Arlington County Civic Federation newsletter for May, 2000

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May, 2000 - Volume 84, No. 9

May Meeting:

State Legislators and
Chesapeake Bay Rules

This month features our annual visit from our State legislators, just back from a busy session in Richmond and ready to tell us what parts of the Federation�s Legislative Program were enacted into law. Lots happened in Richmond this year, so the session should be an interesting one. We have acceptances from all the Delegates, but our State Senators are occupied elsewhere, including one who is in Germany for an Arlington Sister City visit. The second part of our program will be a presentation by Patrick Smaldore, Chair of our Environmental Affairs Committee, on the recently published report of the Chesapeake Bay Task Force. We have an article by Pat inside on the work of the Task Force in developing recommendations for revising Arlington�s regulations implementing the Chesapeake Bay protection laws.

Last Chance for the Banquet!

If you read this in time you can still make a last minute reservation for our annual awards banquet on Friday, April 28th. Call Tommye Morton right away at 703-522-1506 to reserve.

Our Guest Speaker this year is Alan Ehrenhalt, the Executive Editor of Governing Magazine. He is an interesting speaker whose national professional scope and Arlington roots enable him to bring some fresh perspective to our view of who we are and what we are doing.

This year we are holding the banquet at the Hilton Arlington and Towers in Ballston. That�s the new Hilton facility located at 950 N. Stafford Street (not 450 as the invitation said), between Wilson and Fairfax Boulevards. That�s the building where the Ballston Metro station is located. If you drive and don�t see a space on the street, the Hilton has agreed to a special $5 parking rate. (Bring your parking ticket inside with you to be stamped.)

Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance Task Force: Draft Final Report

By Patrick Smaldore

The Arlington County Chesapeake Bay Preservation Program Task Force was created by the County Board in 1998 to review the County's current Ordinance and program and to recommend measures by which the County could further prevent harm to the Bay. In fulfilling these charges, the Task Force is proposing an integrated approach that will help maintain local quality of life while minimizing runoff and water pollution. This report calls upon the County Board to make a strong commitment to ensure that all available ordinances, programs, and policies are effectively integrated and implemented, to ensure that the goals of Bay protection and maintaining local quality of life are met. In implementing the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance, this means that all proposed developments must comply with three criteria:

to disturb no more land than necessary;
to preserve indigenous vegetation as much as possible; and
to minimize impervious cover.

This approach means initiating public outreach activities to educate homeowners, developers, builders and construction workers, County staff, and the public about the importance of achieving these goals and the means available to do so. It also means using all available mechanisms, including the development of a tree ordinance, to ensure protection or replacement of existing vegetation.

The draft final report was presented on April 17th. It will be reviewed by the Arlington County Board, at a special work session, in the late May to early June time frame.

Community Forum: Balancing Growth and Quality of Life

Has success spoiled Arlington? The Arlington New Directions Coalition is sponsoring a Community Forum to discuss how we are balancing economic growth and quality of life issues. The Forum will be on Saturday, May 6 beginning with coffee at 8:30 AM and the program at 9 AM. It will be held at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Building, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, close to the Ballston Metro. Spanish translation will be provided.

Small Parks Grants Available: Apply Now!

The Arlington Parks and Recreation Department announced on April 17th that it is seeking applications for Small Parks Grants for this year�s program. Every year this program funds small capital improvements and parks beautification projects up to $10,000 each, and every year the deadline for submitting applications seems very short! This year the Parks Department deadline is May 15th, so you have time to submit a letter of intent. Please call Erik Beach, Staff Coordinator at the Parks Department, at 703-228-3318.

Panel Discussion: Smarter Growth and Transportation In the Washington Region

How will the region's proposed 25-Year Transportation Plan measure up? The Washington Regional Network For Livable Communities and a number of other environmental groups will present a panel discussion May 8th on the region�s proposed 25 year Transportation Plan.

The Smart Growth movement calls for integrating transportation and land use planning. Billions of dollars are allocated by the region�s jurisdictions through the update of the long-range regional transportation plan. Will the new plan foster alternatives to the automobile, reduce traffic congestion, and discourage loss of farms and forests? Will it help direct needed resources to the inner suburbs and the urban core? Three elected officials and local alternative transportation experts will comment, then participate in a panel question and answer discussion. Participants include Arlington County Board Member Chris Zimmerman, DC Council Member Phil Mendelson, PG County Council Member Peter Shapiro, Environmental Defense�s Federal Transportation Director Michael Replogle and Washington Regional Network For Livable Communities Board Member Allen Muchnick.

The program begins at 7 PM on Monday, May 8 at 121 Cannon House Office Building, Capitol Hill. Directions: Capitol South Metro; the Cannon building is 1/2 block north of the exit. Please RSVP (attendance only) to Deborah Katz, WRN Coordinator, at (202) 667-5445 or debkatz@megsinet.net.

Last Call for Neighborhood Day Events or Parade Floats

Neighborhood Day is coming on Saturday, May 13th. This year the three co-chairs of the event (ACCF, County Council of PTA�s and NCAC) are still encouraging joint events with your neighborhood school. And the parade in the afternoon will be bigger and better than ever, beginning in Clarendon and marching down Wilson Boulevard to the Courthouse. This is a fun event! For ideas on events to hold in your neighborhood to celebrate the day, or for instructions on building a float for the Big Parade in the afternoon, visit the Neighborhood Day Web Page at www.BSCL.org/neighday.htm There is also a link from the Federation�s page at www.BSCL.org/accf. If you would prefer the information on paper, call Randy Swart at 703-521-2080.

Act now to be at the
Federation�s Year 2000
Banquet! Please call
Tommye Morton by
Wednesday, April 26th
at 703-522-1506.

Committee Chairs

Bylaws

Community Relations

Cultural Affairs

Environmental Affairs

Housing

Legislation

Membership

Parks & Recreation

Planning & Zoning

Public Services

Revenues and Expenditures

Schools (Co-Chairs)

Special Events

Transportation

Adrienne Pilot 703-351-9464

ACCF Officers

President

Vice President Jim Pebley 703-525-0766 jimpebley@worldnet.att.net

Treasurer Frances Finta 703-528-2882

Secretary Tim Wise 703-243-8345 timwise@dgsys.co,

Executive Committee

Chairman

Member Robert Atkins 703-527-8859

Member Darnell Carpenter 703-243-5188 cyjacks@attglobal.net

Member Dan Krasnegor 703-534-4024

Member Patrick Smaldore 703-528-3935 (email above)

Member Ann Rudd 703-536-8270

Newsletter Editorial Committee

Editor:

Committee: Jim Pebley, Ann Rudd

News email: civicfed@bscl.org Fax: 703-486-0576

Web: www.BSCL.org/accf

This page was last revised on: December 28, 2003.

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