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      • Tree Planting Program
      • Tree Canopy Equity Program
      • Our Process
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    • Advocacy & Action
    • Letters & Position Papers
    • EcoAction Arlington Environmental Presentations
    • EcoExtravaganza
    • Resources & Education
      • Go Solar
      • Rain Barrels
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • EcoAmbassadors (Formerly Energy Masters)
    • Join a Committee or Board of Directors
    • Group And Corporate Service Projects
    • Become a Sponsor
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    • Become A Monthly Sustainer
  • About Us
    • Our Mission & Vision
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    • Annual Reports
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EcoAction Arlington Comments on the Missing Middle Housing Proposal

September 23, 2022

EcoAction Arlington recently sent a letter to the County Board supporting, but describing its concerns, with proposed plans to change residential zoning throughout the County to allow small-scale 2 to 8 units residential buildings (aka Missing Middle) in lots currently zoned for  single-family residences. Higher density housing is more environmentally friendly as it increases energy efficiency and walkability, reducing the need for long commutes in fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and preventing sprawl. This proposed change also addresses historical practices introduced to exclude racial minorities from living in large portions of Arlington. Our letter, however, expressed serious reservations that under current regulations and conditions, which are also applicable to construction of single-family homes, Missing Middle Housing could exacerbate tree canopy loss and stormwater runoff and urged the County to explore changes to zoning and land use ordinances and other policy options to mitigate potential impacts.

We highlight the correlation between significant multi-family zoned housing and lower-than-average tree canopy coverage in several civic associations throughout Arlington. These are the ten neighborhoods that EcoAction Arlington has targeted for our Tree Canopy Equity Program.

Read the letter to the Arlington County Board with comments on the Missing Middle Housing Proposal

updated 1/31/2023 with the updated letter to the Arlington County Board



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This content originally appeared in The EcoAdvocate newsletter produced by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee.

Category: Advocacy, Letters & Position Papers, Sustainable Practices, The EcoAdvocate, Tree Canopy FundTag: Arlington County, Arlington County Board, Buckingham, Climate change, climate change action, Columbia Heights, environmental justice, Environmental Sustainability, Equity, Ft. Myers, Glebe, Glebewood, Green Valley, Long Branch Creek, missing middle housing, NAACP, Penrose, Tree Canopy, walkability
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3308 S. Stafford Street
Arlington, VA 22206
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office@ecoactionarlington.org

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