After almost 30 years, Henry County is looking to update its comprehensive plan.
County supervisors began what is expected to be a two-year process during their May 28 meeting by awarding a $212,139 contract to the Berkley Group, a Bridgewater-based administrative consultancy firm that will assist county officials with the planning process.
This marks the first time the county has updated its comprehensive plan since 1995.
The comprehensive plan is a rough guide on the initiatives, goals and projects the county plans to accomplish over the span of two decades. The current plan was meant to cover the years 1995 to 2010, which makes the creation of a new plan almost 15 years past due.
“It’s a little bit out of date,” county administrator Dale Wagoner said during the May 28 board of supervisors meeting.
County supervisors also talked about the gap between the current and proposed plan.
“Waiting years to update the plan is problematic as it leads to outdated information, missed opportunities, lagging infrastructure and inadequate services, hindering the county’s development and responsiveness to change,” Supervisor Travis Pruitt said.
“In my view, it’s crucial for Henry County to update its comprehensive plan regularly — ideally every five to 10 years — to remain responsive to changing conditions and proactive in addressing future challenges.”
Supervisor Garrett Dillard believes that the timing is right.
“With the recent industrial growth at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre and an increasing demand for housing, now is the time to update the comprehensive plan,” Dillard said. “It is important to have a clear vision and strategy for economic activities, zoning, infrastructure development and community growth. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to hear the current aspirations and concerns of our residents.”
The current plan is 229 pages and covers a myriad of topics, from water resources to the economy.
In 1995, the plan put forth a vision of what Henry County would look like in 2010. Some of the plan’s predictions were accurate.
“Henry County has continued its transition from a rural to an urban-suburban community,” reads a portion of the current plan. “Manufacturing remains the basis of the local economy, as the county continues to be an attractive location for new industries or those wishing to relocate.”
The current plan also predicted a gradual decrease in population.
“The county’s population loss has come at a time of high growth for the Commonwealth,” it reads. “The vast majority of the state’s growth has occurred in the ‘Golden Crescent,’ the urban corridor that stretches from Northern Virginia to Richmond and Hampton Roads.”
In 1990, Henry County’s population was on the decline at 56,902. In the 2010 census, the county’s population was 54,102. The most recent census has the county’s population at 49,906.
“Times have [changed] significantly since then, and this update will encapsulate those changes, as well as provide some direction on how our community wants to grow in the coming decades,” said Lee Clark, the county’s planning, zoning and inspections director.
Staff hopes to include public input through meetings, questionnaires and online polls. There are also plans for an interactive website to keep the public aware of the ongoing process, while bridging the gap between residents and county staff.
“The plan will serve as a foundation to guide the growth and land development of the entire county,” Clark said. “It is one of the most important tools the county has in terms of planning and this process is a way for residents to impact their community for generations to come.”
