Comprehensive Plan Update

Great question, thank you! Yes, the scope of the Comprehensive Plan includes an element currently titled “Healthy City – the Active Environment.” This element will highlight the need to nurture and sustain our health and environmental resources for long-term livability and endurability. The intention of this focus is to provide policy direction to help accommodate growth and change, while promoting and protecting public health and the environmental systems on which we depend, including the quality of our air, water, and land. Components within this element may include:

• Environmental Quality – Air, Water, Land, Trees;
• Energy & Sustainability;
• Food Systems; and
• Health and Activity (healthy communities).

Thank you for your question Betty. This question can be answered by the Stormwater Management team at 817-459-6550. You may also click here to view the Stormwater Management webpage.

We did reach out to Public Works regarding this question, please see their response below:

"Stream Team was not terminated; it was put on hiatus due to staff turnover.  Stream Team requires that one individual on staff be a certified trainer.  Our certified trainer departed the city in March.  As such, there is now currently no one who can coordinate Stream Team and/or manage volunteers.  The goal is to reinstate Stream Team once we are fully staffed and have a certified trainer."

Thank you, 

Tabitha Dye

Joe:

The number of used auto dealers in Arlington is a concern for City Council. I have linked the last informal staff report on auto dealers in Arlington I prepared for City Council. 

Patricia

Joe:

In 2014, the City of Arlington adopted a new Unified Development Code (UDC) that only allowed used auto dealers to be in the Industrial and Manufacturing (IM) zoning district by right. If they want to locate in the General Commercial (GC) and Light Industrial (LI) zoning districts, used auto dealers need to get a Specific Use Permit (SUP), or other zoning change only approved by City Council. However, any used auto dealer who was operating legally and prior to the 2014 UDC adoption can continue to operate as a "legal non-conforming" use. This is sometimes called "grandfathering". What they cannot do is expand the use or structure. Once the non-conforming used auto dealer use stops for 180 days or suffers 50% in damage or loss of market value, the used auto dealer use cannot be re-established. Most of the used auto dealers on Division were established prior to 2014, with some being in existence since the 1990s. Some are in the IM district and some have SUPs to operate.

A certificate of occupancy (CO) is a document that certifies a building is safe, passed inspection, and is ready to be used, by verifying the structure complies with local building codes, zoning regulations, and any other requirements of the City. Arlington does not require used auto dealers (or any business for that matter) to get a new CO every year. A new CO is required upon change of ownership or business name.

There are many factors in place allowing existing used auto dealers to continue, including property rights, and paying for a CO is not one of them. No "new" used auto dealers can be on Division unless they are in the IM zoning district or have a zoning change approved by City Council. The existing dealers in good standing, legally permitted prior to 2014, can continue to operate as long as they do not expand their business.

I hope this helps,

Patricia