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Prior to an upcoming public hearing targeted for July 1, 2020, staff is bringing forth the complete draft of the Transportation portion of the Comprehensive Plan to present an overview of the proposed changes and to provide the Planning Commission an advanced look at the draft to be considered. Proposed are updates to the Spotsylvania County Comprehensive Plan consistent with direction from the Code of Virginia § 15.2-2230, § 15.2-2223, and § 15.2-2224. The update also reflects feedback received from the Planning Commission and Transportation Committee whose minutes are attached for reference. The Public Hearing was authorized to proceed by the Planning Commission on June 3, 2020 and Case number CPA20-0001 was then assigned. Specifically, this update proposes to repeal and replace Chapter 3, Transportation and Thoroughfare Plan, and add Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan addressing transportation by bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. Chapter 3, content to be repealed was initially adopted on November 14, 2013, and last updated August 9, 2016. Addition of Chapter 3A is meant to update, retire, replace and consolidate the County’s standalone Trailways Master Plan, last approved February 22, 2011 into the Comprehensive Plan. This Comprehensive Plan Transportation Chapter update also includes a revision to Appendix B, specifically repealing an outdated inventory of privately-operated Parks and Recreation amenities and replacement with a Transportation related exhibit, meant as a complement to the text update in Chapter 3. Consistent with the Code of Virginia § 15.2-2223.B.4, the proposed transportation updates to the Comprehensive Plan have been submitted for review to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Following review, VDOT approval of the draft was received by the County on March 25, 2020.

Within this agenda item, staff has provided additional information in memorandum form (attached) detailing proposed changes to Chapter 3, 3A, and Appendix B.

Similar to the rest of the Comprehensive Plan now in draft, staff remains committed to the collection of additional outside comments from the public and intends on including the materials of this transportation update within the larger public feedback solicitation and web based geohub efforts in development now. Should the transportation element be approved as recommended by staff, there will be an ability to further amend the Chapter if warranted when the remainder of the Comprehensive Plan progresses to public hearing in the coming months.

N/A- Work Session. However, in advance of the upcoming public hearing, if denial or inaction were to occur the County may lose the opportunity to fund certain transportation projects during the upcoming Smartscale period. Without an update the County may not be able to exhibit Comprehensive Plan support for projects targeted for upcoming Smartscale application deadlines considerate of the Code of Virginia, specifically Sect. 15.2-2232:

…unless a feature is already shown on the adopted master plan or part thereof or is deemed so under subsection D, no street or connection to an existing street, park or other public area, public building or public structure, public utility facility or public service corporation facility other than a railroad facility or an underground natural gas or underground electric distribution facility of a public utility as defined in subdivision (b) of § 56-265.1 within its certificated service territory, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be constructed, established or authorized, unless and until the general location or approximate location, character, and extent thereof has been submitted to and approved by the commission as being substantially in accord with the adopted comprehensive plan or part thereof.