                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 SURVEYS AND STUDIES TO BE MADE IN PREPARATION OF PLAN; IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN
(§ 15.2-2224)

A. In the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the local planning commission
shall survey and study such matters as the following:

   1. Use of land, preservation of agricultural and forestal land, production of
   food and fiber, characteristics and conditions of existing development, trends
   of growth or changes, natural resources, historic areas, groundwater and
   surface water availability, quality, and sustainability, geologic factors,
   population factors, employment, environmental and economic factors, existing
   public facilities, drainage, flood control and flood damage prevention
   measures, dam break inundation zones and potential impacts to downstream
   properties to the extent that information concerning such information exists
   and is available to the local planning authority, the transmission of
   electricity, broadband infrastructure, road improvements, and any estimated
   cost thereof, transportation facilities, transportation improvements, and any
   cost thereof, the need for affordable housing in both the locality and
   planning district within which it is situated, and any other matters relating
   to the subject matter and general purposes of the comprehensive plan.
   				However, if a locality chooses not to survey and study historic areas,
   then the locality shall include historic areas in the comprehensive plan, if
   such areas are identified and surveyed by the Department of Historic
   Resources. Furthermore, if a locality chooses not to survey and study mineral
   resources, then the locality shall include mineral resources in the
   comprehensive plan, if such areas are identified and surveyed by the
   Department of Energy. The requirement to study the production of food and
   fiber shall apply only to those plans adopted on or after January 1, 1981.

   2. Probable future economic and population growth of the territory and
   requirements therefor.

B. The comprehensive plan shall recommend methods of implementation and shall
include a current map of the area covered by the comprehensive plan. Unless
otherwise required by this chapter, the methods of implementation may include
but need not be limited to:

   1. An official map;

   2. A capital improvements program;

   3. A subdivision ordinance;

   4. A zoning ordinance and zoning district maps;

   5. A mineral resource map;

   6. A recreation and sports resource map; and

   7. A map of dam break inundation zones.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-964.1; 1962, c. 407, § 15.1-447; 1975, c. 641; 1977,
c. 228; 1980, c. 322; 1981, c. 418; 1988, c. 438; 1990, c. 97; 1991, c. 280;
1993, cc. 758, 770; 1996, cc. 585, 600; 1997, c. 587; 2006, c. 564; 2007, c.
761; 2008, c. 491; 2018, cc. 420, 691; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 532.