Neighborhood Conservation Plan
Click here for the most recent version of the Ashton Heights Neighborhood Conservation Plan.
The 2000 plan is a major update to the Neighborhood Conservation Plan written in 1976 by the residents of Ashton Heights. The update reflects residents' general support of Arlington's urban village concept. The plan contains goals, discussions, and recommendations on several issues that when taken together define Ashton Heights' vision of an "urban village."
At the heart of most issues is the balancing of automobile and pedestrian needs as density and development increase in the Rossyln-Ballston corridor. As an older neighborhood bordering the rapidly developing Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, Ashton Heights has several concerns, but this plan gives particular attention to traffic calming, development inside and outside the neighborhood, pedestrian safety, and parks, as these are considered critical to building the neighborhood desired by the residents. The complete list of sections is:
- Traffic Calming
- Traffic Patterns and Motorist Safety
- Issues with Adjacent Businesses
- Public Transportation
- Parking
- Pedestrian Safety
- Bicycle Access
- Street Lighting
- Storm Drainage
- Public Utilities
- Perimeter Development
- Development in Ashton Heights
- Parks and Trees
- Historic Designation
- County Services
- Schools
At the beginning of each section is a discussion of the neighborhood's ultimate goals for the particular category of issues. Following the goals is a detailed discussion of current conditions and recommendations. The most significant recommendations are to:
- Install flat-top speed humps on north-south residential streets.
- Install rumble strips or similar devices on Pershing Drive.
- Reduce the Pershing Drive speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.
- Develop Wilson Boulevard as a four-lane road (two each way) with extra width for on-street parking, medians, sidewalks, street trees, and a bike lane.
- Promote ground level retail in target retail areas.
- Revise setback limits for infill developments.
- Extend the Monroe Street Walkway to 6th Road.
- Improve pedestrian crossings of Wilson Boulevard at 10th Street and Washington Boulevard.
- Minimize the impact of aboveground utilities on residential streets.
- Expand Maury Park to cover the entire block bounded by Wilson Boulevard and N. Lincoln, 8th, and Monroe Streets.
- Develop a shade tree replacement program
Links to all Arlington neighborhood conservation plans are available here.