Henrico to host ‘community visioning’ workshop March 23

Interactive session will help public identify goals for county’s future

Henrico will host an interactive workshop Wednesday, March 23 to help the public shape a vision for the county’s growth and development over the next two decades.

The “community visioning” workshop will be the first public meeting as part of HenricoNext, the county’s process to update its Comprehensive Plan with a cohesive vision for Henrico in 2045. After it is approved by the Board of Supervisors, the plan will serve as an official guide for decisions on development and investments in public facilities and infrastructure.

The workshop, led by the Department of Planning and its consultants, will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Henrico County Government Center, 4301 E. Parham Road. Residents and other members of the public are welcome to attend in person or virtually.

In-person participants are encouraged to bring a laptop, tablet, smartphone or other internet-accessible device, which will allow them to join in exercises and give feedback in real time. For example, participants will be invited to share their impressions of Henrico’s quality of life and challenges. They also will be able to identify areas of the county where housing, jobs or transportation improvements are needed and rank the importance of such goals as protecting the character of neighborhoods, maximizing opportunities for economic development and promoting infill development.

Residents and others unable to attend the workshop may provide input later. More information will be posted to henriconext.us in the coming weeks.

“The community visioning workshop is a critical part of HenricoNext because the information we gather will provide an important building block in the next vision for Henrico County’s future,” Planning Director Joe Emerson said. “We hope our residents and other community stakeholders will use this opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas for their county, because this is where they will live, work and play for decades to come.”

HenricoNext launched in 2021 with public surveys and other input received from the community. Three background reports, which provide overviews of the county’s sociodemographics and existing conditions in recreation and parks and transportation, have been posted on the resources webpage.

Henrico’s most recent major update of its Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009. The Vision 2026 plan provides a blueprint for the county’s growth and development with chapters on recommended land uses; natural resources; recreation, parks, open spaces and cultural resources; transportation; and public facilities and utilities. The next plan, targeted for adoption in 2024, is expected to cover the same topics and include a focus on pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

 
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