June 2026 Arlington County Board Wrap-Up
The Arlington County Board considered and acted on dozens of agenda items at its June 2026 Regular and Recessed County Board Meetings. These include the following:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Regular County Board Meeting
Item 35 – RTA on Ban on Gas Powered Leaf Blowers
The Arlington County Board approved a request to advertise a public hearing at its upcoming July 2026 Board meeting to prohibit the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers and gas-powered leaf vacuums in Arlington County. This public hearing advertisement authorizes the Board to consider, if ordinance amendments are adopted in July, a gas-powered leaf blower phase out period that would be effective sometime between January 1, 2028, and July 18, 2029.
The proposed amendments consist of the following action:
- Amending Section 15-3 (Definitions) to create distinct legal definitions for "Gas-powered leaf blower" and "Gas-powered leaf vacuum";
- Amending Section 15-6 (Prohibited Acts) to make it unlawful to operate or permit the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers and gas-powered leaf vacuums at any time; and
- Establishing an 18 to 36-month phase-out period to give residents and businesses time to transition to electric alternatives.
The proposed prohibition of gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums advances Arlington County's goals to reduce noise pollution, improve quality of life for residents, and promote sustainable practices. Gas-powered leaf blowers produce high-decibel, low-frequency sound that travel long distances and penetrate structures, impacting the overall quality of life. Further, these machines emit significant greenhouse gases and smog-forming pollutants for their size.
Nearly 4,000 residents participated in the public engagement process that informed these recommendations, with intentional outreach to landscaping businesses that operate within the County. Many County residents support prohibiting gas-powered leaf blowers, while many business representatives raised concerns about the upfront cost, lack of financing, and performance of electric alternatives.
Item 36 – Alexan Courthouse, 2000 15th St. N.
The Arlington County Board approved both a site plan amendment (#36A) and an ordinance to vacate (#36B) that permit, and will facilitate, the redevelopment of the 2000 15th St. N. site. As approved, a new 19-story residential building containing up to 394 residential units, and 269 underground parking spaces, will replace a 12-story, mostly vacant office building at this location.
In the context of Arlington County’s Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative, this project advances the County’s broader strategy to address obsolete office inventory and respond to changing market conditions. Replacing a nearly vacant and outdated office building with new housing will remove underperforming commercial space from an oversupplied office market, support reinvestment in the site, and introduce a more active residential use within walking distance of transit.
The office vacancy rate in Courthouse the first quarter of 2026 was 31.5% vacancy. The approval of this project to demolish the existing office and construct residential will reduce the office vacancy by 3.2 percentage points to 28.3%.
Base density (239,664 sq. ft.) requirements for this site plan include several improvements such as:
- New sidewalks, curbs and gutter;
- Site landscaping and street trees;
- A base affordable housing contribution of either $1,953,162 to Affordable Housing Investment Fund, or 18 on-site CAF units, or 26 off-site CAF units nearby or 35 CAF units elsewhere;
- A public art contribution; and
- On-site stormwater management facilities.
To achieve the additional ground floor area requested (169,893 sq. ft.) as bonus density, the project committed to a community benefits package that also includes:
- A choice of either an additional $5M Affordable Housing Investment Fund contribution or 9 on-site committed affordable housing units.
- Participation in the green building incentives program;
- A dedication of a public access easement; and
- EV parking.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – Recessed County Board Meeting
Item 37 – Local Historic District Designation request for the Nelly Custis Elementary School/Melwood, located at 750 23 Rd St. S.
The Arlington County Board denied the local historic district (LHD) designation request for the Nelly Custis Elementary School/Melwood property located at 750 23rd St. S. The vote was 4-0, with Board member Susan Cunningham abstaining.
The Arlington County Historic Preservation Program (HPP) staff did not recommend the LHD designation since it did not meet the designation criteria necessary to become an LHD. Further, the property owner did not request and did not support this designation. However, members of the Aurora Highlands community, including the Aurora Highlands Civic Association, supported the designation.
The timeline of prior related actions leading up to this vote was 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.
- On 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.
- On April 22, 2026, the County Board adopted an Initiating Resolution to consider adoption of an ordinance establishing this local historic designation at a future public meeting.
- On May 16, 2026, the County Board authorized advertisement of public hearings to consider this local historic designation for the Planning Commission and Board’s respective June 2026 meetings.
Item 2 – Site Plan Amendment to extend the term of Validity for Site Plan #469 (Arva Motel)
The Board also approved a site plan amendment request to extend the term of validity for the Arva motel site plan (SP #469) to June 30, 2029. The subject site plan was originally approved in July 2023 and was set to expire July 15, 2026.
The motel has closed, and the developer was unable to develop the site themselves as originally planned. The Board’s action extends the validity of the site plan to provide the developer with additional time to market the site and for a new owner to commence construction of the residential development as approved.
Additionally, this extension also commits the developer to update the following site plan conditions to be consistent with current standards that have evolved since the original 2023 approval:
- Condition #2.B (Expiration): To update the expiration date of the site plan approval from July 15, 2026 to June 30, 2029.
- Condition #7.C.2. (Approval of Tree Replacement Plan and Calculations, and Tree Canopy Fund Donation): To update the Tree Canopy Fund contribution from $2,400 to $4,000 per tree.
- Condition #10.A.2. (Maintenance of Traffic Plans): To update the condition with current standard language to permit administrative changes to pedestrian paths during construction.
- Condition #19.B.8.a (Pavement, Curb and Gutter): To update the condition with current standard language about parking space sensors in the public right of way.
- Condition #19.C. (Implementation Timing): To update the condition with current standard language about stormwater management facilities and parking space sensors, and updates to the standard by which the Zoning Administrator may approve adjustments to the timing of required public improvements.
- Condition #31 (Parking): Update the condition to the current standard, which now permits retail and guest parking spaces to be compact spaces.
- Condition #33 (Underground Utility Fund Contribution): To align the underground utility fund contribution with the updated standard site plan condition language and reflect adjustments in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) due to inflation, staff recommends revising the total underground utility fund contribution from $154,656.39 (2022 CPI Annual Average) to $170,355.00 (2025 CPI Annual Average).
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 Barrera
Comms & Constituent Services Manager
Arlington County Board Office
dbarrera@arlingtonva.us
703-228-3121
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