City of Winchester issued the following announcement on Feb 11.
The next Comprehensive Plan Update open house and public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at a special meeting of City Council. The open house will be held from 5:30-6:30 pm in the lobby and Zuckerman Room of Rouss City Hall, and the public hearing will begin at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers. At the open house, community members can view exhibits and talk with staff to learn more about the updates prior to addressing Council at the public hearing.
For those who are unable to attend the public hearing and open house, feedback can be submitted in writing until noon on February 28, 2022. All proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan are available on the City’s website.
Options for submitting comments in writing include:
Submit the online form
Mail or drop off letter to Clerk of Council, 15 N. Cameron Street, Winchester, VA 22601
Email clerk@winchesterva.gov(link sends e-mail)
Contact the Deputy Clerk of Council at 540-667-1815, ext. 1502 or at the above address to make other arrangements
Background
The Code of Virginia guides how Comprehensive Plans and updates thereto are to be prepared and adopted and what must be included. It specifically lays out the purpose of the Plan and who is responsible for preparing and adopting it. The City’s Plan is a guide for a desired future vision concerning land use and development, not an ordinance or code such as the City Zoning Ordinance. It outlines what could or should be done rather than what must be done. It is strategic in nature and calls out specific actions that can be undertaken both short term as well as long term. The Plan is closely associated with the City’s Capital Improvement Program which spells out expenditures for reinvesting public funds in the community.
The City's current Comprehensive Plan was last updated on a complete basis in 2011 and underwent small revisions in 2014 and 2020. The Planning Commission and staff have been working on a major update of the Comp Plan since 2017 and there have been many opportunities for the public to be involved in the process.
Learn More
Our next Rouss Review Podcast (2/21 at 5 pm) will cover the purpose of a Comp Plan. Listen on your favorite podcast app or visit the Rouss Review web page. Also posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Original source can be found here.
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