November 2023 Newsletter

[ 0 ] November 2, 2023 | AHCA

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November 2023 NEWSLETTER

You can also view and download the November PDF print version here. Links are live!

Monthly Meeting Reminder
Wednesday, November 8, 7-9pm
** VIRTUAL EVENT **
**DRAFT AGENDA**
7:00 pm – Call to order and approve October minutes
7:05 pm – Guest Presentation: Melwood President & CEO Larysa Kautz on current programs and future plans
7:40 pm – Election of AHCA Officers for 2024
8:10 pm – Livability22202 Priorities Input
8:30 pm – Committee Reports/Other Business / New Business
9:00 pm – Adjourn
The meeting will be virtual only. Please REGISTER NOW to receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting and the option to add a reminder to your calendar.
If you are unable to attend, but have questions you’d like raised for any agenda items, please email them to officers@aurorahighlands.org and we’ll do our best to address them during the meeting.

Note from the President

Dear Neighbors,

We’ve had great conversations about our priorities for the Livability 22202 reboot at our last two civic association meetings and at the community meeting on Oct. 26 at the Amazon community room. The current draft now contains most of AHCA’s input, such as shifting away from housing as an ask, specifying that new community amenities not impact existing open space, and ensuring that the Aurora Hills library remain centrally located. Join us at our November 8 AHCA meeting to give your input on the priorities. I will be accepting written comments on the priorities until Nov. 17. Send written comments to president@aurorahighlands.org. If you’re still wondering what “Livability22202″ is, read more on page 2.

Our guest at the November meeting will be Melwood President and CEO Larysa Kautz on programs and future plans. Please see article on page 2 regarding the special GLUP study and respond to the survey by November 14.

We will vote on the slate of AHCA officers who were nominated at the October meeting. As always, we will need a quorum of 20 members in good standing to hold the election. To vote on Zoom, all members of a household will need to log in from separate devices. If elected by a majority of members, the new slate of officers will take over on January 1. The slate of officers is the following:

President – Rachel Hicks (new)
First Vice President – Jill Braun (returning)
Second Vice President – Stacy Meyer (new)
Treasurer – Ben Watts (returning)
Corresponding Secretary – Alyssa Gardner (new)
Recording Secretary – Nick Giacobbe (returning)

Neighbors, it’s been an adventure leading this organization for the past two years. The issues facing our little neighborhood on the edge of a development boom have been vast and complex. I’ve had to learn so much on the issues as I have endeavored to bring you all together to participate in creating and maintaining the community you have chosen to live in. I wish the 2024 team all the best in continuing this important work.

Cory Giacobbe, President AHCA

Calendar

See aurorahighlands.org/events/

Nov 3-5 – The Tell-Tale Heart at Synetic Theater – Tickets here
Nov 4 – Farmers Market at Met Park
Nov 6, 13, 20, 27- Virtual Open Door Mondays, RSVP here
Nov 6 – 55+ Jeopardy! at Aurora Hills – 2-3 pm – Register here
Nov 8 – November AHCA Meeting, 7-9 pm, online via Zoom, register here
Nov 9 – 7-8:30 p.m., Arlington Historical Society Lecture “Operation Skyshield: Cold War Games and their Impact on Arlington” More info here
Nov 11 – Farmers Market at Met Park
Nov 17 – 55+ Aurora Hills Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:30-2:30 pm, $10, Register here
Nov 18 – Farmers Market at Met Park
Nov 22 – 55+ Movies at Aurora Hills, 12:30-2:30 pm, Register here
Nov 25 – Fort Scott Invasive Plant Removal, 9-11 a.m. Register here
Dec 2 – Haley Park Invasive Plant Removal, 9-11 a.m. Register here

Food Drive this Saturday!

This Saturday, November 4, is Scouting for Food, a nationwide annual food drive organized by the Boy Scouts of America. Since 1995, local Arlington Scouts have collected more than 1 million pounds of food for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). AFAC reports that the number of family visits to the Food Pantry increased just this year by 30%. If you miss the Scout food drive but want to help neighbors in need, you can drop off non-perishable food in the AFAC box in the lobby of the Aurora Hills Library. A list of the most needed items can be found at https://bit.ly/FoodBankNeeds

55+ Activities – Winter Registration opens Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. for 55+ programs, events and classes!

The Fall Activity Guide is here. There are great programs for fitness, art, music, dance, trips, hikes, parties and more! View activities and register! Or register by phone by calling 703-228-4747, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Newsletters & Social Media
We have heard from residents that they really enjoy having a print newsletter. While we’ll do our best to continue it, that will depend on continued support from advertisers and volunteers to distribute it. Sign up for newsletters by email at aurorahighlands.org/join-ahca and follow us at @AuroraHighlands on Twitter, Facebook, or Insta to stay connected no matter what.
The 4D-A group list-serve is an alternative to Nextdoor for hyper-local information and to post queries to your neighbors: To subscribe, send a message to :
4DA-22202+subscribe@groups.io
for information on the group and how to join and post, visit:
https://groups.io/g/4D-A22202

Aurora Highlands Civic Association (AHCA) Dues for Calendar Year 2024

Please show your support for AHCA and the community by paying the annual dues for 2023. The cost is $20 per household and is used to support the monthly newsletter, community events, and other neighborhood building activities, and additionally, is required to be able to vote on referendums at meetings and serve as an officer in the association*. There are two ways to pay dues, either mail a check** to AHCA, P.O. Box 25201, Arlington, VA 22202, or go to www.aurorahighlands.org and click the “Donate” button to pay by PayPal

* To check your membership status, please email the treasurer at Treasurerahca@gmail.com

** Paying by check saves the AHCA the PayPal transaction fee.

AHCA November Meeting Topics:

Livability22202 Community Meeting Followup and Feedback

The three civic associations in 22202 held a Livability22202 community meeting on October 26. The Livability priorities from 2019 are now being updated based on community input. We have been collecting feedback from the community since September and incorporating them into the priorities list. The current draft of the list is HERE. https://livability22202.org/livability22202-reboot/ The next step in the process is to finalize the priorities and submit them to the County and to the Crystal and Pentagon Cities Council (CPCC). We will brief AHCA on the community meeting at our Nov. 8 AHCA meeting and take comments at that time. The final date to submit written comments is November 17. Please send written comments to president@aurorahighlands.org.

For more information on the Livability22202 Reboot, see article below.

Melwood President and CEO at AHCA November Meeting

Also at our November meeting we will have a guest presentation by Melwood President & CEO Larysa Kautz on current programs and future plans. To learn more about Melwood and an opportunity of comment, please see the article below.

Melwood Special GLUP Study – Public Comments due November 14

Melwood has requested that the County amend the General Land Use Plan (GLUP) and change the land use designation of its property at 750 23 rd Street S. The County is now conducting a Special GLUP Study to evaluate whether this would be an appropriate change. The site consists of two parcels: one houses the Melwood Horticultural Training Center and a smaller one contains a portion of Nelly Custis Park. The applicant wants to construct a new, primarily residential building of approximately five stories for both Melwood operations and affordable housing units. (The smaller parcel would remain a part of Nelly Custis Park and continue to be public. Information from the applicant and the County, as well as AHCA’s report and the recording and minutes from the initial meeting on May 12, 2022, is available on the project website https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Plans-Studies/General-Land-Use-Plan/Studies/Melwood.

Online Community Engagement: Please review the staff presentation and slides, then share your thoughts on the guiding planning principles and the proposed building height and form, to help inform staff’s recommendations. Deadline is November 14. On November 28 at 7 pm, a Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) of the Planning Commission will review community input and discuss refinements to the draft guiding principles and conceptual models. Representatives from relevant County commissions and other stakeholder groups impacted by this study are invited to participate. Members of the public may attend and provide comment.

Livability22202 Reboot: AHCA meeting November 8; Comments due November 17!

Livability22202 is a coalition of the 3 civic associations of 22202 – Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City – all of whom face common pressures from rapid commercial and residential development. In 2018 community leaders, activists, and interested citizens met to develop holistic strategies, based on shared themes, to create a better, more livable community. In 2019 the coalition published an Action Plan and Framework, which have been used by the County, developers and even VDOT in their plans.

Fast forward to June 2023, when County staff asked the Crystal and Pentagon Cities Council (CPCC) for a list of community priorities to help prioritize community benefits provided by developer and major projects in Arlington’s Capital Improvement Plan. The CPCC, which comprises property owners, residents, and County staff and commission members – agreed that the 2019 Livability22202 priorities were the best starting point. Livability22202 leaders met to evaluate the current Framework and draft new recommendations incorporating feedback from the civic associations. The updated priorities have been discussed at the October CPCC meeting, the September and October AHCA meetings, and a community meeting on Oct. 26.

NOTE: See AHCA September and October Newsletters, meeting minutes and videos for background info on the Livability22202 Priorities Reboot. All are available at https://aurorahighlands.org/documents/

Neighborhood News

Get a Free Tree and Help Preserve our Tree Canopy!

Tax Credit for Planting New Trees

In 2024, the County will assess a stormwater utility fee on your property. You can offset that fee by planting a shade tree. Even better, you can have a FREE tree planted, at no cost to you, by applying for one (or more) through the Tree Canopy Fund. The deadline for the Spring 2024 Tree Planting is January 5. For more info tree applications, go to https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/community-programs/trees/instructions/tcep-application/.

The list of species is at https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TCEP-Species-Available-Spring-2024-v.-1.-.docx-1.pdf. Read more about the stormwater tax credit at https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability-and-Environment/Stormwater/Stormwater-Utility-Implementation/Stormwater-Utility-Credit-Program. Email natashaatkins1@gmail.com if you want advice or help with the (quite cumbersome) application.

Stormwater Utility Credit Program Now Open

Now thru January 15, 2024, property owners in Arlington can apply for credits offsetting up to 35% of their Stormwater Utility bill. Qualifying credits will be calculated based on the type of property and actions taken, such as tree planting, volunteer activities, and installing some types of pervious surfaces. Actions taken in 2023 will be eligible for credit on the first bill in May 2024. Read the Stormwater Credit Manual in English or Spanish, and view the credit program video for more details, including application instructions, required documentation, and tips for a successful submission.

Three tips for fall trees:

1. Please water deeply (20 gallons or 45 min at a trickle from a hose) any tree that was planted in the last 2 years. It has been very dry but very warm. Give the trees a better chance to make it through the winter.
2. Keep mulch away from the trunk of a tree. Think donut instead of volcano. And make sure the mulch is not so deep that you bury the “flare” at the base of the trunk. Incorrect mulching can kill a tree.
3. Consider leaving the leaves in your plant beds over the winter, or rake them into a pile in the corner of your yard. Many important — and beautiful — insects, such as bumblebees and the cocoons of luna moths and swallowtail butterflies, live underground or bury themselves under leaf piles. They need the insulation to survive the winter.

Call for AHCA Historical Documents

We recently visited Arlington’s Center for Local History and they noted the lack of historical records on our neighborhood. If you have any civic association records or other historical documents, please let me know and we can discuss getting them into the community archives. Send me an email at President@AuroraHighlands.org. Thanks.

Restaurants and Retail

Farmers Market at Metropolitan Park Continues on Saturdays ‘til November 18

Join EatLoco from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday through November 18 at Met Park for an exciting lineup of vendors and entertainment. Location: 1330 S Fair Street

Events in National Landing

Between BID events, seasonal celebrations, and other neighborhood festivities, there’s always something to do in National Landing. Discover National Landing activities such as fitness, art, concerts, theater, movies, comedy, karaoke and more. To view all events, go to: https://nationallanding.org/events/calendar

County News

Engage Arlington: Visit this site frequently for new opportunities to give the County feedback!

Don’t Forget to VOTE this Fall! Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Polls open 6AM-7PM!

Check your registration through this link before you go to vote. Make sure your name and address are current and correct and note the location of YOUR precinct. If you need to update your voting information, you can do so on Election Day in your precinct. If you missed the registration deadline, you can register on Election Day in your precinct through Same Day Registration.

The results of the General Election on November 7 will be critical to the future direction of Arlington County and Virginia. Make sure you VOTE to make your voice heard! Everything that you need to know to vote successfully in Arlington is linked through the County Voting website.

Who’s on your ballot? Go to this page and select the sample ballot that matches your Virginia Senate and House Congressional Districts. All Virginia Senate and House seats are up for election this year. We are also selecting TWO new County Board members. Note that you may write-in legitimate names for all positions on our ballot. To learn more about the County Board candidates, try searching for their websites or attending candidate forums.

Where, How, and When to Vote – Lots of Options!

Vote early by mail: If you have requested and received a ballot to mail back, please complete your ballot and envelopes and mail back the completed ballot/envelope. Ensure that it is postmarked by November 7; the County needs to receive it by November 13. Note that you can also drop off your completed ballot/envelope at our community drop box at the Aurora Hills Community Center anytime until 7PM on Election Day. You may also drop off your completed ballot/envelope at any Arlington precinct on Election Day (until 7PM).

Vote early in person through November 4 at one of three early voting sites. We do not have an early voting site in 22202; the closest early voting site to 22202 is the Walter Reed Community Center, with limited hours and days.

Vote in person on Election Day, November 7, between 6AM and 7PM. Know where you vote, what you need, and who’s on the ballot before you go!

Bring an acceptable ID: Note that out of state drivers’ licenses are not an acceptable ID to vote in Virginia, but many other forms of ID are fine.

Know where you vote: We have 8 different precincts in 22202 with surprisingly complex borders. Please go to YOUR precinct to ensure that your vote will count!

Try “curbside” voting if you are over 65 or have impairments. We will bring your ballot out to you! Find more information on County disability services at the polls here.

Need a ride to the polls? Contact the Democratic (703-528-8588 ext 5 or info@arlingtondemocrfats.org) or Republican (703-677-8217 or info@arlingtongop.org) ride services.

Arlington Public Library Events in November

Check out the featured November library events here at this link:
https://library.arlingtonva.us/events/featured-events/

To see all Arlington Library events, visit https://library.arlingtonva.us/events/

Parks and Rec Events in November for all ages

There really is an astounding number and variety of events and activities in Arlington: art, athletics, movies, music, nature, book clubs, cooking, hiking. To see the variety and volume, visit the Parks and Rec calendar for here:
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Parks-Events
Here is a link to the main Parks and Rec page with programs for all ages:
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Programs

Report a Problem Web and App

If you see problems you can report them to the County. After marking the location on the map, select Blocked Sidewalk, Street, or Bike Lane and complete and submit the form. You can also report broken traffic signals, potholes, damaged sidewalks, street lights out, damaged traffic signs, and lots of other things! Try it.

Arlington’s Racial History Timeline Update: Sign Up to Share Your Story

The County Manager’s Office of R.A.C.E. is expanding its Racial History Timeline, a resource that documents key historical events in housing, education, transportation, community facilities and more. We are collecting oral histories from community members like you to build on the time period from 1976 to 1990. Visit the project page to sign up to share your story and to learn more about the Racial History Timelines.

Transportation News

Vision Zero Update:

In July 2019, The County Board adopted a resolution to commit to a Vision Zero policy and in 2021 adopted the first five-year Vision Zero Action Plan. County staff have been working to improve transportation safety ever since. Most recently, Vision Zero staff released their mid-year Progress Report in September and held their Vision Zero Mid-Year Check-In on October 19. The meeting slides and recording are available here – along with links to many other ways residents can be involved with Vision Zero activities. The Vision Zero Maps & Safety Data page links to a Vision Zero dashboard, hot spot analyses, High Injury Network (HIN) data, critical crash reports, and other important data. No surprise – we have lots of serious crashes in our community!

Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion (ANC SE)

The ongoing ANC SE DAR and realignment of Columbia Pike continue to require contortionist maneuvers through various road closures and detours for all travelers. Be careful, especially after dark, as lanes are narrow, rough, and poorly marked and street lights are scarce.

Free ART Bus Rides From October 2 to December 25

Inbound ART buses during the morning rush and outbound ART buses during the evening rush will be free for all routes. Consult the website to see when free rides will be available for your bus route. Skip the driving, save money on gas and tolls, and get to your destination stress-free. Note the time limitations for free rides!

Amendments to Code Requiring Motorists to Stop for Pedestrians

The County Board amended Chapter 14.2 of the Arlington County Code to require motor vehicle operators to stop completely for pedestrians in crosswalks. Previously, local code only required operators to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. This amendment brings the County into conformance with recent changes to state law and supports Arlington’s ongoing Vision Zero efforts. Can’t wait for this to be implemented!

National Landing BID Transportation Roundtable

The BID held its most recent quarterly Transportation Roundtable on September 27. The meeting recording is available here. These roundtables are the best, most succinct way to keep informed about transportation plans and construction in our community, as they contain updates on all local County projects and development projects in our area. The next Roundtable is scheduled for November 16, 10AM. Please contact Matt Jones at the BID if you would like to participate (matt@nationallanding.org).

Construction Updates

Neighborhood Construction Information Resources

The County Crystal City-Pentagon City Area Map shows information on commercial development and transportation projects in our area, with links to project pages and contact information. The National Landing BID page on construction projects provides additional construction information.

Commercial Development Updates

RiverHouse Neighborhood: Second LRPC Meeting, Tuesday, October 24, 2023 7PM, Third LRPC Meeting November 16!

Staff presentation slides; Applicant presentation slides; Meeting recording

Staff announced plans to hold a THIRD LRPC MEETING on Thursday, November 16 for the RiverHouse project.. This third meeting will be followed by an on site tour and the first park master planning meeting for the two open spaces on the RiverHouse site. A series of at least five SPRC meetings will start in 2024. See the new meeting schedule on slides 5 & 6 of the staff’s presentation.

The focus of this second LRPC meeting was transportation. JBGS staff and consultants highlighted changes in response to comments from the first LRPC. They expanded the space between Buildings N1 and N2 by shrinking the size and footprint for N2. This new wider space now mirrors the corridor across Joyce Street at WestPost and created a much larger open space for activation. They also adjusted the space between Buildings C2 & C3 to create a wider pair of green ribbon paths, with the central path designed for cyclists. They also redesigned the Green Ribbon section on Kent Street, creating a lush greenscape to accompany the sidewalk and street. Finally, they adjusted the extension of the Green Ribbon to 15^th Street on the west side, which added a new view shed and more comfortable access. Chris Forinash, with Nelson/Nygaard, noted decreasing vehicular traffic patterns on Joyce, which will allow JBGS and the County to create protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks while decreasing travel lanes. He also addressed how JBGS is implementing the Pentagon City Sector Plan sections on transportation that impact RiverHouse: Green Ribbons and Joyce (big and little).

Matt Mattauszek, CHPD staff, reviewed key guidance in the Pentagon City Sector Plan (PCSP) that will impact RiverHouse design and the process for review of the RiverHouse project. He noted that staff has added a third LRPC meeting and pushed the now 5 SPRC meetings to 2024. He summarized the primary transportation areas that staff feels the applicant’s plans are out of compliance with the PCSP: sidewalks in the southern landbay, bike facilities in several locations, and plans for “big Joyce”, which impede fire access.

The resident representatives in the buildings to the west of the RiverHouse project offered many relevant comments on the current plans and useful suggestions for further refinement. The DAC representative had great questions about accessibility and how to improve access. Many of these comments, i.e. on bus stops, PUDO, and parking details, will be addressed more appropriately during the SPRC process however. LRPC members did comment on proposed sidewalk widths, strongly discouraged sharrows for bikes, and wondered about how the plans for “big Joyce” would transition to plans for 15^th Street and for “little Joyce”, especially for cyclists and pedestrians. LRPC members asked for a real east-west bike connection through the site, as well as new maps that showed all routes for all modes: pedestrians, cyclists, resident drivers, visitors, PUDO/taxi service, and vehicles going to loading docks. LRPC had a great suggestion for the new little street just west of Kent – turn it into a Woonerf – a low speed, shared use street with lots of greenery!

Please follow the evolving plans for RiverHouse, a huge site that will have huge impacts on our neighborhood! Plan to watch the third LRPC meeting on November 16^th, go on the on site tour (TBD), participate in park planning, additional public comment sessions, and the upcoming SPRC meetings!

Crystal House 3: Watch for engagement opportunities for Crystal House 3

Arlington County awarded APAH and EYA the opportunity to co-develop the five Crystal House buildings that were approved in 2019 but never built. Because the 2019 plans were approved, and according to the County’s zoning code, the plans for Crystal House 6, the first of the five projects, were considered a “minor site plan amendment”, the new Crystal House 6 plans did not need to go through the usual County review process. AHCA sent a letter to the County encouraging a more collaborative and inclusive review process, and the County then provided an inadequate one-hour public engagement. The recording is here; the staff presentation is here; the applicant presentation is here; the plans are here. AHCA sent a second letter expressing concerns about the process after the meeting. The County Board approved the Crystal House 6 project at their October 14 meeting. Next up – Crystal House 3 – approved for over 400 units in a long 11 story building that covers the length of Eads from 20^th to 18^th, then wraps around the corner of 18^th, potentially cutting off pedestrian access through this megablock. Watch for public engagement.

More commercial developments are coming to 22202

Watch for new active site plans section (e.g. Pentagon Centre PDSP) and preliminary site plans section (e.g. Crystal Plaza, Brookfield, and Crystal City Block W) of the County’s Private Development page for information on upcoming commercial developments in our area.

Upcoming BID-related events are listed here.

GLUP Studies – In Progress

The General Land Use Plan (GLUP) is the primary policy guide for development in Arlington. Modifications to the GLUP may be requested in the form of an amendment or study. A list of current GLUP Amendments and GLUP Special Studies can be found at the Arlington County Website here.

Schools and Youth

Free ART Bus Rides for APS Students

Middle and high school students from Arlington Public Schools ride free anytime on Arlington Transit (ART), the County’s bus transit system, with an iRide SmarTrip card, https://bit.ly/3B3q84L

Volunteer Opportunity: Lead a Walking School Bus

The Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs is looking for adult volunteers to help lead Walking School Buses at Elementary Schools around the Arlington County. The first walking school bus was such a success at Oakridge Elementary school that the program is looking to expand around the County.

Elementary School Walk

What’s great about Walking School Buses?

You help kids in your neighborhood get to school safely
You can maximize the health benefits of walking for yourself and for students
You reduce congestion and pollution near schools and in neighborhoods by walking instead of travel by car

What do I need to know?

Each bus requires only one hour of your time
Volunteers can set their own schedules

The new school year has already started. Learn more about leading a walking bus – or joining one with your elementary school student – at the Alliance’s page.

Teens Making a Difference (TMAD) – Youth Community Groups Volunteer Opportunity

Want to make a difference? TMAD (Teens Making a Difference) is a Service Club that helps students ages 12-18 plan service projects, learn leadership skills, and improve their schools and community. The program offers participants a chance to earn a stipend for work related learning programs. If interested in TMAD, apply through this application (no deadline). Visit this page for more information on the program.

Arlington County Civic Federation Update

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