East Hill Subarea Plan

Project Overview

The City of Arlington, jointly with Arlington 360, LLC, is conducting a community planning process to develop a vision, plan, and implementation strategies for the East Hill Subarea. The subarea plan is being developed for consistency with the Growth Management Act, county-wide planning policies, and the City of Arlington Comprehensive Plan. There are approximately 313 acres within the subarea, with a total of 1,340 residential units anticipated at full build-out. The type and percentage of residential units will be compliant with City of Arlington Ordinance 2023-016. The planning process will lay the groundwork for continued, coordinated, and efficient growth of the neighborhood. Final products will include an adopted East Hill Subarea Plan that will be incorporated in the City’s development code, a Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) to facilitate development within the subarea that meets community goals, and project-specific Arlington 360 development under a Master Planned Neighborhood (MPN) Overlay. Arlington 360 proposes approximately 50% of the total number of housing units on approximately two-thirds of the total acreage within the subarea. Development being proposed concurrent with preparation of the Subarea Plan will consist of about 646 single-family residential lots and 133 townhomes on approximately 209 acres.  

The PAO will be developed under RCW 43.21C.440 and associated SEPA rules in WAC 197-11 based on the EIS. Future proposals consistent with the Planned Action Ordinance, Subarea Plan, and development regulations would have a streamlined environmental review and permitting process.

The Planned Action EIS will assess two alternatives. The No Action alternative assumes no development within the subarea would occur under the existing Residential Ultra Low-Capacity zoning and development standards. The Action Alternative assumes implementation of Ordinance 2023-016 to accommodate low- to moderate-intensity residential uses, including small-lot detached single-family homes, townhomes, and multi-family housing. This alternative also includes investments in capital infrastructure, transportation improvements, and a comprehensive system of parks, open space, and trails within the subarea.

Ordinance 2023-016 requires that subarea plans be processed in conjunction with a Planned Action EIS. The East Hill Subarea Plan EIS will be prepared to jointly address the programmatic Planned Action within the subarea as a whole, with additional project-specific detail about the Arlington 360 MPN.

Location:

The Arlington 360 Master Plan/East Hill Subarea is located south of Tveit Road and generally east of Burn Road to 95th Avenue NE (if extended northward to Tveit Road).

Key Considerations and Determination:

The City of Arlington as lead agency under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) has determined that this proposal could potentially have a significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) and will be prepared under the City’s direction.

The lead agency has identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS:

  • Earth: Steep Slopes, Geologically Hazardous Areas, Soils, and Erosion Potential
  • Water: Surface Water Movement/Quantity/Quality, Runoff/Absorption, Groundwater Movement/Quantity/Quality
  • Wetlands
  • Plants, Animals, and Habitat
  • Fish and Fish Habitat
  • Land Use: Relationship to Existing Plans, Policies, and Regulations
  • Population and Housing
  • Recreation
  • Aesthetics
  • Historic and Cultural Resources
  • Transportation
  • Public Services: Parks, Schools, Police, Fire/Emergency Services
  • Utilities: Sewer, Water, Stormwater Management, Electrical Power, and Natural Gas

Scoping:

Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required. 

SEPA Determination:

Application, Narrative, Vicinity Map, Property Owner Parcel Numbers, Legal Description, Environmental Checklist, Critical Areas Existing Conditions, Conceptual Wetland Mitigation Plan, Archeological Survey Report, Unanticipated Discovery Plan, Tree Study Report, Preliminary Traffic Impact Analysis, Off-Site Water Exhibit, Water and Sewer Availability Request, Revised Drainage Report, Revised Geotechnical Report, Groundwater Modeling Approach Technical Memo, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, Preliminary Civil Plans, Master Plan Subarea Plans

Project Documents:

Application, Narrative, Tax Parcels, Legal Description of Total Area, SEPA Checklist, Critical Areas, Conceptual Wetland Mitigation, Tree Study Report, Archaeological Survey, Unanticipated Discovery Plan, Geotechnical Report, Stormwater Report, Groundwater Technical Memorandum, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, Water/Sewer Availability, Preliminary Civil Plans, Sewer Exhibit, Preliminary Traffic Impact Analysis, Development Project Vicinity Map, Master Subarea Plan

Community Neighborhood Meeting:

As part of the community planning process and to meet the Planned Action community meeting provisions of RCW 43.21C.440 (3)(b), the City is holding a public neighborhood meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025 at Putnam Hall in the Community and Economic Development Office (18204 59th Avenue NE, Arlington, WA 98223), from 5:00 to 6:30 pm, with a presentation at 5:15 pm. If you are in need of special accommodations for the meeting, please contact the City of Arlington at 360-403-3551.

Community Neighborhood Meeting and Scoping for EIS Presentation

Notice of Application Comment Period:

Any person may comment on this application by writing to the mailing or email address listed under the contact information. Comments on this application must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Contact Information:

  • Amy Rusko, Deputy Director
  • Email: arusko@arlingtonwa.gov (Subject: East Hill Subarea NOA and EIS Scoping Comments)
  • Mail: City of Arlington, Attn: Amy Rusko, Community and Economic Development Deputy Director, 18204 59th Avenue NE, Arlington, WA 98223

Amended Proposed Subarea Plan Layout:


East Hill Subarea Plan Map