HomeMy Public PortalAboutPC Staff Report 12-3-2020Date of Meeting: December 3, 2020
TOWN OF LEESBURG
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Subject: Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Update
Staff Contact: Richard Klusek, Senior Planner
Scott Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager
Susan Berry-Hill, Director
Applicant: None - Town Council initiated plan.
Proposal: The Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Update is a Council initiated item that
will result in a new Town Plan to guide planning policy for Leesburg.
Planning Commission Critical Action Date: None at this time.
Web Link: https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/planning-zoning/current-
planning-zoning-projects/legacy-leesburg
Background Information
The Town Plan was last comprehensively updated in 2012. In 2018, the Town Council
directed Town staff and the Planning Commission to conduct an update of the Town
Plan, and appropriated money to hire a consultant to assist with the project. Since
engaging the services of a consultant, the Town Plan update process has been underway
and staff intends to present the current status of the project.
Work began on the creation of the new Town Plan on July 2, 2019 when staff engaged
the services of Stantec Architecture, Inc. Public input and public engagement has been at
the forefront of the efforts to date. The Planning Commission previously received updates
on the process to date in November 7, 2019 and January 6, 2020. In addition, the
Commission participated in a joint work session with the Town Council on January 27,
2020 to confirm the overall direction for the Town Plan based on public input.
The original schedule for the project called for a public workshop to take place in April
of 2020 to bring forward draft content of the Plan. However, due to the Covid-19
pandemic this public workshop was not possible. Instead, staff has been working with the
consultant team to further refine the draft content of the plan.
Staff is looking to resume efforts to engage the public and Planning Commission to bring
the project to completion, albeit with a different approach and timeline originally
anticipated. Staff is developing a series of videos that are intended to inform the public,
Planning Commission, and Town Council of the process to date and to explain the
contents of the draft plan. Ultimately, the videos will serve to inform all viewers of the
Legacy Leesburg Town Plan Update
Planning Commission Staff Report
December 3, 2020
Page 2 of 2
general contents of the Town Plan and how it should be applied. This will serve to orient
newcomers to the Town Plan recommendations using media other than traditional text.
Tentative Project Schedule
December 3, 2020 Planning Commission discussion to recap efforts to date, address
new direction for the Town Plan, and discuss process moving
forward
December 17, 2020 Planning Commission discussion of existing conditions and trends
influencing draft Town Plan Policy
January 7, 2020 Planning Commission discussion of public input
January 21, 2020 Planning Commission discussion of Town Plan guiding principles
February 4, 2020 Planning Commission discussion of Draft Town Plan Policies
February TBD,
2020
Virtual Public Workshop to solicit public feedback
February 18, 2020 Planning Commission discussion of policy for measuring positive
growth and change
March 4, 2020 Planning Commission public hearing
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