Much of our attention and time over the last four years has been devoted to Arlington County's Neighborhood Conservation Program. There is a good reason for this: that's where the funding is! Many neighborhood improvement projects in Arlington County are funded from voter-approved bond money allocated through the Neighborhood Conservation process. This covers projects involving curb, gutter sidewalk, park and recreation facilities, traffic management, street lights, and beautification.

To tap into these bond funds, neighborhoods must go through a four-step process. More Information. The most time-consuming of these steps is to complete a Neighborhood Conservation Plan - a complicated and volunteer-intensive process that often takes between three to five years. Click here for Williamsburg's Conservation Plan, completed and approved by the County Board in the summer of 2000. Having finally reached the stage when we can compete for County funding, we are now translating the recommendations in the Conservation Plan into specific NC projects. Click here of information about Williamsburg's current NC projects.

The County provides three additional incentives for neighborhoods like ours to participate in the Neighborhood Conservation Program:

Access to County Board: The NCAC advises the County Board on matters related to neighborhoods, and thereby provides participating neighborhoods with enhanced access to the County Board. Specific functions of NCAC include:

• Encouraging neighborhood to join the Neighborhood Conservation Program
• Reviewing all new and amended or updated Neighborhood Conservation Plans and presenting recommendations to the Planning Committee and the County Board for public hearings
• Developing recommendations for improving the approach and process by which Arlington works to conserve and enhance its Neighborhood Conservation Areas
• Maintaining liaison between the County Board, neighborhoods, Planning Commission, and other related bodies
• Recommending projects for funding through the Neighborhood Conservation Program.

Planning: Neighborhood Conservation Plans, initiated and prepared by neighborhood residents, are used to:

• Build a neighborhood vision and consensus on issues affecting the neighborhood
• Establish eligibility for Neighborhood Conservation Funding
• Provide guidance to the County Board, Commissions, Department and staff concerning issues in the neighborhoods.

Assistance: Staff support is provided to the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee by the Office of Neighborhood Services.

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