Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §15.2-4209 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§15.2-4209. Preparation and adoption of regional strategic plan.
A. Except in planning districts in which regional planning
also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district
commission shall prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the
district. The plan shall concern those elements which that are of importance in more
than one of the localities within the district, as distinguished from matters
of only local importance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives,
strategies to meet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring
progress toward the goals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include
those subjects necessary to promote the orderly and efficient development of
the physical, social, and
economic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic
development and,
environmental management, and climate
resilience. The plan may be divided into parts or sections
as the planning district commission deems desirable. In developing the regional
strategic plan, the planning district commission shall seek input from a wide
range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies, the
business community and citizen organizations.
B. In planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission may prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared in accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements of subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of the most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council of governments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district.
C. Before the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted
to the Department of Housing and Community Development and to the governing
body of each locality within the district for a period of not less than thirty 30
days prior to a hearing to be held by the planning district commission thereon,
after notice as provided in §15.2-2204. Each such local governing body shall
make recommendations to the planning district commission on or before the date
of the hearing with respect to the effect of the plan within its locality. The
Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the planning
district commission prior to the hearing as to whether the proposed strategic
plan conflicts with plans of adjacent planning districts.
D. Upon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district commission after a public hearing, it shall be submitted to the governing body of each locality (excluding towns of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission) within the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become effective with respect to all action of a planning district commission upon approval by the planning district commission. The plan shall not become effective with respect to the action of the governing body of any locality within the district until adopted by the governing body of such locality.
E. The adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty 30
days of adoption to the Department of Housing and Community Development for
information and coordination purposes.