through strong social infrastructure, climate resilience, emergency preparedness, and reliable essential services.
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.
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, 12-2 p.m., Fairlington Community Center Room #118
- 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
- Friday, May 15, Bike to Work Day, Rosslyn stop, 7–9 a.m.
- Saturday, May 16, Courthouse Farmers Market, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Sunday, May 17, Westover Farmers Market, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
- 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.
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