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1. What is the Comprehensive Plan and why is it being updated?

Comprehensive Plan Update

• The City is required to update its Comprehensive Plan every five years. This document describes and illustrates Charlottesville’s community visions and guides decision-making processes for matters related to land use, community facilities, housing, transportation, environment, economic sustainability, historic preservation, urban design, and more.
• The Charlottesville Planning Commission led the development of preliminary updates to the 2013 Comprehensive Plan in 2017 and 2018. However, it was determined that a more concrete vision and plan for affordable housing was needed before that update could be finalized.
• In addition to the housing affordability updates described below, updates to the Comprehensive Plan will include the addition of public engagement and implementation chapters, and strategies for addressing equity as a key issue for the City.

2. What is happening with the Affordable Housing Plan?

Affordable Housing Plan

• The City and consultant team are working on development of an Affordable Housing Plan, which will include priorities, goals, and measures for success that will be utilized in the Comprehensive Plan update and considered in the zoning ordinance update.

3. What is happening with the Zoning Ordinance?

Zoning Ordinance Update

• The Zoning Ordinance is a tool to implement the recommendations included within the Comprehensive Plan. In recent years, there have been several proposed changes to the zoning ordinance, but because there has not been an updated Comprehensive Plan in place, these updates have been put on hold. This update will work to ensure that the ordinance reflects the updated community land use vision and addresses other needed updates (state requirements, consistency, etc.).

4. What is the schedule for these efforts? How can the community be involved in and influence this process?

Public Involvement

The current schedule for these efforts extends through December 2021. Key upcoming public input points include:

• Spring 2020: Identification of Goals and Needs
• Summer 2020: Review of initial draft housing affordability strategies and preliminary Comprehensive Plan updates
• Fall 2020: Review draft Housing Affordability Strategic Plan and draft Comprehensive Plan updates

Throughout all tasks, the City and consultant team will facilitate conversations throughout Charlottesville. As a result of this extensive community process, the team will define a Plan that reflects the City’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

(All dates are preliminary dates, subject to adjustment.)