LEXINGTON, Va. — The Lexington Planning Commission on Aug. 28 reviewed a draft arts and culture chapter of the city's comprehensive plan and heard early survey results showing residents emphasize small-town character and historic buildings. Jeremy Crute of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission presented the draft and the engagement to date. "The city's small town character and charm was far and away number 1 with 73%," Crute said, "...historic buildings and sites ranked relatively highly as well with 25% of the vote." Crute told commissioners the public survey opened Aug. 11 and that, "when I checked this morning, we have 117 responses so far." The draft chapter inventories cultural assets, notes existing partnerships such as Main Street Lexington and the Architectural Review Board, and carries forward goals and strategies from the 2020 plan. Crute said the chapter retains most prior language after a review to update items that had changed in the past five years and that the arts and culture chapter was added in 2020 because the community consistently supports the arts. Commissioners and Crute discussed specifics raised by staff and commissioners: whether to narrow or broaden language that currently ties city support to artists who create businesses in Lexington; adding public art in underused spaces and temporary reuse of vacant storefronts; and building a directory of venues, services and funding. Commissioner suggestions included adding Buena Vista to the partnership list and including venue listings in a directory of services. Crute said strategies in the chapter remain largely ongoing and unchanged for now and recommended keeping the implementation tracking in the implementation chapter or appendices rather than repeatedly updating each chapter. No formal action or vote on the chapter text was taken; Crute said the plan will be iterative and that subsequent open houses and additional survey responses will inform revisions. He encouraged commissioners and the public to submit written comments to staff. The commission scheduled further review as part of the overall comprehensive-plan update process.