PO BOX 341

TOWN OF WARRENTON WARRENTON, VIRGINIA 20188

http://www.warrentonva.gov
Department of Community Development TELEPHONE (540) 347-1101
FAX (540) 349-2414

TO: Members of the Planning Commission

FROM: Denise Harris

DATE: February 16, 2021

RE: Comprehensive Plan Action – Plan Warrenton 2040

The Planning Commission diligently worked to listen to the community, develop and produce
Plan Warrenton 2040, and update the Town of Warrenton’s Comprehensive Plan. On July 21,
2020 a draft was brought forward to a Planning Commission public hearing. This was followed
by a designated Planning Commission work group and multiple work sessions. At the January
26th Work Session, the Planning Commission was presented a revised draft for review.
Comments were invited by February 8, 2021. Final action is set to occur at this meeting. Below
is a synopsis of the process since the public hearing.

BACKGROUND

Virginia State Code 15.2-2223 states:

“The local planning commission shall prepare and recommend a comprehensive plan for
the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction and every governing body
shall adopt a comprehensive plan for the territory under its jurisdiction.
In the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the commission shall make careful and
comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth, and of
the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants. The comprehensive plan
shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted
and harmonious development of the territory which will, in accordance with present and
probable future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order,
convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants, including the elderly and
persons with disabilities.
The comprehensive plan shall be general in nature, in that it shall designate the general
or approximate location, character, and extent of each feature, including any road
improvement and any transportation improvement, shown on the plan and shall indicate
where existing lands or facilities are proposed to be extended, widened, removed,
relocated, vacated, narrowed, abandoned, or changed in use as the case may be.”
PUBLIC INPUT

At the July21, 2020 Public Hearing on the draft Comprehensive Plan, input highlights included
the following:

• Slow the Process

• Streamline the Document
• Concern over By-Right Statements
• Desire for previously included significant neighborhoods
• More emphasis on environment
• Concern over water and sewer availability

PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSIONS

Over the course of the fall, the Planning Commission held several work sessions where
information was reviewed and guidance was provided to the Planning Commission Work Group.
Highlights included:

• Inserting more equity language

• Removing the words “by-right”
• Adding the previously included neighborhoods
• How the Plan will be streamlined to “live” online with hyperlinks

In addition, the Planning Commission reviewed multiple times throughout the comprehensive
planning update process the proposed scenarios, fiscal information, water and sewer
infrastructure, historic resources, and character districts.

PLANNING COMMISSION WORK GROUP

At the January 26, 2021 Planning Commission Work Session the updated document was
reviewed by the Planning Commission. The majority of work was a result of streamlining the
document and reformatting it. While the intent and policies reflect the public input received over
the last two years, the document itself looks and reads in a more digestible fashion.

The plan may be reviewed at:

https:/www.warrentonva.gov/government/departments/planning_and_community_development/
comprehensive_plan_update.php.

FINAL COMMENTS

The Planning Commission invited final comments by February 8, 2021. Two comments were
received by in-town residents, one property owner, and three organizations. No Planning
Commissioners submitted comments.
RECOMMENDATION OF PLAN

Code of Virginia §15.2-2225 states the Planning Commission shall upon approval of the plan
recommend it by resolution and certify a copy for the Town Council. A resolution is included for
Planning Commission consideration.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The current update is the culmination of extensive public outreach that included building upon
community participation while confirming the vision. Public input and outreach included:

• Virtual Town Hall - online surveys

• K-12 Students in five public and private schools located in Warrenton
• Stakeholder Groups, including seniors, affordable housing, merchants, and others
• Steering Committee
• Open Houses and Public Workshops

Key Decision Points

The plan was developed under the following steps:

• Assessing existing conditions and trends - Background Report – December 2018

• Confirming and consolidating recommendations and policies from other recent planning
efforts
• Identifying areas in need of additional study
• Confirming the vision and developing scenarios
• Identifying policy updates
• Identifying the implementation mechanisms
• Creating a Draft Plan for review
• Adopting the updated plan – Where We Are Now

Throughout the process of developing the draft Comprehensive Plan, the community input was
sought and invited to participate at key decision points.

March, 2019 Public Open House and Public Workshops –gathered community input on vision
and developing scenarios.

March – August 2019 Key Stakeholder Meetings –gathered input for non-profits, seniors,
merchants, affordable housing, environmental, businesses, and other community groups.

July 23, 2019 Planning Commission Work Session –consultant presented an update to the
Planning Commission on the current direction of the draft Land Use Scenarios, policies, and
Fiscal Impact Model.

August 28, 2019 Public Workshop - Public Outreach Workshop on Draft Land Use Scenarios
and policies.
September 5, 2019 Town Council Work Session –consultant presented community findings and
recommended to move forward with comprehensive plan updates centered on creating a strong,
livable live/work community and create policy updates and implementation strategies
focused on:

• Diversifying and adding more housing

• Updating the development policy to revitalize UDAs and commercial corridors
• Refine policies to identify near term and long-term policies to address fiscal challenges
• Elevate economic development efforts and focus in the discussion

January 15, 2020 Public Workshop –presented the fully developed topical areas, Land Use
Scenarios, draft Future Land Use Map, Transportation Map, and policies for the public to review.

Steering Committee met seven times throughout the process to review the progress, citizen input,
and provide guidance. The last meeting was January 8, 2020 to review draft policies prior to the
final public workshop.

June 16, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Planning Trends

• Review of Planning Process
• Review of Public Outreach
• Review of Planning Themes and Topical Areas
• Review of First Set of Chapters
• Review of Future Land Use Map and Character Districts Map

June 23, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Remaining Chapters

• Review of Transportation Map

July 21, 2020 Planning Commission Public Hearing

• Two (PEC and Fauquier Habitat for Humanity)2 Individuals on Needs for Housing
Diversity/Equity
• One Concern about By-Right Development and Associated Impacts (Transportation,
Infrastructure)
• Three Concerns for Oliver City (Drinking Water, Lights, Sidewalks, Special Protections)
• Plus written comments submitted as part of the public record.

July 28, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Public Hearing input

• Review of Public Infrastructure
 • Review of Transportation Map
• Existing Neighborhoods Clarifying Language
• Review of Fiscal Strategy

August 25, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Direction to Work Group of all Chapters

September 22, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review updated Future Land Use Map, Transportation Map, Street Typology Map,
Bike/Ped Facilities Map
• Review of Restructuring Implementation Chapter

October 20, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Restructure Table of Contents

December 11, 2020 Planning Commission Work Session

• Review of Future Land Use Map, Transportation Map

• Review of Updated Format, addition of Infographics, Hyperlinks

January 26, 2021 Planning Commission Work Session

• Revised Draft