Powhatan County Comprehensive Plan
Update!
The planning team is in the process of drafting the Comprehensive Plan Update after working with the Planning Commission and the Citizen’s Working Groups on the various elements of the plan. The Draft Plan will be reviewed with the Planning Commission at a public meeting in late July. The exact date has not yet been selected, but will be posted here once confirmed. Please click here for a list of upcoming events.
What is a comprehensive plan?
A comprehensive plan consists of maps, policies, goals and objectives and provides a “blueprint” for how a community should grow in the future. A comprehensive plan typically looks 20-30 years in the future and incorporates a wide range of issues and questions relating to land use, including transportation, land use mix, parks and open space, community facilities, community character and identity, housing and neighborhoods, and economic development. Once adopted, elected and appointed officials of the County will use the plan as a guide for their land use and public investment decisions.
The State of Virginia mandates that Powhatan County prepare and adopt a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the land within its jurisdiction under Section 15.2-2223 of the Code of Virginia. The plan must include assessments of existing conditions, trends of growth, and the future needs of the order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the inhabitants. The state code also requires the plan to include transportation and land use components. The land use component is encouraged to provide policies for : the location of future public facilities such as parks, schools, waterworks, and sewage disposal, historical areas, areas for redevelopment, and areas for environmental significance. The plan must also address affordable housing within the County.
Why are we updating ours?
Powhatan County has a long history of planning. This plan will be an update of the current comprehensive plan (See link below.) Powhatan County is doing what communities should do – plan for the long range (20 years) and update the plan on a regular basis.
This update is occurring at an especially important time for Powhatan County. First, regional growth pressures are pushing at Powhatan’s borders. Thousands of new dwelling units and millions of square feet of commercial space is being planned and built within several miles of the county line. Second, regional transportation access to the county is making those growth pressures even more real. The completion of Route 288 is providing easy regional access to the county. While recent economic events make for an uncertain future, now is the time to reassess and update the vision for Powhatan’s future.