Community Planning

Successful communities take into account all of a region’s resources and link them together for the enhancement of all residents, neighborhoods, and businesses. Community planning encompasses strategies that link land use, development and transportation, systematically working through neighborhood-based problems and situations.

Most rural areas develop their long-range growth plans in a comprehensive plan. These plans take into account growth projections and define how the area will grow, and more importantly defining how the growth will be managed. From comprehensive plans, which are advisory in nature, regulations can be established to achieve the goals of a community.

The TJPDC is involved in community planning, giving special assistance to rural counties in the development of village plans and other community design issues. This is accomplished by providing local assistance in comprehensive plans, providing training and workshops, and planning and hosting charrettes and workshops.

Zion Crossroads Community Plan

The Zion Crossroads Community Plan provides recommendations to enhance existing residential areas and employment opportunities with new developments while at the same time retaining the area’s rural character. This Community Plan recognizes that Zion Crossroads can be enhanced to provide a scenic, rural welcome to residents and tourists, and at the same time be developed to be an employment, retail, commercial, and recreation destination for both County residents and travelers. Click here to view the final draft of the Plan.

Palmyra Community Plan

The Palmyra Community Plan is the result of substantial input from Fluvanna County residents, business owners and staff as well as the Virginia Department of Transportation and builds upon the concepts and ideas presented in the 2000 Fluvanna County Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations of the Palmyra Community Plan serve three major goals: 1. To enhance and maintain the village-scaled atmosphere of Palmyra; 2. To improve the safety, efficiency and diversity of the transportation system; and 3. To protect the social and environmental resources of the area. Click here to view the final draft of the Plan.

Draft Nellysford Community Plan Available

Nelson County and the Planning District have collaborated on the development of the Nellysford Community Plan, which was presented in draft form to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors on January 9, 2007. The Board of Supervisors set a 60 day comment period prior to their consideration of the Plan at their March 13, 2007 meeting. For more information or to make comments on the Plan please contact Bill Wanner at wwanner@tjpdc.org or (434) 979-7310 x 390. To view the draft Plan click here. To view the PowerPoint presentation made to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors on January 9, 2007 click here.

Nellysford Workshop #2 PowerPoint Presentation

This PowerPoint was presented to approximately 90 Nelson County residents and business owners on November 22, 2005 at the Rockfish River Elementary School. This Nellysford Area Workshop #2 was an opportunity for participants to review the results of the first workshop and to create a vision for the future of the Nellysford community. This PowerPoint provided participants with examples of development in similar communities and a draft plan to stimulate conversation.

	Nelysford Area Workshop 2

In addition a handout was given to participants at the Workshop. The handout illustrates ideas of development for the town and a summary of the Nellysford Workshop #1 held in September.

	Workshop #2 Handout

Nellysford Workshop #1 PowerPoint Presentation

This PowerPoint was presented to approximately 170 Nelson County residents and business owners on September 26, 2205 at the Rockfish River Elementary School. This Nellysford Area Workshop #1 was an opportunity for participants to create a vision for the future of the Nellysford community. This PowerPoint provided participants with examples of development in similar communities in order to stimulate the evening's discussion.

	Nelysford Area Workshop 1

Lake Monticello Community Plan

Residents and business owners in the greater Lake Monticello area have developed a Lake Monticello Community Plan. The Plan will shape future transportation, housing, and economic development in Lake Monticello and the surrounding areas. A mock-up of the proposed pedestrian crossing at the Jefferson Centre was set up with traffic cones during Celebration Day at the Lake. For more information, contact Billie Campbell at 979-7310 x 230 or . Click here to download the Final Plan (4.05 MB).

Lovingston Safety Study Completed

This plan studed and made recommendation to 1. enhance the small town, pedestrian-oriented character of historic Lovingston, the County seat of Nelson, and to 2. achieve a safer, more efficient connection between historic Lovingston and the growth occurring on the opposite side of Route 29. The Study was completed June 30, 2005 with community workshops and a walking analysis of the study area conducted on May 31st and June 1, 2005. The Project Team consisted of TJPDC staff, Nelson County staff, and engineering and landscape architecture consultants. During the May 31st community workshop community needs and ideas were expressed and written on maps of Lovingston. The Project Team then analyzed the results of the workshop on June 1 and began defining recommendations. Additional field work was conducted on the 1st. During June the Project Team prepared a draft report with maps and graphics. A working draft was prepared, relevant changes and additions were made and the final report then completed. TJPDC presented this Study to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors on June 12, 2005. ( more ...)

Fork Union Community Plan

A draft of the Fork Union Community Plan is now available. Click here (1.14 MB) to download the report, which addresses economic development, transportation, housing, and recreation issues in the Fork Union area.The report requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get Acrobat Reader .

Comments are still welcome; please send any ideas or input you have to Billie Campbell at 979-7310 x 230 or .

Transportation and Land Use Strategies for Preserving Small Town Character

This manual is a practical "how to" handbook for residents of small towns, their elected officials, and the local government staff who support them. It is organized in a fashion that shows the community how to work together to better understand the existing conditions, identify current transportation problems, and articulate desirable solutions. more >>

This study was initiated by the Town of Scottsville and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission to identify new multi-modal transportation links throughout Scottsville and to study how future development in Scottsville can best reflect the Town's heritage as a small, rural village. more >>

The Eastern Planning Initiative addresses how we build livable communities. It was funded by the Federal Highway Administration and studied transportation and land use alternatives in the eastern area of the planning district. Changing where and how we grow - by building around historic town centers in walkable, village-scaled development patterns - could save $500 million in transportation system investments over the 50 years. more >>