In April, the Greene County Planning Commission finished their work on updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan for review by the Board of Supervisors. At the May 9th Board of Supervisors meeting, the new 2023 Draft Comprehensive Plan was reviewed by the Supervisors.
The Code of Virginia § 15.2-2223 mandates every locality review their Comprehensive Plan every five years. The Code also dictates who prepares the plan and what it must contain.
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…
Greene County’s Comprehensive Plan Review involved 20 public meetings. The main areas addressed are Farmland Retention, Broadband Initiative, Economic Development and the Water Supply.
From 2002 to 2017 the population in Greene County has increased by 33% but farming has declined by 12% during the same period. Farming is primarily 35% crops and 30% pastures for farm animals. The hope is to maintain the incentives for farming in Greene County. Also, developing niche farming such as vineyards, nurseries, green houses and also equestrian stables will help reverse this trend.
Broadband development is improving this year with the RISE program being implemented to spread connectivity. It’s also hoped that grants can be found to make broadband more affordable for citizens that have difficulty affording the service.
In Economic Development, in 2020 over 4,800 net citizens left the county to go to work each day. The low unemployment rate in the county along with a need for more local companies contribute to this issue. In addition, out of 500 employers in the county, 374 of those companies employ less than 5 people.
Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), on the second floor of the Greene County Library in Stanardsville, offers college credits and over 16% of seniors graduate with an associates degree when they graduate high school. The plan also encourages citizens to buy products that they need at local vendors. Finally, the Ruckersville Advisory Committee continues to work on getting new companies to move to Greene County.
Further comments on the Education system in Greene County found that 95% of students in Greene County graduate which is above the state and national average. In 2022, $1.47 million in scholarships were awarded to seniors of which $465k came from local organizations.
In 2020, William Monroe High School earned an award for Continuous Improvement with a 10% increase in math and reading. Absenteeism declined as did the drop out rate over a three year period.
Land Use was another area of the Comprehensive Plan. While the county is still growing it is growing at a slower rate than in the past 30 years. Two areas, Ruckersville and the Corner Store, are targeted for mixed use development. Meaning that both business and residents will exist in the same area.
The Industrial Center for the county is at the Greene Industrial Park on Route 33 West, between Stanardsville and Ruckersville. New businesses – Clayton Homes and Sunbelt Rentals – are planned to open in that area soon.
Goals to offer more affordable housing is to work on tax relief programs for low-income citizens. Also, Habitat for Humanity is working with the county to looking into construction of low-income housing. And finally, the county will look at allowing more mobile, manufactured and modular homes.
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking at adding tennis courts, softball fields, basketball courts and a pool to the county park. Pocket parks (smaller parks) are being looked at for the Ruckersville area.
And the most important project for Greene County is completion of the White Run water supply that will be able support more growth in Greene County.
The Board of Supervisors will vote at their May 23 rd meeting to decide to approve or modify the 2023 Comprehensive Plan.
Brent Wilson is the Greene County Field Officer for the Free Enterprise Forum a privately funded public policy organization. The Free Enterprise Forum Field Officer program is funded by a generous grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) and by readers like you.
