Environmental Sustainability & Resilience

PROMISE MADE: Build a stronger Arlington, designed with a focus on sustainability and protecting our environment in the long-term.

PROMISE KEPT:

• Strengthened and passed Arlington’s new Sustainability Incentives packet that significantly reduces the carbon footprint of new development:

  • It emphasizes long-term energy performance with additional incentives for Net-Zero and Zero-Carbon building certification.

  • It promotes the Community Energy Plan and the County’s goal to become a Carbon-Neutral Community by 2050.

• Pursued the initiation of the Energy Assurance and Electric Mobility infrastructure studies that will inform how Arlington will establish sustainable, de-carbonized transportation in the near future.

• Advocated for a $198M robust 10-year Stormwater Management investment program.

• Advocated for the inclusion of mature tree protection and urban reforestation in the County’s Legislative Agenda presented to the General Assembly. Most importantly, he has advocated for legislation that would provide local governments with greater flexibility in their oversight of reforestation, conservation, preservation, and management of urban forests and their ability to include incentives to developers that maximize tree preservation and tree planting efforts to offset tree removal.

• Fought for an additional urban forester position and increased appropriations for tree care in the FY22 budget.

• Worked to insert biophilic principles in the final approval of Metropolitan Park and the Crystal City Waterpark by expanding the presence of natural elements within the built environment. 

• Pursued the accelerated opening (summer 2021) of the new Aquatics Center at Long Bridge Park, a civic and sports-activity anchor in the National Landing neighborhoods. 

• Serves as the County Board Liaison to the Climate Change, Energy and Environment Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Takis also serves as the Vice Chair of the Council of Government Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee.

KEY VOTES

• Voted to oppose the $1.82 million construction contract to complete the Donaldson Run stream resiliency project. 

• Voted for the fast-track implementation of a large stormwater detention vault under the new Reed elementary school in the Westover neighborhood. The vault will alleviate flooding in the Westover area, which suffered devastating losses in the July 2019 storm.

• Voted in favor of the intergovernmental agreement with the City of Alexandria to share maintenance and dredging costs for the two-mile long flood channel of the Four Mile Run stream, extending from Shirlington to the Potomac River.

• Voted to approve a contract for two Neighborhood Conservation projects in Glencarlyn and Dominion Hills. The Glencarlyn project will add four-foot-wide sidewalks, ADA pedestrian ramps, and stormwater infrastructure along 4th Street South for two blocks from South Kensington Street to South Illinois Street, making it easier to walk to the Glencarlyn Branch Library, Carlin Hall, and Kenmore Middle School. The Dominion Hills project will realign the intersection of North Larrimore Street and 9th Street North, improving access and safety for pedestrians. A bioretention facility will be built at the intersection.

• Voted in favor of the plan by CESC Water Park LLC to renovate the Crystal City Water Park and upgrade the path that connects Crystal City to the Mount Vernon Trail and National Airport and the proposed Virginia Railway Express north entrance. The upgrade will produce 2 new paths: an ADA-accessible pedestrian path and a bicyclist-focused one. 

• Voted to approve a contract with The Donahoe Companies, Inc. to build a new playground for Rosslyn Highlands Park, on 1615 18th St. N. The park will offer two play areas for pre-school and grade-school children. It also will have abundant seating, native plants, and stormwater management planters.