Shenandoah Comp Plan Ready For Review

I suggest starting with the first section, “The Report,” for a thorough overview of the process, background and explanation of the plan before delving into “The Action Plan” with goals, objectives, strategies and potential actions outlined in the following eleven chapters. Heads up, for those familiar with the current plan and its format, Shenandoah County 2045 has a different format.

> The plan aims to balance rural lifestyle with expanding services.

As I work my way through the plan, I remain impressed by the commitment of the members of the Citizens Advisory Committee and county staff who have spent hours working to develop a plan for Shenandoah County that ensures our community values for the next 20 years.

I hope that you will also take the time to review the plan, and that when you do, you will agree with me that it does a good job incorporating the input you provided over the 5-year process to preserve our rural working landscapes and natural resources while focusing new development in and around existing infrastructure.

Once you’ve reviewed the draft plan, you can weigh in at the public hearing on Thursday, August 1, even if it’s just to say thank you to committee members, or if you can’t make it, you can submit email comments to your planning commission member, supervisor and planning staff.

You may recall that every locality in Virginia is required to prepare a long-range plan that provides direction for policy makers on future actions from housing to transportation to open space and economics. The comprehensive plan, is the ultimate guide to growth and development within a community—and every 20 years these plans must be updated. For more on how a comprehensive plan serves a community, read our spring 2020 Ridge and Valley feature “Superheroes Need Good Sidekicks.”