The City of Lexington hired The Berkley Group at the end of 2015 to manage the City’s Planning and Development Department. This type of planning support service is part of the Berkley Group’s Auxiliary Town Hall program and Arne was hired in the spring of 2016 to provide the daily planning staffing to the City of Lexington. Many things have been accomplished since our contract began at the end of 2015 and the following is a quick summary of the accomplishments achieved in Lexington:
Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance diagnostics performed,
Zoning Ordinance was completely revised and updated,
By-laws of the Architectural Review Board and of the Planning Commission were reviewed and revised,
All of the department’s application forms were updated,
Began monthly reporting of the department’s activities,
Began annual reporting of the Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Appeals,
Held four training sessions for the Architectural Review Board with Frazier Associates and Partners for Place,
Awarded a Cost Share Grant by the Department of Historic Resources to update the historic property surveys,
Awarded a Cost Share Grant by the Department of Historic Resources to update the National Register Nomination,
Designated as a Certified Local Government by the Department of Historic Resources,
Hosted the annual Certified Local Government training,
Applied for a Certified Local Government grant to create design guidelines for the Lexington historic districts,
Coordinated with a Washington and Lee University Sociology methods class to survey 5 Lexington neighborhoods in order to determine the possible demand for a housing rehabilitation program, and
Began the process to update the Lexington Comprehensive Plan.
As the Auxiliary Town Hall employee, Arne staffs the Lexington Planning and Development office on a daily basis. In addition to serving as the Planning and Development Director, Arne is also the Zoning Administrator (C.Z.A.), Subdivision Agent, floodplain regulations administrator, and staff for the Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission, Threshold Housing Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and City Council. Arne attended the Certified Planning Commissioner training provided by the Land Use Education Program and he was designated as a Certified Zoning Administrator by the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials. The Berkley Group is privileged to provide planning services to the citizens of Lexington, and Arne and his family particularly enjoy living in this distinctive and inviting community in the Shenandoah Valley.