City of Staunton
Home MenuComprehensive Plan
Every five years, the City reviews land use and transportation and sets general priorities for future land use and transportation for years to come. The review is conducted by a citizen advisory committee.
In addition to the online copy, hard copies of the current Comprehensive Plan are available on the third floor of City Hall in the Community Development Department and at the Staunton Public Library.
Specifically, the review process:
- Serves as a guide to development
- Surveys both the locality’s assets and challenges
- Prepares the community for future changes in population size, employment base, environmental quality, and the demand for public services and utilities
- Identifies citizen concerns, needs, and aspirations
- Establishes clear land use goals for the future
- Outlines strategies or recommendations for accomplishing future goal
That completed assessment becomes the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a long-range blueprint for development that informs decisions made by the Community Development Department, and advises the City’s governing body.
2018-2040 Comprehensive Plan Update
In February of 2012 City Council adopted the City’s current Comprehensive Plan 2010-2030. The City acknowledges that a comprehensive plan must be kept current to remain a valuable tool in the perennial task of ordering development in a growing city.
As a result, and to meet state requirements for the review and updating of comprehensive plans, the City of Staunton began the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan in 2016. The City again utilized the services of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) to assist in the update, and CSPDC staff members Rebecca Joyce and Tracy Hibbitts were assigned to the project.
A Citizen Advisory Committee was created consisting of eight members who were appointed by the City Manager. In addition, Judith Wiegand represented the Planning Commission, and Jim Harrington represented City Council on the Committee. The citizen members of the Committee are:
- Frank Strassler - Chair
- Dennis Blanton – Vice Chair
- Sonny Cubbage
- Frank Darcus
- Matt Fitzgerald
- Michael Fulcher
- Gerry Hamilton
- Renee Hartless
The Committee began meeting in September of 2016, and with a few exceptions, met every month through May of 2018. The Committee reviewed and updated all the existing conditions from the current plan. It then reviewed the issues and challenges that were identified through a public input process.
The “Land Use Guide” that aids the City in achieving the most desirable land use pattern, while minimizing environmental, social, and economic cost, was updated. The biggest change may be the replacement of the Priority Initiatives and Recommendations with Goals and Objectives. Also included are the Transportation Element and the recently adopted Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
The draft plan can be found below. Since the plan is a very large document, it has been divided out by chapter for faster download and easier reference.
Chapter 1: Goals and Objectives
Chapter 7: Government Structure and Finance
Chapter 8: Community Services and Infrastructure
Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 16, 2019 to discuss the proposed draft. The meeting will be at City Hall, 116 W. Beverley Street, at 5:30 p.m.
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