Culpeper comp plan wins applause in Va.

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

The town of Culpeper has an award-winning comprehensive land-use plan.

The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association will recognize the town’s latest comp plan at a meeting Thursday at Wintergreen.

“The plan is well organized, attractively presented and easy to read with strong graphics and visuals that enhance its comprehensibility,” said APA Awards Committee Chairman Wayne Cilimberg. “The committee feels this comprehensive plan is exemplary for other small, urban communities striving to be vibrant places that respect their heritage while preparing for growth and change.”

The plan, updated in 2008, is a collaboration between town officials and the Cincinnati firm of McBride Dale Clarion.

The town sought to create “a living, breathing, visionary document that was more reader-friendly and not overloaded with technical language only a bureaucrat understood,” according to town public information officer Wally Bunker.

Town officials said having residents and businesspeople on a committee that worked with the town staff produced a plan “that reflects the values of our town citizens.”

“I wanted to ensure the town maximized community involvement in hopes of creating a comprehensive plan that reflected the thoughts and desires of folks living in town,” said Councilman Jim Risner, who also represents the council on the five-member Planning Commission.

ON THE NET:

culpeperva.gov/departments/planning/COMP_PLAN.html

Donnie Johnston:

djohnston@freelancestar.com

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