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Warren County planning commission tables 2024 comprehensive plan after public hearing, seeks more review
Summary
After a public hearing with dozens of residents, the Warren County Planning Commission voted to table its draft 2024 comprehensive plan until December to allow additional review, comment and coordination with the school division and other agencies.
The Warren County Planning Commission on Nov. 13 opened a public hearing on its draft comprehensive plan update for 2024 and, after extensive public comment, voted to table the document until the commission’s December meeting to allow staff to collect more feedback and re-advertise a subsequent hearing.
Residents raised concerns about short notice, housing policies and infrastructure requirements during a hearing that drew speakers from Browntown, Bentonville and other communities. Planner staff told commissioners the draft—which updates data, revises land‑use maps and incorporates a recently VDOT‑approved infrastructure chapter—was published with the meeting packet but that earlier drafts and appendices have been available at the county office. "We left a lot of the appendices out of it just because of the size," staff said, and noted the plan aims for adoption in early 2025.
Several commenters urged changes to the draft’s approach to accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Chris Anderson of the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley commended the draft’s approach to natural‑resource protections but recommended removing language that "encourages ADUs as a preferred approach" and instead addressing ADU details in zoning updates. Others from Browntown said residents had insufficient time to review the 241‑page document; Melanie Salins of Front Royal asked the commission to "table this matter until the new year" and provide a longer public‑review window so school officials and other stakeholders could finish their sections.
Commissioners emphasized the plan is advisory—"we're not changing the zoning," staff clarified—and that any rezoning or development proposals would follow separate processes. After discussing alternatives, a commissioner moved to table the draft until the December meeting so staff could make revisions and re‑advertise for another public hearing; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
What happens next: staff said it will incorporate comments from the commission’s joint work session, the public hearing and community outreach; the commission intends to bring a revised draft back in December for potential authorization to advertise an additional public hearing. The Board of Supervisors, not the planning commission, will take the final action on adoption.
