Planning in Charlottesville prioritizes stewardship of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, with a focus on guiding growth and development in line with the community’s goals. Decisions shape our neighborhoods, commercial districts, streets, parks and public spaces. All projects — from a road improvement to a new high-rise building — involve careful planning. To serve the community’s needs, we use data and community collaboration to inform recommendations and strive to balance new development while protecting and celebrating historic and cultural resources.
The Comprehensive Plan is a citywide plan that guides the City as it identifies and addresses future changes in ways that will meet the needs of all of Charlottesville’s citizens and residents. The Plan will identify future actions regarding the City’s growth, its priorities, its development and redevelopment, its health and well-being, and the services that it provides. The Plan is reviewed every five years to determine if it should be updated to respond to new needs and priorities. The Comprehensive Plan is a citywide plan that guides the City as it identifies and addresses future changes in ways that will meet the needs of all of Charlottesville’s residents. The Plan will identify future actions regarding the City’s growth, its priorities, its development and redevelopment, its health and well-being, and the services that it provides. The Plan is reviewed every five years to determine if it should be updated to respond to new needs and priorities.
Small area plans are detailed planning documents that focus on a specific, smaller geographic area within a larger city or region, providing targeted strategies for land use, development, transportation, and community design, often with a strong emphasis on community engagement and addressing unique local issues within that area. Essentially, these plans provide a more granular level of planning compared to a comprehensive city-wide plan. Small area plans are detailed planning documents that focus on a specific, smaller geographic area within a larger city or region, providing targeted strategies for land use, development, transportation, and community design, often with a strong emphasis on community engagement and addressing unique local issues within that area. Essentially, these plans provide a more granular level of planning compared to a comprehensive city-wide plan.
Other Studies and Initiatives
Planning may also address specific Citywide opportunities or concerns where new policies, regulations, or investment are needed to support the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. These planning efforts may focus on topics such as natural resources, transportation, or specific land uses. Current studies include: Planning may also address specific Citywide opportunities or concerns where new policies, regulations, or investment are needed to support the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. These planning efforts may focus on topics such as natural resources, transportation, or specific land uses.