 Personal Concept ◦ Travel to this meeting ◦ Life Insurance  Business Concept ◦ Inventory/product management ◦ Profit/loss mix  Public Concept ◦ Deciding how to spend public funds ◦ Guiding private development for the greatest public gain

 Planning is a forward thinking process.  Planning bridges the gap from where we are to where we want to go.  Planning is deciding in advance to do something.

 The Code of Virginia states that “The local planning commission shall prepare and recommend a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction…”  Pittsylvania County’s plan was last updated in The County is now in the update process. 4

 Comprehensive Plan ◦ relates to physical development, growth and land-use patterns, ◦ promotes harmonious development, analyzes statistics related to natural and cultural resources, and ◦ acts as a basis for land development regulations and decisions such as rezoning and public infrastructure investments. 5

 Stating a community’s values, goals and objectives.  Becoming a policy guide for physical development.  Providing a legal basis for land use decision making.  Promoting the use of public resources more efficiently and effectively.  Avoiding decisions that serve only special interests.  Preventing isolated decision making.

COMMUNITY GOALS Goal #1To stimulate economic activity and encourage development that supports a healthy, stable, and diverse economy. Goal #2To anticipate and plan for population change and accommodate population change in an orderly and efficient manner. Goal #3To promote the preservation of the natural and cultural environment for present and future residents of the County. Goal #4To provide the public services and community facilities necessary to support development as economically and efficiently as possible. Goal #5To encourage aesthetic, health promoting residential communities, and provide choices in the housing market so that all County residents may find affordable, comfortable, safe, and sanitary housing. Goal #6To promote the efficient and financially sound operation of the County government and minimize the financial burden on the County taxpayers.

THIS PLAN IS COMPRISED OF EIGHT CHAPTERS. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: Chapter I Introduction and Planning Process Chapter II Natural and Cultural Environment Chapter III Community Demographics Chapter IV Community Facilities and Services Chapter V Housing Chapter VI Economic Development Chapter VII Transportation Chapter VIII Land Use and Growth Management Issues

 Future Land Use Map is intended to be used by both the public and private sectors to promote an organized, logical and orderly pattern of development  The basic premise is to separate incompatible land uses and match the community’s development needs with the geographic areas that are the most suitable.  Future Land Use Map is based on 6 categories:

 Agriculture, farming, forestry, open space and low density residential, commercial or recreational uses.  Larger lots to accommodate private wells and septic systems. Public water and sewer should not be expected.  Larger lots or cluster developments.  Developments should accept agricultural activities.

 Residential uses on relatively small lots with good access to streets and highways.  Larger lots not prohibited. Most will be between 0.25 to 1.0 acres in size.  Public utilities should generally be available or reasonably extended in the future. High density & multi-family should have public utilities.  Minimize conflicts between single-multi-family

 Accommodate a mixture of retail or wholesale commercial operations including offices, service providers and light manufacturing.  Includes areas of existing commercial activities and areas suitable for future development.  Often are transitional areas.  Commercial Corridor  Commercial Cluster

 Areas where industrial and manufacturing activities either exist or are planned.  Should have direct or nearby access to transportation facilities and public utilities.  Conflicts with residential areas should be avoided or minimized through the use of setbacks, screens, buffers and covenants.

 Areas suitable for a compatible mix of retail, service and light industrial uses.  Both uses benefit from public utilities and easy access to transportation facilities  Commercial uses benefit from adjacent employment concentrations associated with light industrial, distribution and manufacturing operations.  Highway access management is important.

 Key transportation routes. U.S. 58 & U.S. 29  Primary focus area for economic development due to transportation access and public utilities. Commercial, Industrial and Mixed.  Goal is full water, sewer and fiber optic service throughout the east/west north/south corridor.  Recognize the importance of high visibility corridor in site development process.

Goals, Objectives and Strategies Community Facilities and Services - Goal #1 To plan for, construct, and maintain needed community facilities in a manner that is cost effective, environmentally sound and consistent with the growth objectives contained in this plan. Objective #1 Plan for and fund the County’s capital facility needs. Strategies 1.Develop a plan to address administrative facility deficiencies. 2. Prepare and adopt an annual Capital Improvements Project (CIP) list which prioritizes infrastructure and capital facility needs. 3. Pursue funding opportunities to finance public facility improvements.

Objective #2 Provide the facilities and services required to meet the public safety, library and school needs of County citizens Pittsylvania County Comprehensive Plan Chapter IV Page 29 Strategies 1. Continue to provide a high quality and accessible library system. 2. Develop plans and funding for necessary law enforcement and detention facilities and continue to fund and equip law enforcement personnel. 3. Continue to support the system of volunteers who provide the majority of fire and EMS safety services and investigate all options available to secure the funding necessary to continue fire and rescue service to all areas of the County. 4. Continue to maintain a highly efficient and technologically advanced Emergency Management Department with the resources necessary for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. 5. In partnership with the School Board, continue to monitor school enrollment projections and continue planning for new facilities and renovations as necessary to maintain a superior public education system. Community Facilities and Services – continued Objective #2 Provide the facilities and services required to meet the public safety, library and school needs of County citizens. Strategies 1. Continue to provide a high quality and accessible library system. 2. Develop plans and funding for necessary law enforcement and detention facilities and continue to fund and equip law enforcement personnel. 3. Continue to support the system of volunteers who provide the majority of fire and EMS safety services and investigate all options available to secure the funding necessary to continue fire and rescue service to all areas of the County.

4. Continue to maintain a highly efficient and technologically advanced Emergency Management Department with the resources necessary for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. 5. In partnership with the School Board, continue to monitor school enrollment projections and continue planning for new facilities and renovations as necessary to maintain a superior public education system. Objective #3 Provide the facilities and services required to meet the recreational needs of County citizens. Strategies 1.Prepare a parks and recreation master plan for the County. 2. As funding and opportunities allow, continue the implementation of the 2005 West Piedmont Regional Bicycle Plan (WPRBP). 3. Create a County Recreation Department.

Objective #4 Consistent with this plan, develop and maintain public water and wastewater systems to meet the needs of a growing commercial, industrial and residential base. Strategies 1.Prepare an updated water and sewer master plan for the County. 2. Develop a County-wide, interconnected utility system to provide water and sewer service to all growth areas of the County and the Economic Development Corridor. 3. Coordinate water and sewer service with the Future Land Use Map to encourage planned, orderly growth by prioritizing utility service to identified residential, commercial and industrial growth areas. 4. Consider a mandatory utility connection fee, or alternative funding system, to make water and sewer extension projects more cost effective.

LAND USE – Goals, Objectives and Strategies Goal #1 To achieve a balanced land use system that provides sufficient and compatible land areas for all community land use needs, while protecting sensitive natural environments and important local historic and cultural resources. Objective #1 Promote a strong and diversified industrial and commercial base which does not create significant impacts on residential areas, prime agricultural lands or public facilities. Strategies 1.Use the Future Land Use Map contained in this plan as a general guide for future commercial and industrial land use decisions. 2. Encourage new commercial and industrial areas to node locations as shown on the Future Land Use Map.

Land Use - continued Objective #2 Discourage scattered development patterns which are incompatible with the County’s ability to provide adequate and cost effective public services and facilities. Strategies 1. Through zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments consider limiting by-right, small lot subdivision activity in agriculture zoning districts. 2. Investigate ways to reduce residential/agricultural conflicts by creating a new Rural Residential zoning designation and increasing minimum lot sizes in the Agricultural zoning district. 3. Amend the County’s zoning and subdivision ordinances to provide density bonuses for developments that demonstrate conservation site design principles and/or incorporate low impact development techniques.

Land Use - continued Objective #2 - Strategies - continued 4. Ensure that all planned capital facilities are evaluated partially on the basis of consistency with the growth objectives of this plan. 5. Direct development to areas already served, or proposed to be served, by adequate public facilities and infrastructure. 6. Ensure that all new water line and sewer line extensions designed to serve new development are located within, and only serve areas within designated growth areas.

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Pride in Pittsylvania