Newsroom: Arlington County Announces New Planning Director

Arlington VA

07 May, 2021

9:44 AM

Description

Press release from the Arlington County Government: May 6, 2021 Arlington County has selected Anthony Fusarelli, Jr. to be the County's new Planning Director after a nationwide search. "As Arlington continues to grow, we will face change," said County Manager Mark Schwartz, "We'll need visionary, effective planning to help guide our priorities in areas such as equity, affordability, sustainability, resiliency, and community engagement. Mr. Fusarelli's experience with the County's notable planning history and his dedication to partnering with the community on long-term plans make him an excellent fit for this critical position." Fusarelli has worked in the County's Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development for 15 years and most recently served as Assistant Director. In this role he was responsible for development agreements and land deals, strategic initiatives, and demographic and development data research and analysis. In previous positions with Arlington County, he led award-winning community planning processes. He spearheaded the creation of the first Crystal City Sector Plan (2010) and multiple subsequent zoning and implementation tools. He also managed the Realize Rosslyn planning process, which resulted in an update to the Rosslyn Sector Plan (2015). "I'm grateful and excited to help advance Arlington's evolution towards a better, more inclusive community," said Fusarelli. "Our community faces both challenges and opportunities. How we plan for these will have lasting implications for Arlington's future. I look forward to guiding the efforts of our talented planning staff as we work diligently with the community, Planning Commission, and County leadership towards our collective vision and goals." The appointment will be effective in early June. Fusarelli earned accreditation from the American Institute of Certified Planners and is an alumnus of ULI Washington's Regional Land Use Leadership Institute. He has a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Regional Planning degree from Cornell University. He and his family live in Arlington's Columbia Pike corridor. This press release was produced by the Arlington County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.