Improving Community Involvement in Planning

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In 2014 Chesterfield County began working on the Bikeways and Trails Plan and the Bon Air Special Area Plan. It was important that the development of these plans provide extensive opportunities for community involvement in order to ensure that recommendations meet the community’s vision. The goal for improving community involvement in these efforts was aimed at increasing the number and diversity of individuals participating in the process, improving the quality of input opportunities, providing transparency in the process and building social capital through relationships and partnerships within the community for sustained involvement over time. Community involvement throughout the process included opportunities for stakeholders to provide input and ideas that would help develop plan recommendations, as well as opportunities for review and feedback. A variety of approaches were used including partnerships with community groups, holding and attending events within the community and the use of social media to reach a broader audience. The result of these efforts ultimately led to not only the adoption of both plans by the Board of Supervisors, but also enhanced relationships with community stakeholders and an approach that can be used throughout the county on projects where community involvement is an important part of the decision making process.