Residents urge more public engagement as Prince George updates 2045 comp plan

A string of residents at the Prince George County Board of Supervisors meeting urged the county to step up outreach about its 2045 comprehensive plan, saying website information is confusing, mailed notice is limited and many neighbors discovered the plan only through word of mouth.

William Steele (9921 County Line Road) thanked supervisors for attending a recent community meeting and asked the board and administration to organize more public sessions so neighbors could learn what changes are under consideration. “Too many citizens apparently are still not properly informed,” Steele said, and offered to help arrange a community meeting. Other residents described difficulty navigating the county website and unreadable rezoning signage along River Road; one speaker said the published notice signs were “stuffed deep in 3‑ to 4‑foot tall grass” and largely invisible to drivers.

Planning staff said the draft 2045 plan has been under development since 2023 and the draft recently moved from consultant work back to county staff for revision; staff described a timeline that could extend into the second half of 2027 because of internal capacity and pending code updates (solar-siting policy and conservation easements). The board acknowledged a communication gap: “If we haven’t got the information to you, we need to do a better job,” the chair said, and supervisors agreed to add more informational town halls and to schedule follow-up work sessions to give residents more opportunities for input.

Board members noted many public comments received in packets and at multiple hearings and said some items raised by residents may be addressed in upcoming work sessions or revisions to the plan. Staff recommended posting a revised draft for public review after internal changes are made so public meetings can focus on specific changes rather than older draft language.