Nelson County Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing with the Planning Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Dylan Bishop, Nelson County Director of Planning and Zoning

Nelson County Comprehensive Plan Public Review
– Public is Invited to Attend

 Nelson County, VA January 4, 2024

Nelson County is preparing to adopt the Nelson 2042 Comprehensive Plan and will conduct public hearings to review the Plan before adoption.  A Comprehensive Plan is a broad statement about the community, looking 10 to 20 years ahead. It includes specific goals and strategies to achieve the goals set forth in the Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan addresses topics such as land use, development, natural environment, transportation, and resource utilization in the unincorporated areas of Nelson County. The policies defined in the plan will guide the County’s future direction and priorities for growth, services, and land use regulation.

There will be two public hearings conducted to allow the public to voice their opinions about the Plan to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The first will be conducted with the Planning Commission on January 31^st, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The second will be conducted with the Board of Supervisors on March 20^th, 2024, also at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will take place at the Nelson County High School, 6919 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, Virginia 22949.

The Planning Commission will review the current draft at their regular meeting on January 24. Following the public hearing on January 31, they will review comments and make a recommendation on the Plan to the Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting on February 28. The Board of Supervisors will then review the Planning Commission’s recommendation at their regular meeting on March 12, prior to their public hearing on March 20. Final adoption of the Plan is not scheduled until at least the Board’s regular meeting on April 9, 2024.

Nelson County Director of Planning and Zoning notes, “As designed, this process has been an inclusive community effort. From the diagnostic analysis of Nelson County’s existing comprehensive plan, to analysis of the existing conditions, along with robust input surveys, public workshops and listening sessions, we created a vision and goals. The Plan chapters and implementation strategies are complete. Now it is time for public review and refinement with these two public hearings.”

P.O. Box 336 • Lovingston, VA 22949 • 434 263-7000 • Fax: 434 263-7004 • www.nelsoncounty-va.gov

The new plan builds on the 2014 Comprehensive Plan with public input, data collection, visioning, goal definition and strategies to ensure that the Plan translates into action. The plan includes demographic analysis of the County and contains chapters on: Land Use, Environment, Housing, Transportation, and Community Facilities, among other topics.

To review the plan and for more information about the process visit: www.nelson2042.com.

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NELSON COUNTY

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

JANUARY 31, 2024 – 7:00 PM – 6919 THOMAS NELSON HWY, LOVINGSTON, VA 22949

Notice is hereby given that the Nelson County Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the following item. All interested parties are encouraged to present their views at this hearing.

The Commission will receive and consider public input regarding the draft Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is the County’s key policy document for land use, development, housing, infrastructure, transportation, and related economic and social issues. A complete draft of the plan may be examined at the Nelson County Planning and Zoning Office at 80 Front St, Lovingston, Virginia 22949 and is also available online at: https://www.nelson2042.com/document-library.

This Comprehensive Plan Amendment repeals and replaces the adopted 2002 Comprehensive Plan in its entirety. Content, maps, goals, objectives, and strategies for all chapters have been revised and/or replaced in entirety to address key issues and priorities identified through public outreach and to comply with the Code of Virginia. The revised plan consists of the following chapters: 1) Creating Our Guide, describing the Comprehensive Plan purpose and process; 2) Setting Our Direction, describing County background information and demographics; 3) Shaping Community Character, describing a policy framework for growth and development, including a revised future land use map, land use pattern areas, and development design principles and strategies; 4) Connecting People & Places, describing transportation inventory, needs, planning assumptions, and recommended projects and strategies; 5) Creating Livable Communities, describing existing housing conditions and ways to promote affordable housing, housing choice, and healthy, livable neighborhoods; 6) Protecting Valuable Resources, describing information on such topics as topography, water resources, flood hazards, cultural and historical sites, and strategies to promote sustainable growth and development that respects the natural and cultural environment; 7) Creating a Resilient Economy, describing economic data and drivers, key industries, and strategies for economic growth based on tourism and recreation; and 8) Serving the Community, describing anticipated needs and improvements to public facilities and services such as recreation, educational needs, and other public and private assets. The implementation chapter categorizes the strategies from each chapter and provides a list of tools for successful implementation.

If you can not make it to the public hearing but would still like to submit a public comment, you can submit them electronically by emailing them to:  

This meeting is being held at the Nelson County High School at 6919 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA 22949, in a public facility believed to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Any person with questions on the accessibility of the facility should contact the Planning and Zoning Office at 80 Front St, Lovingston, Virginia 22949  or by telephone at 434-263-7091.