Shenandoah Forum

MT. JACKSON, Va.— The Shenandoah Forum citizens group today praised the New Market Growth and Annexation Area Concept Plan for its state-of-the-art planning ideas, open and collaborative planning process, and the shared blueprint for decision-making by the town and Shenandoah County.

Forum President Rosemary Wallinger said that these innovative elements in the New Market plan earned an endorsement from her group. The plan was adopted by the New Market Town Council in November.  The county’s Citizens Advisory Committee for the comprehensive plan reviewed and endorsed the plan at its meeting earlier this month and a joint public hearing on the plan will be held January 31 by the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission.

“The New Market plan shows how well our town and county officials can work together with local residents to produce effective community plans,” Ms. Wallinger said. “These are concepts that towns or the county could employ in their future planning efforts in our region,” she said. Shenandoah Forum currently is sponsoring a Community Dialogue to develop ideas to implement the Shenandoah County Comprehensive Plan.

The Forum noted that the New Market plan embraces good planning principles, using smart growth concepts, analyzing expected growth rates and defining desired densities over time.  It provides for a balanced mix of housing types, commercial uses, and transportation options. It follows the county comprehensive plan’s vision of directing growth to the towns, while protecting and strengthening the historic fabric and economic vibrancy of the town, preserving battlefield and natural areas, and maintaining the rural and agricultural character of the surrounding landscape.

Ms. Wallinger said her group was particularly impressed by the process used to develop the plan. It was a collaborative effort, involving representatives from the town and the county, the business community and landowners. It started with a common vision and incorporated public planning workshops at every phase of the plan’s development, including a public presentation of the tenets of the plan before it was finalized.

In addition, she noted that the town wisely engaged a team of professional planning consultants to advise the committee about state-of-the-art planning concepts available to help the community achieve its vision.“Shenandoah Forum applauds Supervisor Dick Neese, Mayor Tom Constable, the town’s planning commission and staff for their leadership and commitment to collaborating with one another for a strong future for the entire community,” Ms. Wallinger said.

-----------------

Shenandoah Forum is a group of Shenandoah County residents that works to foster informed dialogue among diverse interests in the county to address issues of growth and development.  Its mission is to ensure the county remains essentially rural, preserves a healthy environment, promotes a sustainable economy, and provides a high quality of life for the people who live here.
 
-----------------

On the web:

Shenandoah Forum:
www.ShenandoahForum.org

Shenandoah County:
www.shenandoahcountyva.us
     Comprehensive Plan: www.shenandoahcountyva.us/reportscode/comprehensiveplan/

Town of New Market:  www.newmarketvirginia.com
     New Market Plan: http://www.newmarketvirginia.com/announcements.htm

###