FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cville Plans Together is a community process with several parts. One part is an update to the Comprehensive Plan, the citywide guiding document for land use and development. During previous Comprehensive Plan update processes, the community identified the need to further examine equity, especially related to housing affordability, during the planning effort. To this end, we are completing a detailed Affordable Housing Plan, which will describe goals, priorities, and implementation strategies which will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan update, along with equity-focused updates and others, to be identified in partnership with the community. The process for Cville Plans Together is currently expected to last through 2021 and will also include an update to the city’s zoning ordinance.

This document describes and illustrates Charlottesville’s community visions and guides decision-making processes for matters related to land use and development, community facilities, housing, transportation, environment, economic sustainability, historic preservation, urban design, and more. Once adopted, it is the statement of the city’s intentions and policies regarding community development. To ensure regulatory mechanisms for implementing the community’s land use vision, the land use policies must be reflected in the zoning ordinance. In this process, we will be re-writing the zoning ordinance following the adoption of the update to the Comprehensive Plan.

The Commonwealth requires the City to review the Comprehensive Plan every five years. Updates to the Comprehensive Plan will include (but not be limited to) the addition of public engagement and implementation chapters, focused strategies for addressing affordable housing needs, and strategies for addressing equity as a key issue for the City.

We welcome input from the entire Charlottesville community as part of this process. It is our goal to provide comfortable, easy, efficient ways for people to learn about what we are doing and give input at key points in the process.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan should represent all community members, including those who may not actively seek ways to get involved in such processes. In addition to community residents, we are also working with other partners.

• The project Steering Committee is made up of project advisors representing community residents, local practitioners, community advocates, and non-profit organizations with diverse expertise and interests. The project team is meeting with the Steering Committee periodically throughout this process to obtain their insight, and Steering Committee input will be summarized for decisionmakers (Council, Planning Commission), along with input from community members and others. The Committee will also act as an important connection to the greater Charlottesville community.
• City staff from Neighborhood Development Services are leading the coordination of the planning process. Representatives from a variety of City departments are providing support and assistance, including local knowledge and expertise.
• The Planning Commission advises the process, providing project guidance and institutional knowledge related to previous planning efforts, and will ultimately recommend the final Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Update to City Council for Approval.

As a final step in the process, the City Council is charged with adopting the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance updates. The Council is staying informed and involved throughout the process, to provide guidance and feedback, and to listen and absorb public input.