Urban Design Committee

With its great potential for future development, the Rosslyn community needs a forum where property owners, business owners and residents alike can sit down together to discuss planning and design issues in Rosslyn. The Rosslyn Renaissance Urban Design Committee provides such a forum.

The working document upon which the Committee bases its work is the Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum, known as the Rosslyn Sector Plan, or the “Blue Book”. Originally approved by the County Board in January 1992, the Sector Plan provides the blueprint for all development in Rosslyn. It will undergo a major review in 2005.

In 1996, in an effort to create a catalyst for Rosslyn’s re-development, the County Board acted on a recommendation in the Rosslyn Plan to create a Special Zoning District in Rosslyn. Known as “C-O Rosslyn”, the new zoning district permits buildings up to 300 feet in height and density up to 10 F.A.R, in exchange for a package of community benefits. To obtain approval within the special district, all projects requesting this increased density and height must undergo the Arlington County Site Plan Review Process.

The RR Urban Design Committee, comprised of RR Board members, residents and business owners, as well as architects and urban planners, provides input to the Site Plan Review process and to the County Board. The committee provides a monthly meeting place for members of the Rosslyn community to hear presentations on newly proposed projects, stay apprised of ongoing projects, hold discussions on urban design and planning issues, and weigh in on signage, streetscape and other planning issues. They attend meetings of the Site Plan Review Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Arlington County Planning Commission, and participate in relevant studies for the area.

The committee works hard to balance the viewpoints and concerns of businesses and residents with the professional insight and expertise of city planners and architects. In an effort to ensure that participants in the upcoming Sector Plan review are informed and knowledgeable about planning and development, RR has organized education sessions for the Committee on Arlington’s development process, its GIS system, and the Master Transportation Plan. Upcoming topics include the County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Fort Myer Heights North study. RR also holds an annual bus tour of the entire area for board members of Rosslyn Renaissance and the Rosslyn Business Improvement District.

Meetings are generally held the third Wednesday of the month at noon at the RR/BID office. Click on Calendar for up-to-date information.

For more information on specific projects, please visit Development News.