                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (§ 15.2-4209)

A. Except in planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by
multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission shall
prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. The plan
shall concern those elements which are of importance in more than one of the
localities within the district, as distinguished from matters of only local
importance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives, strategies to
meet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring progress toward the
goals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include those subjects necessary
to promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and
economic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic
development and environmental management. The plan may be divided into parts or
sections as the planning district commission deems desirable. In developing the
regional strategic plan, the planning district commission shall seek input from
a wide range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies,
the business community and citizen organizations.

B. In planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by
multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission may
prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared
in accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements
of subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of
the most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council of
governments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district.

C. Before the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted to the Department
of Housing and Community Development and to the governing body of each locality
within the district for a period of not less than thirty days prior to a hearing
to be held by the planning district commission thereon, after notice as provided
in &#xA7; 15.2-2204. Each such local governing body shall make recommendations
to the planning district commission on or before the date of the hearing with
respect to the effect of the plan within its locality. The Department of Housing
and Community Development shall notify the planning district commission prior to
the hearing as to whether the proposed strategic plan conflicts with plans of
adjacent planning districts.

D. Upon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district commission after a
public hearing, it shall be submitted to the governing body of each locality
(excluding towns of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission)
within the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become
effective with respect to all action of a planning district commission upon
approval by the planning district commission. The plan shall not become
effective with respect to the action of the governing body of any locality
within the district until adopted by the governing body of such locality.

E. The adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty days of adoption
to the Department of Housing and Community Development for information and
coordination purposes.

HISTORY: 1968, c. 224, § 15.1-1406; 1976, c. 760; 1981, c. 315; 1995, cc. 732,
796; 1997, c. 587; 1998, cc. 668, 686; 2013, c. 607.