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Planning Commission approves draft 2026 comprehensive plan update, recommends it to Town Council
Summary
The Planning Commission approved the draft 2026 comprehensive plan update and recommended it to Town Council for consideration of adoption; staff said edits address economic development, sustainability, parks and the future land‑use map, and will supply conforming changes before Council review.
The Vienna Planning Commission voted to approve the draft 2026 comprehensive plan update and recommended it to Town Council for consideration of adoption.
Deputy Director Kelly O'Brien reviewed targeted revisions across chapters: minor land‑use edits, a change on the future land‑use map renaming an 'employment center' to 'corporate park,' updates in economic development and transportation (including bikeability language and an update tied to a completed SMD pilot), and edits to community facilities and parks language to reflect the town’s current library construction plans and a tree conservation ordinance adopted in 2024. O'Brien said the plan notes the urban forest management plan has not yet been created and that staff incorporated comments from advisory committees and the public.
Commissioners asked staff to make conforming edits so goals in Chapter 4 and the plan’s front matter match; one commissioner questioned new language about preserving commercial areas and another suggested removing a line that could read negatively about the status of a Church Street vision project. Staff agreed to make those technical and consistency changes before forwarding a memo and the draft to Council.
A commissioner moved to approve the draft plan with a change to ensure consistency between the chapter goals and the front matter; the roll call vote recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed. By unanimous consent commissioners allowed staff to make minor technical corrections prior to final packet distribution.
Director of Planning and Zoning David Levy thanked commissioners for their work on the plan and said staff would circulate bylaws and rules and send two memos (including one on 'green hedges') in advance of the Council work session. Levy also noted the Town Council approved related zoning changes and a set of 2026 council priorities that include improving mobile coverage in Vienna; staff previewed a May work session on wireless coverage and referred to a Council work session on the comprehensive plan scheduled for April 20.
The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to Town Council for consideration of adoption; staff will include the conforming edits and provide the Council with supporting materials ahead of the April work session.
