Shenandoah 2024: Navigating Woodstock’s Comprehensive Planning Process

The Valley Today

Our conversation today with Tyler Hinkle, Shenandoah County's Planner is part of an ongoing series following the work on Shenandoah 2045 - Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan. Today we are joined by Jill Jefferson, Director of Planning for the Town of Woodstock, and Michael Stapor, a consultant with Summit Design and Engineering Services to get an update on Woodstock's comprehensive planning process currently underway.

Tyler provides updates on Shenandoah County's comprehensive planning progress, highlighting an upcoming public hearing on Thursday, August 1, 2024. The focus then shifts to Woodstock's comprehensive planning efforts, where Jill and Michael discuss their methods for public engagement, including surveys and focus groups. They share insights from their public outreach, noting the similarities in feedback between the town and county levels.

Jill elaborates on the technical and collaborative aspects of the planning process, including their regional coordination with various county and state agencies. Michael emphasizes the importance of data in understanding community needs and challenges, such as housing availability and affordability. The discussion wraps up with Jill and Tyler encouraging public participation and feedback in both the ongoing and future planning processes.

Overall, the episode underscores the collaborative efforts between the county and its towns to create comprehensive plans that reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities.

Learn more about Woodstock's comprehensive plan here: https://woodstockvacompplan.com/

You can view the final draft of Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan and learn more about the planning process, on their website: https://shenandoahcountyva.us/future and follow them on Facebook.

You can listen to previous conversations with Tyler about Shenandoah 2045 by clicking here.