In a recent meeting, the Commonwealth Preservation Group (CPG) provided an update on Richmond's inaugural cultural heritage stewardship plan, a project aimed at preserving the city's historic and cultural resources. Paige Pollard, representing CPG, outlined the plan's development process, emphasizing the importance of community engagement throughout its creation.

Pollard explained that the stewardship plan, previously known as a preservation plan, is designed to reflect the community's aspirations for managing Richmond's cultural heritage over the next decade. The project has been in development for less than two years and is nearing completion, with significant revisions made following community feedback.

The plan aims to create a framework for future preservation efforts while allowing for community evolution. Pollard highlighted the necessity of measuring progress to ensure that community input is valued and reflected in the plan's implementation.

The meeting also addressed the extensive community engagement efforts undertaken, which included interviews, stakeholder meetings, and public open houses. Pollard noted that the initial engagement phase revealed a need for deeper outreach, leading to a more robust engagement strategy in subsequent phases. This included utilizing various communication channels to reach a diverse audience across the city.

As the planning commission prepares to recommend the stewardship plan to the city council, Pollard encouraged ongoing dialogue and feedback from community members and stakeholders to ensure the plan meets the needs of Richmond's residents. The next steps involve finalizing the plan based on the latest round of comments, which totaled 151, and presenting it for city council adoption.