|
Glencarlyn Home Page |
|
Glencarlyn Citizens' Association Neighborhood Conservation Information Updated February 5, 2012 |
|
Glencarlyn Plan Neighborhood Conservation Plan After a number of years of considerable work, the Glencarlyn Neighborhood Conservation Plan (NCP) was been accepted by the County Board in November 2011. This is final version of the Glencarlyn Neighborhood Conservation Plan (NCP) includes the recommendations from Glencarlyn, County Staff comments on the recommendations, and an analysis of the final survey. The edits to the plan since the presentation to the Board include Staff updates on planned maintenance to Carlin Hall and Lubber Run requested by the Board. If you have any questions about the plan, contact Peter Olivere at polivere@aol.com. |
|
Overview of the Neighborhood Conservation Program The introduction to the Neighborhood Conservation Program Handbook states "The Neighborhood Conservation program is a unique grassroots initiative that utilizes County bond funds for capital improvement projects in neighborhoods. The program ensures that neighborhood improvements are tailored to the needs of participating Civic Associations through extensive public outreach. Improvements include the installation of sidewalks, curbs, gutters, traffic management, park improvements, and other similar capital improvement projects. Through the Neighborhood Conservation Program, residents commit to conserve and improve their neighborhoods’ character by preparing and updating a Neighborhood Conservation Plan that reflects community needs; participating in the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC); and by nominating plan-based improvement projects for bond funding. " The Arlington County's Neighborhood Conservation Program Handbook NCP Handbook.pdf (3 MB pdf) describes the program and processes in detail (page numbers below refer to the handbook). In summary, for a project to be approved: · The neighborhood needs to participate in the Neighborhood Conservation Program · Eric Hougen is our delegate to the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC) · The neighborhood needs a Neighborhood Conservation Plan - (pg 17 - 37) · Glencarlyn's plan was initially approved in 1978. We are in the final stages of updating the plan. (Plan will be added to website very soon) · Projects need to be submitted and prioritized by the Glencarlyn Citizens' Association · Certain projects – curb / gutter / sidewalk, streetlight and those projects including traffic calming must also be supported through block petitions. (Glencarlyn has let the various blocks initiate the curb and gutter projects ) The Neighborhood Conservation Program’s capital projects usually fall into five categories: (pg 39 - 52) (1) Street Improvement & Street Beautification Projects (2) Streetlight Projects (3) Parks & Open Space Beautification Projects (4) Neighborhood Sign Projects (5) Missing Link Projects - installation of missing sidewalk sections
|
|
Background on NC Process The Neighborhood Conservation (NC) Program is a process by which Arlington County's capital improvement funding is allocated for neighborhood projects such as installation of sidewalks, curbs and gutters, streetlights, park improvements, neighborhood art, and beautification. The NC process requires that each neighborhood prepare and periodically update a NC Plan, which is reviewed and commented on by the County staff and approved by the County Board. The Glencarlyn Plan was originally completed in 1978; the current work would be the first update. The purpose of the plan is to elicit community engagement to define what is important to it, not only for capital improvements, but issues of concern which the community wants to keep in the forefront in the interactions with the County Board and staff. Each neighborhood has a NC Representative who serves as our liaison with the County staff and is a member of the NC Advisory Committee. The NC Plan is non-binding document and in itself does not initiate any specific action on capital project. However, it does two things: provides the framework for any capital projects which we may propose in the future and provide a number of concern and priorities which should be considered by County officials when reviewing the services or infrastructure in the neighborhood. Each year there are a number of project proposed for NC Program funding. Points are awarded on several criteria, a significant one is how recently the NC Plan of the neighborhood was completed or updated. As noted above, Glencarlyn is at a competitive disadvantage with those neighborhoods that have already recently completed or updated their plan, so it is important that we complete the update quickly. The update to the Glencarlyn NC Plan is based largely on two neighborhood surveys, one to identify the desires and concerns of the residents, and the second to vote on proposed recommendations. The work on the Plan included over 15 residents who prepared and compiled the survey and data, met and drafted the Plan. The Plan includes chapters on the History of Glencarlyn; Land Use and Zoning; Parks and Recreation, Natural Environment and Cultural Sites; Institutions such as schools and the hospital; Village Center; Transportation; Streets And Sidewalks; and Other Infrastructure and County Services, For information on the County's Neighborhood Conservation Program go to http://www.arlingtonva.us and type in "Neighborhood Conservation Program" in the search box. |
|
____________________________________________________________________ Below is an updated version of the article from the April 2011 Village View
April GCA Program - Final Review of Neighborhood Conservation Plan. In 2007, the Glencarlyn community made a substantial effort to finalize its Neighborhood Conservation Plan. Meetings in October and November of that year were dedicated to presenting and getting input from the community on the plan. At the November 2007 meeting, the GCA voted to advance the plan to the County Neighborhood Conservation (NC) officials for review and approval. However, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, the final edits were put aside until now. Having an updated Plan is important during the ranking of projects being considered for Neighborhood Conservation Program funding (see background). There have been a number of edits that have been made since the discussions 2007. These were to made to reflect the changes which have occurred since the fall of 2007 (e.g. inclusion on the National Historic Register, Campbell, St Johns), to correct some inaccuracies, to add of a number of pictures, create a number of maps and graphics, and to make a number of edits for clarity. Many dozens of hours were spent on getting this update completed. We have placed the updated version of the Glencarlyn Neighborhood Conservation Plan and several related documents on the glencarlyn.org website under the link to Neighborhood Conservation Plan. We to complete the plan in the two months; we hope that there will be sufficient time at the April meeting, but will continue in May if necessary. Contact Peter Olivere 703-626-2520 or polivere@aol.com or Eric Hougen 703-379-3997 or ehougen@gmail.com Please join us at the April meeting to see these final edits and to re-approve the plan! The meeting is Monday, April 4, 2011 at 7:30 at Carlin Hall, 5711 4th St. South. |
|
Glencarlyn Street Sidewalk Plan A Glencarlyn requested project funded by the Neighborhood Conservation Program was the development of a Glencarlyn Neighborhood Street and Sidewalk Master Plan (11 MB pdf) which was completed in May 2006. The purpose of the Street and Sidewalk Master Plan is to address residents’ concerns by conducting a thorough analysis of pedestrian conditions in the neighborhood and developing a comprehensive plan to increase pedestrian safety while maintaining Glencarlyn’s unique character, with the County's requirement for sidewalks to be constructed on at least one side of the street as part of curb and gutter requirements. Specific recommendations were made regarding sidewalk location and design, intersection crossing, street width, street tree preservation, drainage, lighting and parking. Glencarlyn accepted the overall document as a third party suggestions for possible reference in future projects, not a blueprint for future projects. There were and still are a number of concerns about specific recommendations. Individual blocks will retain the right to propose specifics for their projects. Neighborhood Conservation Projects — APPROVED A project covering 4th Street between Lexington and Kensington and Lexington Street between 3rd and 4th Streets will include curb, gutter, sidewalk, street resurfacing, street trees and street lighting . The total project estimate is $653,000, including a 20% contingency to cover unforeseen conditions. Construction should be begin in fall of 2012 Neighborhood Conservation Projects — In Planning In June of 2011, planning for a new project was started. It would include curb, gutter, sidewalk and street improvements for the 5700 block of South Second Street, and the 100 block of South Kensington. The homeowners of those blocks will be working with the County staff to finalize the specifications before it gets put in the competitive Neighborhood Conservation funding queue.
Glencarlyn Contacts Glencarlyn's delegate to the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC) - Eric Hougen 703-867-2933 or ehougen@gmail.com
Alternate contact - GCA President - Peter Olivere 703-626-2520 or polivere@aol.com
|