Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Old Town Neighborhood Design District topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves Old Town Neighborhood Design District to guide Winchester infill and pedestrian safety
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a comprehensive-plan amendment to establish an Old Town Neighborhood Design District that encourages compatible infill, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, pocket parks and gateway treatments. Staff and advisory-committee members emphasized the plan’s aspirational, community-led nature.
On June 16 the Winchester Planning Commission approved Resolution R2026-29 to amend the city’s 2022 comprehensive plan by adopting an Old Town Neighborhood Design District (NDD). Planning staff summarized outreach and advisory-committee input and said the district aims to guide compatible infill, strengthen pedestrian and bicycle safety, and create pocket public spaces.
Mr. Reddy (planning staff) and Mr. Benson (staff presenter) explained that the NDD is primarily aspirational: concept images show possible mixed-use redevelopment of underutilized surface parking, potential public-space sites, and pedestrian improvements such as curb bump-outs and widened sidewalks. The presenters noted the advisory committee included Shenandoah University, the Discovery Museum and Friends of Old Town.
Joel Richardson, who said he served on the advisory committee, praised the community-led process and urged focusing on opportunities created by extensive surface parking in Old Town: "There's a tremendous opportunity to do things in Old Town without sacrificing what we have and improving the character and making places for young and old people to move if they so choose," he said.
Commissioners discussed potential zoning approaches, the need to balance private-property aspirations with public improvements, and the role of gateway treatments and naturalizing Town Run to address flooding. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote; staff and presenters emphasized the plan will be a guidance document rather than a set of mandatory engineered designs.
The approved amendment will go forward in the council process and is intended to provide development guidance and a framework for future public investments and parcel-specific rezoning or negotiations.
