Planning Commission
In May of 2023, I was appointed to the Arlington County Planning Commission at the age of 25, likely the youngest to ever be appointed to the commission. I leveraged my experience in local government management, long range budgeting and planning, as well as my knowledge of local transportation infrastructure to add greater depth to the Commission’s discussions. As of this year, I chair the commission’s Zoning Committee, which takes up issues related to amendments to the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, I serve as the Commission’s lead member in the process of amending Arlington's Master Transportation Plan to better align with people centered and forward looking planning principles. As a member of the commission, it is our responsibility to engage with constituents and manage public engagement with the projects we consider. This included me attending several site visits and meetings with community members, which has enriched my appreciation for Arlington in a substantive way.
Notable Approvals
Over the last two years, I’ve voted to approve a variety of ambitious, progressive development projects that are transforming Arlington into a more forward looking community. This includes Melwood’s residential development that provide 105 units of affordable housing, 30% of which will be set aside for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, I voted in favor of Arlington’s Adaptive Reuse plan, which allows developers to redevelop commercial buildings into residential buildings or hotels with fewer regulations and County oversight. Additionally, I voted in favor of Plan Langston Boulevard, an ambitious plan to recontextualize one of Arlington’s major corridors from a car-centric boulevard to one that prioritizes people-centric development. Additionally, I voted to approve Arlington’s Future of Outdoor Dining initiative, which amended streatery policies developed during COVID to make them permanent and more business friendly. As Chair of the Zoning Committee, I led discussions and support for a change to Zoning Ordinance that would allow for by-right development of recovery residences for individuals who are recovering from alcohol or substance abuse.
The Lee Center
Early iterations of Plan Langston Boulevard called for the sale and redevelopment of the Lee Center, a century old community center that is a staple of the Leeway Community in Arlington. Members of the Civic Association invited me to visit the Lee Center to highlight the role it has played in the community. As a former elementary school, pottery studio and now a community park with a beautiful butterfly garden, it became clear to me that redevelopment was not the answer. I lobbied my colleagues on the Commission and County Staff and successfully changed the plan to preserve the community center. Additionally, Arlington County has set aside $15.6M in its CIP to renovate the site for residents to enjoy for years to come.
Clarendon Square
3033 Wilson Boulevard, which sits at the exit of the Clarendon Metro Station, has been the site of an office building for decades. But as its vacancies grew, redevelopment was inevitable. When it came to redeveloping the site, I was tapped to chair the Site Plan Review Committee. Over the last several months, I have worked with the developer and County Staff to improve the site’s architectural design, add a rooftop garden for residents, a protected bike lane along Wilson Boulevard, committed affordable units on site and green plantings all over the development. Additionally, I helped them reduce the height of the rear of the site to be less disruptive to the single family homes that abut it. I helped Arlington get the most out of this development, while also achieving the policy goal of reducing vacant commercial office space on Arlington’s most economically impactful corridor.