"Taste of Arlington" on May 20th, from Noon to 6 PM, has Tickets Available Now

Alright, Ballston, get ready to Eat. Drink. Give. Tickets for Northern Virginia's biggest block party, Taste of Arlington, are now on sale! 

If you're not familiar with Taste of Arlington, let us catch you up. Taste of Arlington is the region's biggest and best charitable, family-friendly, dog-friendly, craft beer, wine and music festival right here in Ballston. 

We're spreading the love this year by incorporating more Arlington charities and non-profits through BallstonGives. Proceeds from the festival will benefit Arlington Food Assistance Center, Animal Welfare League of Arlington,  Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Arlington Arts Center, Leadership Center for Excellenceand Volunteer Arlington. Come out to show your support your favorite Arlington organizations!

We're going back to our roots this year with free admission for the festival. That said, tasting tickets let you take advantage of all the best food, beer and wine Arlington has to offer. Get your tickets before May 1st to lock in early bird prices and the opportunity to skip the will-call line by choosing the "Ship My Tickets" option!

We'll see you May 20th, from noon to 6pm!

Get Tickets

Arlington County (Virginia) Proposes Real Property Tax Increases

 

 

Arlington County, Virginia:  NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE INCREASE WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 5, 2018, AT 7:00 P.M. OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE IN ROOM 307, 2100 CLARENDON BLVD., ARLINGTON, VA.  AFTER THE HEARING IS HELD ON APRIL 5, 2018, THE COUNTY BOARD MAY ADOPT A TAX RATE LOWER THAN $0.993 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE, BUT IT CANNOT ADOPT HIGHER RATE. 

Spanish language interpreters will be available. Please see Clerk prior to hearing.  Please visit County website at www.arlingtonva.us for information on advanced online sign-up to speak at hearing or call Clerk’s office at 703-228-3130 to register. 

Copy of proposed resolution fixing real estate tax rate for CY 2018 is on file and available for review in County Board Clerk’s Office, Room 300, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, weekdays 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The County of Arlington, Virginia, proposes to increase property tax levies. 

1.  Assessment Increase:  Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year's total assessed value of real property by 1.3 percent.

2.  Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment:  The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.980 per $100 of assessed value.  This rate will be known as the "lowered tax rate."

3.  Effective Rate Increase: The County of Arlington, Virginia proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.993 per $100 of assessed value.  The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.013 per $100, or 1.3 percent.  This difference will be known as the "effective tax rate increase." Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage.

4.     Proposed Total Budget Increase:  Based on proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total budget of Arlington County will exceed last year’s budget by 1.7 percent. 

5.     The County also proposes to maintain the real estate tax for properties used for or zoned to permit commercial and industrial uses at the current rate of $0.125 per $100. Revenue from this tax is dedicated for transportation initiatives.

6.     The County also proposes to maintain the sanitary district tax at the current rate of $0.013 per $100 of assessed value. Revenue from this tax is dedicated for the stormwater management fund.

Hope Halleck, Clerk to the County Board

Advertised: February 28, 2018

Can’t make it? Arlington TV – Comcast Xfinity 25 or 1085(HD) and Verizon FIOS 39 & 40 – live broadcasts County Board Meetings, County Board Work Sessions, and meetings of the Planning Commission. You can also watch Arlington TV’s live stream on the County website or archived video. 

Alexandria (Virginia) City Council Votes Not to Increase 2018 Real Estate Tax or Personal Property Tax Rates

Alexandria City Council Votes Not to Increase 2018 Real Estate Tax or Personal Property Tax Rates

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2018

On March 14, the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously not to consider any increases from calendar years 2017 to 2018 in the tax rates for real estate, vehicles, or business tangible property. The real estate tax rate City Council eventually adopts could be the same or lower than the current rate of $1.13 per $100 of assessed value, but cannot be higher.

On February 20, the City Manager proposed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program reflecting no change in any tax rate.

A public hearing on the ordinance establishing the real estate tax rate will be held on Saturday, April 14, at 9:30 a.m., at City Hall (301 King St.), in City Council Chambers.

City Council will adopt a final real estate tax rate in conjunction with the adoption of the FY 2019 budget on May 3.

For more information about the FY 2019 budget process, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Budget.

Arlington, Virginia - Pentagon City Pedestrian Tunnel is Open

If you commute through the Pentagon City Metrorail station, there's a new way for getting in and out – the Pentagon City Pedestrian Tunnel.

The tunnel provides access from the northeast corner of South Hayes and 12th Streets to the Metrorail station. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7 am to 6 pm, excluding federal holidays.

Arlington County: Crystal City - Pentagon City - Potomac Yard: Construction Update - Demolition of Elevated Clark Street

Preparations continue for the start of demolition. Crews are currently removing Dominion street light poles from the project area. This activity will not affect pedestrians or drivers.

Once demolition begins, there will be some temporary street closures and detours to accommodate removal of the bridge structure. The first detour has not yet been scheduled, but there will be a two-week advance notice before the detour starts.

Visit the project page

Casa Nostra Italian Restaurant Opens in Downtown Leesburg, Virginia

Join Mayor Kelly Burk and members of the Leesburg Town Council at a ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming Casa Nostra to the Leesburg business community.

WHAT:       Casa Nostra Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

WHEN:       Tuesday, March 13, 2018
                    4:00 p.m.

WHERE:     Casa Nostra
                    2 W Market St
                    Leesburg, Virginia 20176

Casa Nostra features authentic Italian cuisine and a variety of homemade pasta, breads, and desserts. Visit www.casanostrava.com for additional information. 

(To see more, CLICK on "RIA BLOG TITLE" above or CLICK on "RIA BLOG POST" below)

Lincolnia Planning District, Phase II, Community Business Center adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 6, 2018

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANNOUNCEMENTS

Message #405

Date:  March 8, 2018

Source:  Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ), Planning Division

Subject:  Plan Amendment 2013-I-L1(B) (Lincolnia Planning District Study, Phase II, Community Business Center Consideration) Adopted Text

The 2017 Edition of the Comprehensive Plan has been updated as a result of Plan amendment 2013-I-L1(B), adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 6, 2018.  

2017-07 - Lincolnia Planning District Study, Phase II, Community Business Center Consideration: On July 9, 2013 the Board of Supervisors authorized the consideration of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the Lincolnia Planning District. The authorization directed staff to update and review Comprehensive Plan guidance for the area and to consider whether a portion of the planning district should be designated as a Community Business Center (CBC). This multi-phased study is still ongoing with the Board of Supervisors concluding Phase II, adopting the Lincolnia CBC designation on March 6, 2018. Phase III, beginning in early Spring 2018, will provide detailed land use and transportation analysis with recommendations for the newly designated Lincolnia CBC.  District-wide recommendations will also be discussed.

The adopted text for this amendment (adopted text No. 2017-07) can be found here.  This amendment revised the following sections of the Comprehensive and Policy Plans:

·         Area I:  Overview, Baileys Planning District and Lincolnia Planning Districts

·         Area II:  Overview

·         Area III:  Overview

·         Area IV:  Overview

·         Policy:  Preface and Introduction

You may need to take the following steps:

1.  If you maintain a paper copy of the Comprehensive Plan, please print the affected section and replace the old text in your Plan notebooks.

2.  If you have "short cuts" or "favorites" on your computer that link to the Plan, be sure to refresh those links and check to be sure they link to the newest version by checking the “amended through” dates in these revised sections. 

For information about the Comprehensive Plan and the planning process, contact the Planner of the Day for the DPZ Planning Division weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 703-324-1380 or visit the 7th floor, Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.   More frequent updates on planning activities can be received by liking the  Fairfax County Land Use Planning Facebook page.

(To view the Lincolnia Planning District Comprehensive Plan Amendment adopted 03/06/2018 CLICK "RIA Source" below)

The Contemporary Exhibition Space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia is opening its 8th Annual Special Exhibition "MARCH 150" on Saturday, March 10, 2018

March150 opens on Saturday! 

Join us at 10 am on March 10 for your first chances to purchase artwork in this year's March150 special exhibition and art sale.

Over 200 works of art by artists from across the region are priced at $150 each. Proceeds benefit future exhibitions and programs in Target Gallery and the Torpedo Factory Art Center. 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT "MARCH 150" at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia, CLICK on the "RIA BLOG SOURCE" below.