Officials look to blend comp plan, visioning process

Local business owners want to achieve downtown revitalization

By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- At a Wednesday night work session, the town Planning Commission discussed an upcoming review of the town's comprehensive plan and how it should meld with the town's visioning process.

Director of Planning and Zoning Jeremy Camp said that the comprehensive plan has to be reviewed every five years, according to state code. The commission still has a few months before the review would begin and any consequent recommendations made.

Camp mentioned that late last year, town officials met with local business owners to discuss revitalization of the town, and ways to achieve that through business and tourism. The December forum ended with a desire to go through a visioning process, with input from different town and county departments.

Commission member William Kline said he was bothered that the Planning Commission wasn't notified of the forum. Chairman David Gushee feels that the comprehensive plan and a visioning process and statement should go hand in hand.

"We don't want to be left out," Gushee said.

The commission discussed that after reviewing the plan, if they had recommendations, the next step would be to go to Town Council.

"We certainly want their input on approaching the comprehensive plan," Gushee said.

"What I got out of the meeting, is that the planning commission wants to be a pivotal part in the visioning process," Camp said. "It just needs to be determined if the plan and the visioning will be one in the same, or if they will be separate processes."

Camp added that nothing is finalized yet.

The next Town Planning Commission meeting and work session is scheduled for February 15.