Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Adopted 3-17-2015 | Page 15

The Comprehensive Plan seeks to:
• Build on the ideas and guidance from the many participants in the planning

process.

• Establish the vision for what Arlington can achieve and aspires to achieve

over the next 20 years.

• Consolidate and coordinate in one comprehensive document the policies

that relate to the city’s physical and economic growth and development.

• Guide decision-making and evaluation of zoning map and text amendments

and discretionary development approvals.

• Identify short and long-term strategic actions for the city to undertake.
• Provide the basis for orderly, consistent and predictable land use decision

making.

Planning in Arlington
Since 1952, the City of Arlington has used comprehensive plans to establish
policies that respond to the requirements and aspirations of the city’s residents
and thus influence social, economic and physical development. The last
Comprehensive Plan (1992) focused on citywide issues generated by significant
citizen participation. The 1992 Plan was followed by a series of area or sector
plans completed between 1997 and 2001, which focused on the diversity of the
issues affecting different parts of the city. These sector plans contained specific
implementation strategies to address the needs unique to each sector.
The updated Comprehensive Plan is intended to manage growth and change
in Arlington for the next 20 years. Once adopted, it will replace the previously
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