Hanover County has kicked off the process for updating its 20-year Comprehensive Plan with a Public Engagement Plan. “Envision Hanover” has been selected as the brand for the Plan.

Announced to the Board of Supervisors on November 10, the outreach begins in December with the launch of a website dedicated to the effort, branding for the project and a presence on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“We have officially kicked off the process today,” said Board Chairman of the Henry District after the Board received the presentation from Planning Director David Maloney. The Board approved the framework for the plan as well as the logo.

Beginning in January 2022, the County will advertise and launch a survey and advertise four open houses and as well as drop-in events where the public can learn more about the Plan. These open houses and drop-in events will begin in February and will be held in four phases throughout 2022. Drop-in events refer to opportunities that are offered at places where people congregate, such as a popular community activity.

“I think it is essential that we go to the people,” said Vice Chair Angela Kelly-Wiecek of the Chickahominy District. All constituencies should be targeted for their input into the plan, she said.

A Community Participation Team will be organized early next year. This group will consist of each Planning Commission member and a citizen representative from each district who has a great interest in one or more of the focus areas. 

Areas of focus will include land use; economic development; transportation and active living; environment and historic resources; housing; and resiliency and hazard mitigation. Each of these key topics will have a month or two of focus area meetings during 2022.

According to the current schedule, a draft plan update may be prepared in January 2023. Additional open houses and drop-in events will be scheduled to provide opportunities to discuss the draft plan. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will each provide multiple public meetings to receive input from the community in addition to the open houses and drop-in events.

Formal consideration of the draft plan by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors is not expected to take place until the summer of 2023.

The consultant is ERP, P.C. and the project manager is Will Cockrell, a native of Hanover County.