The process of reviewing the 2017 Hanover County Comprehensive Plan has begun.

On Wednesday, May 24, the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority heard a presentation by David Maloney, Planning Department Director.

Maloney did not ask for action from the Board, with one exception.  He requested the Board assume an average annual growth rate of 1.5% over the next 20 years. This planning assumption lowers the forecast in the current plan, which is an annual growth rate of 1.5-2.5%.

Maloney expects future populationin Hanover to grow between 1 and 2% annually as an average.

The Board recommended the Planning Commission proceed with the 2017 Comprehensive Plan update with the growth rate assumptions recommended by Maloney.

Recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Engagement Committee appointed by the Board were presented by Martha Wingfield, a member. The committee recommended that the plan be community-driven, with multiple modes and channels of communication, and include an educational component.

Wingfield presented a number of recommendations for how the County could better engage citizens during the process of updating the plan, which is expected to take the next several months.

The Planning Commission will begin its consideration on June 15.