Comprehensive Plan - Waynesboro Virginia 2017

City Council Work Session

 Comprehensive Planning Process

a citys opportunity to take stock of where it is,

understand the implications of trends, and develop a response

The resulting plan

more than anything elsea set of priorities the city will commit to

Implementation is a function of a blend of factors

financial capacity

politics

community exceptions

the unknown

As weve come to advise clients:

good plans get the big things right

plan for the known

have a framework for coping with the unknown

 March: started the planning process in Waynesboro

Monthly:

meeting with a Steering Committee

meet w technical sta experts - police, building inspection, public works,

planning, parks

Between meetings:

many Steering Committee members: small community conversations

helped us all understand the Waynesboro community better

Also, we have also analyzed:

your taxes, your school test scores, the ratings of your roads and
bridges, your housing market, your budget,

in the context of the other communities in the Valley and in the region
Major Findings

Just like businesses compete, so do cities

Your competition is generally beating you

Demographics are working against you

Changing economics regionally and nationally are putting

pressure on communities like Waynesboro

Youve done a lot of good catching up the last few years,

but theres a significant deferred maintenance problem in
Waynesboro
Summary

Waynesboro is not as competitive within the region as it used to be,

or as it needs to be today to succeed into the future

You are becoming home to more than your fair share of the
regions poor households - and so costs for city services are
going up while your image is going down

You have underinvested in quality of life amenities and so your

ability to compete for households across the region is going
down, and, consequently lower demand is reflected in lower
home values

Your schools reflect all of this, and are under enormous

pressure, and resulting school performance undermines your
ability to compete
Empty/Under-utilized Downtown Exactly When Long-Neglected Declining Marketabilty
Downtowns Are The Most Valuable High School of Neighborhoods That Should
Point-for-Pound Asset Communities Have Needing Millions Be Functioning Well

Large Pockets of Under-Performing

and Poorly Maintained Privately Owned Commercial Real Estate
Low Levels of Resident Pride in Pockets Throughout the City
 Cycle of Growth

Potential Home Buyer ?

Cycle of Decline
Emerging Plan Recommendations

Commit to catching up, thereafter keeping up, and when possible

investing to get ahead (of your competition) in the following areas:

Education - High School + Teacher Salaries

Expensive and Results Slow to Show

Neighborhoods - Code Enforcement + Homeowner reinvestment levels

Targeting Required and There Will Be Pushback

Economy - Prepare for Evolution of TC + Continue to Address

Downtown (Flood Plain & Natural History Museum)

Expensive and There Will Be Pushback

Quality of Life - Trails + Parks + Gateways

Expensive and Results Slow to Show

Infrastructure - Complete Sidewalks + Road/Bridge Maintenance

Expensive and Necessary But Not Sexy

Discussion

Anything that you felt we got right?

Anything that gave you heartburn?

Anything missing?

Suggestions for presenting to you and public?