CALENDAR

Arlington Tree Action Group calendar: learn— and speak up! Best things to do: attend meetings, speak up, and email!

 How is our county caring for Arlington’s trees? What will the county’s efforts to increase zoning across Arlington do to our remaining land and trees? What are the environmental consequences of increased impervious surfaces, tree and vegetation loss, stormwater runoff, increased housing costs, and added burden on infrastructure and county services, including costs of new schools? Attend November 13, 7 pm Arlington Committee of 100 presentation on the effects of development on Arlington’s Environment, Schools, and Budget.

Comment on issues that affect trees and land at County Board meetings and/or email comments to County Board countyboard@arlingtonva.us, County Manager Mschwartz@arlingtonva.us and Vincent Verweij, urban forester Department of Parks and Recreation vverweij@arlingtonva.us.  Even as simple a comment as “respect the need for land and mature trees” helps. Also include the Arlington County School Board at school.board@apsva.us

Our tax dollars dry up in the drought!

Drought-dead street trees Pentagon City

Read news about ATAG speaking at 10/26 county board meeting: https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/activist-group-raps-arlington-officials-for-lax-care-of-trees/article_eda59072-f402-11e9-a313-5391a0205d21.html

You can also water any trees you can reach. https://environment.arlingtonva.us/trees/care-for-trees/watering/

Below is a selection of open meetings. For more meetings on issues such as zoning, land use, etc. see the county calendar at https://topics.arlingtonva.us/public-meeting-calendar/

 Open Door Monday’s with a County Board member: Every Monday is an opportunity to meet informally with a county board member to discuss any topic. See schedule here: https://countyboard.arlingtonva.us/open-door-mondays/

Oct  21, 6:30-7:30 pm, Housing and economics, Facebook Live virtual dialogue. Propose questions ahead at housingarlington@arlingtonva.us.  Details: https://housing.arlingtonva.us/housing-arlington/community-conversation-series/

Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Urban Forestry Commission meeting at Courthouse, room 311

Oct. 24 – 6:30-8:30 PM, Flood Resilient Arlington Workshop. Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. How to reduce your risk from flash flooding. Speakers on hazard mitigation, flood resilient design, and flood insurance.

Registration is free. Details:   https://www.arlingtonva.us/flooding/

Oct. 26 – 10 AM – 12, Flood Resilient Arlington Workshop. GMU Van Metre Hall, 3551 N. Fairfax Drive. How to reduce your risk from flash flooding. Speakers on hazard mitigation, flood resilient design, and flood insurance. Registration is free. Details:   https://www.arlingtonva.us/flooding/

Oct. 26, 10 am – 1 pm, Housing Conservation District Bus Tour. Meet at Central Library. Tour the Housing Conservation District (HCD) areas; learn about this County initiative. https://housing.arlingtonva.us/events/housing-conservation-district-bus-tour/

Oct  28, 6:30-7:30 pm, Housing and the environment, Facebook Live virtual dialogue. Propose questions ahead at housingarlington@arlingtonva.us. Details: https://housing.arlingtonva.us/housing-arlington/community-conversation-series/

Nov. 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Gulf Branch Stream Restoration Community Meeting. Review draft concept, input on design. Madison Community Center, Room 8, 3829 N Stafford St, Arlington, VA 22207, https://projects.arlingtonva.us/events/gulf-branch-stream-restoration-community-meeting/

Nov. 12, 6:30-7:30 pm, Housing and equity, Facebook Live virtual dialogue. Propose questions ahead at housingarlington@arlingtonva.us. Details: https://housing.arlingtonva.us/housing-arlington/community-conversation-series/

Nov. 13, 7 pm; Arlington Committee of 100, presentation on the effects of development on Arlington’s Environment, Schools, and Budget, with Peter Rousselot and others. Marymount University, Phelan Hall. 2807 N. Glebe Road.

Nov. 16, Regular County Board meeting, 8:30 am public comment. Ellen M. Bozman Government Center (Courthouse Plaza), County Board Room (3rd floor).  Meet for coffee after with ATAG members to discuss concerns and ideas. To speak at a board meeting: https://countyboard.arlingtonva.us/meetings/speaking-procedures/

Nov. 20, 7 pm: Presentation on the effects of development on Arlington’s Environment, Schools, and Budget, with Peter Rousselot and others. Arlington Forest Citizens Association, Barrett Elementary School, 4401 N Henderson Rd, 22203

Dec. 4, 8 am -5 pm, Casey Tree Conference at the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., “Trees Matter Presents: Green Cities Summit. Presentations at the summit will focus on the health and welfare of trees in our increasingly developed landscapes…”https://caseytreesdc.github.io/greencitiessummit/?_ga=2.128700940.1037053678.1567039215-2029252043.1549514961

Dec. 9, Our Revolution Arlington (ORA) monthly meeting, 7 pm, Peter Rousselot presentation on effects of zoning changes. Summers Restaurant, 1520 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201. Peter Rousselot presentation likely to be at 8 pm. https://www.facebook.com/ORArlington/

What you can do:

Email the School Board to encourage respect for trees:  school.board@apsva.us

  • Speak at county board meetings. Attend other county meetings and speak up.
  • Join Arlington County commissions to be a voice for responsible action on green space preservation. You can sit in on the meetings to learn about them.
  • Join your Arlington Civic Federation neighborhood association. Speak up- county listens to CivFed.
  • Like ATAG on Facebook. Follow on twitter and find resources on ATAG website.

 

Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG) is a network of citizens working to preserve and grow Arlington, Virginia’s urban forest to keep Arlington green and fulfill the Vision stated in the Arlington County’s Urban Forest Master Plan 2004 (currently being updated).