Project Archives

The following are plans and studies conducted under the Planning District’s community development program over the past several years.  The Thomas Jefferson Planning District conducted work on most of these projects, or was involved with specific tasks.  Refer to separate member websites for any plans or studies that were developed by individual localities and organizations in the region.

Calendar Year – 2011

The Town of Mineral

The Town of Mineral and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) are working together on renewing Mineral’s downtown area.  These efforts included an application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Business District Revitalization. While the Department of Housing and Community Development did not award these funds to Mineral, the planning process helped develop several useful documents and plans. This includes the following:

• Downtown Needs Assessment
• Town-Wide Needs Assessment
• Economic Restructuring Plan
• Physical Improvements Plan

Calendar Year – 2010

Albemarle County Village of Rivanna Master Plan
This Master Plan is the result of extensive citizen input as well as guidance from the Albemarle Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.  The Village of Rivanna Master Plan is intended to provide guidance on where and how new residential and nonresidential uses should develop in the Village of Rivanna Development Area. It is further intended to make recommendations on the future of US 250 East across the northern boundary of the Development Area. Finally, its purpose is to guide the timing of new development in the Village.  Click here to view the project website.

Greene County Comprehensive Plan
The Greene County Comprehensive Plan was a joint effort of the Greene County Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors, Greene County planning staff and citizens, with technical support from the TJPDC. The Plan was adopted by the Greene County Board of Supervisors on June 8, 2010 by a unanimous vote. The Plan is the guiding document for the county, integrating a wide range of subjects into a coherent vision for future growth and physical development of the county. Click here to view the project website.

Calendar Year – 2009

Town of Mineral Downtown Revitalization (THA Final Report) – This document is a final report for an assessment of accessibility in the downtown of the Town of Mineral.  The study was conducted by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) and the Town of Mineral with use of a grant from the Transportation and Housing Alliance (THA).  The primary purpose of the study was to assess the existing physical condition of Mineral Avenue, the central corridor of the town, with particular attention paid to the needs of people with disabilities and others typically left out of the planning process.

Calendar Year – 2006

Zion Crossroads Community Plan – The Zion Crossroads Community Plan provides recommendations to enhance existing residential areas and employment opportunities with new developments while at the same time retaining the area’s rural character. This Community Plan recognizes that Zion Crossroads can be enhanced to provide a scenic, rural welcome to residents and tourists, and at the same time be developed to be an employment, retail, commercial, and recreation destination for both County residents and travelers.

Nellysford Community Plan – The Nellysford Community Plan is the result of an extensive effort to collect and analyze data relevant to the greater Nellysford area, located in Nelson County.  The plan establishes what Nellysford residents and businesses wish for their community.  The purpose of these efforts was to plan a safer transportation network, improve and enhance the overall business environment, identify potential development of housing opportunities, guide the development of new public spaces, and guide the pattern and design of future development.

Calendar Year – 2005

Palmyra Community Plan – The Palmyra Community Plan is the result of substantial input from Fluvanna County residents, business owners and staff as well as the Virginia Department of Transportation and builds upon the concepts and ideas presented in the 2000 Fluvanna County Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations of the Palmyra Community Plan serve three major goals: 1. To enhance and maintain the village-scaled atmosphere of Palmyra; 2. To improve the safety, efficiency and diversity of the transportation system; and 3. To protect the social and environmental resources of the area.

Lake Monticello Community Plan – This report summarizes a community-based vision for the Lake Monticello area of Fluvanna County.  It was developed by Fluvanna County and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, with ideas generated at public workshops, conversations with stakeholders and follow-up meetings with a steering committee.  Priority themes were to increase traffic safety and improve flow at key intersections, enhance existing commercial centers, provide housing choices, preserve the rural character of the surrounding area, and protect precious natural resources.

Lovingston Safety Study – The purpose of this plan is to enhance the small town, pedestrian-oriented character of historic Lovingston, located along the Route 29 corridor in Nelson County.  The Safety Study is meant to achieve a safer, more efficient connection between historic Lovingston and the growth occurring on the western side of Route 29. The study’s recommendations are designed to achieve a balanced, multi-modal system that allows pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers to safely travel in the greater Lovingston area while maintaining and improving the capacity of Route 29 for regional through traffic.

Calendar Year – 2004

Fork Union Community Plan – This report summarizes a community-based vision for the greater Fork Union area.  It was developed by Fluvanna County and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission as an outgrowth of public workshops.  Specific ideas generated included creating a village atmosphere through beautification and traffic calming, improving pedestrian access, and encouraging small-scale, community-based economic development.  

Design Manual for Small Towns – This is a practical "how to" handbook for residents of small towns, their elected officials, and the local government staff who support them.  It provides transportation and land use strategies for preserving small town character.  The Design Manual is organized in a fashion that shows the community how to work together to better understand the existing conditions, identify current transportation problems, and articulate desirable solutions.

Eastern Planning Initiative – The TJPDC won a grant from the Federal Highway Administration Transportation and Community and System Preservation (TCSP) program to conduct the Jefferson Area Eastern Planning Initiative (EPI) for the City of Charlottesville, the eastern portions of Albemarle and Greene Counties, and the whole of Fluvanna and Louisa Counties.  The initiative has two primary objectives; to develop a set of modeling tools capable of concurrently evaluating transportation and land use options, and to lay the groundwork for a regional vision of sustainable transportation and land use.  The final documents include a Policy Report and Technical Report.

Previous Years

Reinvesting in Scottsville's Heritage This study was initiated by the Town of Scottsville and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission to identify new multi-modal transportation links throughout Scottsville and to study how future development in Scottsville can best reflect the Town's heritage as a small, rural village. more >>

Nelson County Comprehensive Plan – The Nelson County Board of Supervisors adopted the Nelson County Comprehensive Plan October 8, 2002.  TJPDC staff assisted the County government and public in developing this plan over the course of more than a year of public meetings and workshops.