What Should Grow Along The Metro Line? Urban Land Institute To Present Land Use Analysis Thursday

Loudoun County:

“As a part of the Board of Supervisors-initiated Comprehensive Plan amendment for the area around Loudoun’s future Metro stations, the results of an Urban Land Institute analysis of planned, zoned and existing land use in Loudoun County’s Metrorail Service District will be presented to the public at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the board room of the county government center, located at 1 Harrison St. SE in Leesburg.

The county asked a ULI Technical Advisory Panel of 10 people representing various fields related to land use and real estate development to conduct an analysis of the area and identify any issues and recommendations. The goal is for the county to determine whether the Revised General Plan provides a planned land use mix within the Metrorail Service District that strikes a desired and beneficial balance between:

• prompt realization of tax revenues to support future Metrorail operations,
• maximizing future employment generation,
• achieving the desired land use pattern, and
• minimizing demands on the county’s transportation infrastructure.”

~Writes  Leesburg Today

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For information on the Silver Line CPAM, go to www.loudoun.gov/silverlinecpam.

Work starts on strategic plan for Rockfish Valley

Nelson County:

“At the Nelson County Planning Commission meeting last week, Director of Planning & Zoning Tim Padalino announced the start of work on the Rockfish Valley Area Plan — a strategic plan for the area suggested by the Nelson 151 business group at a meeting in March.

The organization said the Rockfish Valley needs a strategic plan to prepare for future business development. The plan will be a county planning project, Padalino said. He said a recently formed working group for the project was scheduled to meet last week to discuss the scope of the project, as well as a timeline and budget.

The working group includes Padalino; County Administrator Steve Carter; Nelson County Director of Finance and Human Resources Debbie McCann; clerk of the board of supervisors Candy McGarry; Sara Turner, the secretary of the county administration office; and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Maureen Kelley.

Commissioners Philippa Proulx and Linda Russell said they would like the planning commission to be involved in the planning process. Padalino said county staff is ‘being proactive’ but it might be awhile before they have a draft plan to share.”

~Writes Katherine Lacaze of the Nelson County Times

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Rt.3 vision moves forward

Orange County:

“Last week’s two-and-a-half day Rt. 3 visioning charette brought together experts and key stakeholders to determine the corridor’s challenges, strengths and steps needed to move forward in an effort to achieve smart, sustainable growth in the county’s eastern end.

Originally planned for February, but moved to last week due to inclement weather, the charette focused on aligning the vision for Rt. 3 with viability in terms of land uses and what the market will support all while keeping in mind typography, environmental and financial constraints.”

~Writes Gracie Hart Brooks of the Orange County Review

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Click here to learn about the Route 3 Strategic Visioning Initiative

Comprehensive Plan looks towards summer completion

Albemarle County:

“As Albemarle County’s review of a revised Comprehensive Plan moves forward, the Board of Supervisors is going to work overtime to ensure the process gives the public an opportunity to voice its concerns. The review process begins with a look at the vision statement and then each of the chapters’ vision statements before digging into the details of those chapters.

‘We would like to get a good idea of the vision, because everything in this plan is connected to the vision,’ Wayne Cilimberg, the county’s director of planning, told the board at a recent meeting. The decision to review the plan chapter by chapter was made last month after a public hearing. At the time, the board heard from groups such as the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Jefferson Area Tea Party and residents of the Glenmore area.

The board will meet twice a month for about two hours in the late afternoon, a time that they hope will allow more people to attend.”

~Writes Effie Nicholaou of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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Port Royal surveying residents about town’s future

Town of Port Royal:

“The Town of Port Royal is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan, and the Planning Commission has some questions for residents. The commission has developed a survey asking the community where it would like to see itself in the next 20 years. Survey participants can indicate what they would like Port Royal to look like in the future, what they would like to change about the town, and other information to help the commission revise the comp plan.

All Virginia localities are required by law to review their comprehensive plans every five years. The comp plan is a planning document designed to guide a community’s growth over a 20-year period. It does not establish any laws.

Copies of the survey are available at the Port Royal Post Office and Town Hall, and planning commissioners will be making other efforts to distribute them to town residents.”

~ Writes The Caroline Press

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Group hopes to plan a vision for the 151 corridor

Nelson County:

“The Nelson 151 organization is seeking for the Rockfish Valley to undergo a strategic planning process to help produce a community vision for the area, with an emphasis on the Virginia State Route 151 corridor. George Hodson, chairman for Nelson 151 and general manager of Veritas Vineyard & Winery, asked the Nelson County Board of Supervisors at its March 11 meeting to support the project, which would help the community prepare for future business development.

‘What we want to make sure we’re doing is [ensure] that the businesses that come to this corridor are doing things the right way, reflect well on the existing businesses that are here and also are well-supported by the community,’ Hodson said. ‘That’s who we are and that’s what we want to do.’ Nelson 151 is an organization of business owners that comprises seven wineries, three breweries, a cidery and a distillery, as well as several other partners located in the Rockfish Valley area near Virginia 151.

Hodson said the group feels the Nelson County comprehensive plan does not adequately capture the current economic success and development patterns on the corridor, which could leave the county and its businesses and residents unprepared for future scenarios related to Virginia 151.”

~ Writes Katherine Lacaze of the Nelson County Times

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Developing a strategic plan for the town of Culpeper

Town of Culpeper:

“Elected officials are working to create a strategic plan for the town of Culpeper. Development of the written document could involve use of an outside facilitator, costing up to $25,000. Culpeper Town Council convened Wednesday in town hall for a special meeting on the matter of strategic planning with an end goal of producing a mission statement, goals and objectives and an implementation process for achieving an agreed-upon strategy for the town related to taxation, utilities and tap fees, capital needs, investment zones, future development and other key topics.

Culpeper Town Manager Dewey Cashwell, in his decades in public service, worked with various localities — including San Antonio, Texas — on developing strategic plans. At Wednesday’s meeting, he said the town of Culpeper already has an award winning comprehensive plan, adopted in 2012, that could serve as a blueprint.”

~Writes Allison Brophy Champion of the Star Exponent

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Board of Supervisors Approves Reston Master Plan

Fairfax County:

“The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the Comprehensive Reston Master Plan on Tuesday, Feb. 12, adopting the vision for Reston’s growth for the next 50 years. Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) motioned for the Board to approve the revised plan’s vision for Reston with founder Bob Simon’s original 1962 goals in mind. ‘Reston will be a complete community designed for the 21st century with choices in jobs, housing and lifestyle for an increasingly diverse population,’ said Hudgins in her motion.

The plan calls for 22,000 new residential units and the creation of three new village centers around the Metro stations at Wiehle-Reston East, Reston Town Center North, and Herndon. The board heard testimony from Reston residents on Jan. 28 with fears about congestion, provision of adequate parks and recreation facilities, construction of mixed-use transit station areas, and the role of the Reston Association.

BEFORE THEIR APPROVAL of the Master Plan on Tuesday, it was revised to include crossings from North to South Reston, open space and parks in developing areas, and continued involvement of the Reston Association and Reston Town Center Association during development. The Board also approved a plan amendment that called for mixed-use development close to the transit stations, recommendations for a multi-mode transit system, environmental stewardship, and urban parks and recreation facilities. Hudgins included recommendations in the amendment for special studies related to urban design, transportation funding, and an enhanced street network, which Hudgins said will help during implementation.”

~Writes Ethan McLeod of The Connection

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Transforming Tysons: Rendering of Station Street, as part of the Scotts Run Station South master plan.

Fairfax County:

“SmithGroupJJR was awarded a 2013 Award of Excellence by the Northern Virginia chapter of National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), a commercial real estate development association, for its planning and design of the Scotts Run Station South master plan. The NAIOP awards program, which celebrates significant contributions to Northern Virginia by the commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate community, was held on Nov. 30, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. Scotts Run Station South won the award for ‘Best Master Plan.’

With the planned arrival of four new Metrorail stations, the community of Tysons Corner has an exceptional redevelopment opportunity. SmithGroupJJR’s master plan for Cityline Partners’ properties at the new Tysons/McLean station will transform the area into a transit-oriented, mixed-use community with the Scotts Run Stream Valley Park at its heart. The development plan introduces a new pedestrian-scaled grid of streets with an engaging mix of uses along Station Street, the development’s main avenue. A total of 17 new buildings are planned, including residential, office and retail uses along with a full-service hotel.”

~Writes The Connection

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Council OKs adding SIA to Comprehensive Plan

City of Charlottesville

“The Charlottesville City Council approved a resolution Monday night to add the Strategic Investment Area to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, a move city officials hope will sharpen the idea’s focus. The council approved the resolution 4-1, with Councilor Bob Fenwick being the only no vote. Councilors added language to the resolution to ensure that the move would not keep the city from changing parts of the investment area in the future.

The 330-acre Strategic Investment Area is expected to add 1,300 homes, attract $300 million in investment and bring in $3 million in tax revenue to the city, officials said. The area’s borders are Avon Street, Elliott Avenue, Ridge Street and the railroad tracks north of Garrett Street, said Jim Tolbert, director of Neighborhood Development Services.

The Strategic Investment Area plan includes redeveloping public and low-income housing developments on Sixth Street at Friendship Court and Crescent Hall. City officials have pledged one-to-one replacement of public and low-income housing units in the area.”

~Writes Aaron Richardson of the Daily Progress

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Council to weigh putting Strategic Investment Area into Comprehensive Plan

City of Charlottesville

“Adding a 330-acre redevelopment initiative to Charlottesville’s Comprehensive Plan could sharpen the idea’s focus, but it also could carry a cost, officials said. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the move Monday night. Covering what’s known as the Strategic Investment Area, the redevelopment plan could add 1,300 homes, attract $300 million in downtown investment and generate $3 million in tax money, officials said.

The investment area stretches along Avon Street from the Ix property to the old Martha Jefferson Hospital between Avon and Ridge-McIntire. Including the initiative in the Comprehensive Plan would not cost the city money immediately, said Jim Tolbert, director of Neighborhood Development Services. Instead, it would allow the city to focus on the area’s design and purpose.”

~Writes Aaron Richardson of The Daily Progress

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Public hearing on proposed update to the County's Comprehensive Plan

Albemarle County

“The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday evening, February 12, at 6:00 pm on the proposed update to the County's Comprehensive Plan. The public hearing will be held in the auditorium of the County Office Building on McIntire Road. A copy of the draft document that incorporates all changes made by the Planning Commission last summer is available here.”

~Albemarle County

Comp plan update proposed

City of Suffolk

“A preliminary revision of the city’s comprehensive plan recommends increasing the allowed density in certain growth areas and holding the line — for the most part — on what’s defined as a growth area. The Planning Commission heard the suggestions of a consultant in its Tuesday meeting. The second round of community meetings on the comprehensive plan is underway for coming weeks, but a schedule has not yet been set.

Greg Dale of McBride Dale Clarion said the first round of community meetings validated what had been suspected — that the big-picture themes of the current comprehensive plan still hold meaning for local residents. ‘Those lines are important; they mean something,’ he said. ‘Let’s hold the integrity of those lines.’

The current plan — officially the 2026 Comprehensive Plan — was done in 2006 and covered the next 20 years of development. The first iteration of the plan was crafted in 1973, and state code now requires it to be reviewed every five years.”

~Writes Tracy Agnew of the Suffolk News-Herald

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Continuing Revitalization on Richmond Highway

Fairfax County

“Route 1 revitalization has been a major topic in Southeast Fairfax County for several years now, and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation will continue this effort into 2014. Edythe Kelleher, the executive director of SFDC, said that the group has a lot of plans that will impact residents and business owners along the Richmond Highway corridor.

Along with discussing SFDC’s continuing Roundtable Speaker Series and other educational events. Kelleher and Lindsey Doane, SFDC marketing and communications director, addressed the history of Route 1, areas to watch out for, and SFDC goals in general.”

~Writes Janelle Germanos of The Connection

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