The Botetourt County planning commission and Board of Supervisors adopted the county’s draft comprehensive plan, Envision 2045, following staff presentations, public comment and commission discussion.

Staff presenter Mr. McCoy told the joint hearing the plan was developed largely in-house beginning in 2017 and built from past plans, studies and public engagement. He said the process included community feedback sessions at Greenfield, James River High School and Colonial Elementary, three sessions that produced 387 written comments on boards and an earlier round of public input that yielded nearly 1,600 responses; he added the October online survey produced 291 responses and that the project recorded nearly 2,000 total pieces of individual input during the planning process.

Mr. McCoy summarized key revisions made in response to feedback: reductions in areas designated for medium-density housing on the future land-use map, returning some areas to agricultural or low-density designations, additions to the natural environment chapter that emphasize groundwater protection, the removal of a strategy to pursue Certified Local Government status with the National Park Service, and updates to chapter content to address VDOT’s mobility requirements.

During public comment, Libby Schiffer said the plan "appears urbanization is a goal of Envision 2045" and argued it would erode the county’s rural character; she recommended the board not adopt the plan. Commissioners asked staff whether the plan explicitly supports recent local projects (including the Rebecca Furnace and a planned history museum) and whether watersheds such as Tinker Creek received sufficient recognition and protections. Mr. McCoy said the plan contains language that elevates historic assets and that the plan’s policy language and chapters set the county up to pursue protections and regulatory changes where appropriate.

Commissioner Lockerbie moved to approve the plan as drafted; the planning commission carried the motion and forwarded the plan. On the board floor, Supervisor Walter Michael moved to approve Envision 2045 as provided by staff and Supervisor Brandon Nisely seconded; the board voted unanimously to adopt the plan.

Adoption places the plan into county policy guidance, and staff said follow-up actions will include ordinance and regulatory reviews to implement detailed protections (for example, groundwater and watershed management) where the plan recommends further study or local code changes.