<b>County Launches New
Disaster Preparedness Campaign</b>
On June 5, Arlington volunteers will fan out across the county, mobilizing for the Arlington Prepares Door-to Door campaign. More than 800 volunteers will distribute emergency preparedness information to all 91,000 households in the county.
The goal is to help every household, neighborhood and business in Arlington prepare for community emergencies, ranging from severe storms to acts of terrorism. The packets provide tips on staying informed, developing emergency plans and getting involved in Arlington preparedness.
“It’s the best way we know of to get this vital information directly into the hands of those who need it,” said County Manager Ron Carlee at Saturday’s County Board meeting.
The County’s Office of Emergency Management and the Citizen Corps Council seek volunteers to distribute information or to help organize their neighborhood, building or workplace. Any resident, business, civic, service or homeowner association wishing to participate should call 703-228-7188 or visit <a href=http://www.co.arlington.va.us/oem/door_to_door.htm>the county's Web site</a>.
Information about the June 5 effort has been sent to about 100 condominium and homeowners associations, 60-plus civic associations, more than 100 of the largest apartment complexes, approximately 150 service organizations and approximately 300 businesses with 50 or more employees.
Other Arlington Prepares events this year will include partnerships with community organizations and businesses, disaster preparedness presentations and a community emergency exercise this fall.
<b>Spanish-Language Workshop
Focuses on Preparedness</b>
A May workshop, conducted entirely in Spanish, will offer emergency preparedness tips to Spanish-speaking Arlingtonians. Participants also will have an opportunity to sign up on the spot for Arlington Alert and the County’s Community Emergency Response Team. Several Hispanic organizations are helping to plan this program, including the Hispanic Committee of Virginia and the Hispanic Parents Association.
The Spanish Language Emergency Preparedness Workshop, sponsored by the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management and the Citizen Corps Council, will run 7-9 p.m., Monday, May 10, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theater, 125 South Old Glebe Road.
More information is available by calling Raul Torres at 703-228-7045.
<b>County Approves
Virginia Square Development</b>
On Saturday, County Board members approved a rezoning, and plans, for a 143-unit condominium project in Virginia Square, including 11 affordable housing units and a developer contribution of $546,000 to the County’s Housing Reserve Fund.
Board members approved the mixed-use, nine-story building at their April 24 board meeting.
The project will be located at the northwest corner of Wilson Boulevard and North Pollard Street, about a quarter mile from the Virginia Square Metro Station. Designed as a U-shaped building wrapping around the lot, it would include 5,700 square feet of ground-floor retail space. All of the affordable housing is designated as two-bedroom units at 60 percent of area median income, which the U.S. Census estimated at $92,500 for the Washington area in 2001.
Parking for the project is set at 178 spaces in two underground levels, including 15 retail and visitor spaces. The developer also agreed to contribute $104,600 for a new traffic signal at the intersection.
In addition to approving the site plan from developers MHI-Wilson/Pollard, the Board also approved a request to rezone the property from C-2 Service Commercial-Community Business Districts to R-C Apartment Dwelling and Commercial Districts.
The proposed development is consistent with goals and recommendations of the Virginia Square Sector Plan and the County’s General Land Use Plan.
Construction is projected to begin in January 2005 and scheduled for completion in summer 2006.