January 2026 Arlington County Board Wrap-Up
The Arlington County Board considered and acted on dozens of agenda items at its January 2026 Regular and Recessed County Board Meetings. These include the following:
Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Regular County Board Meeting
Item 34 A&B – Inn of Rosslyn
The Board approved, on an alternative motion that was unanimously supported, items that would allow for the construction of an eight-story apartment building on the former Inn of Rosslyn site at 1601 Fairfax Drive. These items include a rezoning and a new site plan (item 34A), and an associated vacation of a portion of an existing easement for public sidewalk, utilities, and drainage purposes (item 34B).
The project will demolish the existing motel building on the property and construct a new 8-story multifamily residential building with underground parking. This includes approximately 122,110 sq ft of residential GFA for 141 dwelling units, and 72 total parking spaces.
This plan advances several County goals and objectives:
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Affordable Housing: The applicant will provide 13 on-site committed affordable housing units (CAFs) that will be available for 30 years to qualified tenants at rental rates up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). These CAFs will consist of six (6) one-bedroom units and seven (7) two-bedroom units. The applicant will also provide the base affordable housing contribution or provide additional on-site or off-site unit(s).
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Sustainable Design: The applicant will participate in the County’s adopted Green Building Incentive Program (GBIP) and has agreed to achieve a LEED Gold certification, ENERGY STAR Certification and provide other sustainable design elements at the 0.25 FAR credit level.
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Historic Preservation: The applicant proposes to either preserve or faithfully recreate the “50” architectural element inside the building lobby visible from the outside, as well as work with County Historic Preservation staff for a historic marker at the site.
Items 35A-D – Clarendon Live Entertainment Group (CLEG) Use Permit Review
The Board approved, also on an alternative motion that was unanimously supported, four subject Clarendon Live Entertainment Group (CLEG) establishment use permits. The following items were passed with no changes to the County Manager’s recommendation:
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35A: Adopt the attached ordinance for the site plan amendment for approval of live entertainment and dancing at Bar Bao, subject to all previously approved conditions and the amended conditions in this report, with an administrative review in four (4) months (May 2026) and a County Board review in one (1) year and four (4) months (May 2027).
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35B and D: Renew the subject use permits for live entertainment (with dancing where applicable), subject to all previously approved conditions and the amended conditions in this report, with an administrative review in four (4) months (May 2026) and a County Board review in one (1) year and four (4) months (May 2027).
Item 35C, however, was regarding a subject use permit for live entertainment at the Buena Vida that was recommended for discontinuance. The Board decided to renew this permit conditional on an administrative review in (4) months (May 2026), and a County Board review in (1) year and (4) months (May 2027).
The Board additionally provided direction to the manager to develop objective criteria to determine when CLEG use permits should be brought to back for a public hearing on the Board’s own motion, outside of the typical review cycle, for issues with complying with the terms of their permits.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – Recessed County Board Meeting
Item 36 – Scapegoat Beer Garden Use Permit Review
The Board also renewed a use permit for a café associated with a restaurant, located at 556 22nd St. S. This use permit allows a greater number of outdoor seats (208) than the indoor portion of the restaurant (79), subject to the previously approved conditions, with an administrative review in six (6) months (July 2026) and with a County Board review in one (1) year (January 2027).
Item 28B — GLUP amendments re Walgreens Site Plan
The Board also held a public hearing on, and approved, part B of Item 28, which is a request to advertise future public hearings by the Planning Commission and County Board on items related the “Walgreens Site” located at 3130 Langston Boulevard.
These future hearings will allow for the concurrent consideration of a proposed site plan application, General Land Use Plan (GLUP) amendment, and rezoning to facilitate the development of a 12-story mixed use building with 296 residential units and 8,602 square feet of ground floor retail. The referenced 1.68-acre site is located within the Langston Boulevard Planning District in Area 5 West.
Item 29A&B – 2847 Wilson Boulevard Special GLUP Study
The Board also approved several actions related to the 2847 Wilson Boulevard Special General Land Use Plan (GLUP) Study. 29A accepts the study document, which will be used to guide both a future redevelopment application for this site, and the corresponding staff, commission, and County Board review. 29B advertises a future public hearing to consider an amendment request to designate the entire site as "Service Commercial" and to incorporate said site into the "Clarendon Revitalization District."
This action concludes the Special GLUP Study Process and allows the applicant to request a formal GLUP amendment concurrent with a future rezoning and UC/MUD application.
Registering to Speak at Future Public Hearings
Registration to speak on an item with a scheduled public hearing opens approximately a week before the meeting, and members of the public can either register online or call in at 703-228-3130.
Those wanting to participate in these hearings can do so in person, virtually, or by phone and will receive instructions on these options once they have completed their registration. Members of the public wanting to speak on a Consent Agenda item may do so by notifying the County Board Office before 10 AM at Regular Meetings to request the item be pulled from the agenda. Members of the public may then register to speak on pulled agenda items at the upcoming Tuesday Recessed meeting. Agendas will note which consent agenda items are subject to public hearing requirements and which require Board member consent to be removed.
Members of the public are also strongly encouraged to subscribe to the County Board's News and Updates service to be alerted when meeting agendas are posted. Board meeting and agenda information can be accessed on the County Board's webpage. Visit 2026 County Board Meeting and Procedures on the County website to learn more.
Media Contact
David Barrera
Communications & Policy Manager
Arlington County Board
dbarrera@arlingtonva.us
703-228-3121
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