Past Projects

Town of New Market Growth and Annexation Areas Plan  (2007) (5mb)

This concept plan was created for the Town of New Market, Virginia to delineate where it wants to grow in adjacent areas of Shenandoah and Rockingham counties. The plan identifies the general areas where various uses will occur over the next 30 to 40 years, providing for a balanced mix of housing types, commercial uses, and transportation options. It follows the county comprehensive plan’s vision of directing growth to the towns, while protecting and strengthening the historic fabric and economic vibrancy of the town, preserving battlefield and natural areas, and maintaining the rural and agricultural character of the surrounding landscape.  The plan was adopted into the existing Town of New Market Comprehensive Plan in November 2007 and unanimously endorsed by the county’s planning commission in January 2008.

"It's really a document we're all proud of.” (read more>)
     –  New Market Mayor Tom Constable

“It’s been a really healthy process…It’s a very good example of long-term planning.” (read more>)
     –  New Market Town Manager Evan Vass

"I think it's called good planning, and we need more of it." (read more>)
     –  Shenandoah County Planning and Zoning Director Chris Boies

“The town’s preparation for growth and prevention of urban-like sprawl makes sense… [The plan] could serve as a model for the rest of the towns in this county… The next steps are planned, they’ve connected old and new areas, and it’s a walkable community.” (read more>)
     –  Rosemary Wallinger, chairman of the Shenandoah Forum, a group that addresses growth and development in the county

Publications

Fisher’s Hill and Tom’s Brook Battlefields Preservation Plan (2005) This, the second of two plans completed for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, was developed in partnership with Shenandoah County and a steering committee of battlefield landowners. The plan charts the course for preservation of two major Civil War battlefields in the rapidly-developing area at the intersection of interstates 81 and 66.

Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefields Preservation Plan (2003) This, the first of two plans completed for the Battlefields Foundation, was developed in partnership with Rockingham County and a steering committee of battlefield landowners and incorporated into the county’s comprehensive plan.
--Funders at the American Battlefield Protection Program called it the best battlefield preservation plan the staff had encountered.
--The plan received an award for excellence from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2004.

Land and Virginia’s Common Wealth (2000) This study examines the need for state funding of conservation land and easement acquisition. It explores existing and historic land conservation efforts in Virginia and includes a brief history of federal conservation land acquisition in the Commonwealth and descriptions of the development of state land conservation policies in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

A Preliminary Purchase of Development Rights Study for Rockbridge County (2000) The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors commissioned this study regarding the creation of a county PDR program. The report describes what other localities in Virginia have done regarding PDR programs and compared Rockbridge County’s use of available revenue sources to the use of those revenues by neighboring localities.

The McDowell Battlefield Staunton-to-Parkersburg Pike Landowner’s Guide (1999) This publication describes options available to private landowners who want to protect land in Highland County and western Augusta County, Virginia. It was published by the Valley Conservation Council (VCC) in cooperation with the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP).

The Middlebrook-Brownsburg Corridor: A Survey of Cultural and Natural Resources (1997) This study, co-authored with Carole Nash at James Madison University, examines a pristine area of Rockbridge and Augusta counties and makes recommendations for its protection. It was published by VCC.

Land Use and Community Values (1997) This study examines the relative costs and revenues of different land uses in Augusta County, Virginia and changes in land use that had occurred in the county since 1991. It was published by Augusta County, the Augusta County Farm Bureau, and VCC.

The McDowell Battlefield Staunton-to-Parkersburg Pike Concept Plan (1996) This plan includes an assessment of and recommendations for the protection and interpretation of lands in Highland County and western Augusta County, Virginia traversed by Confederate and Federal troops during the Valley Campaign in the spring of 1962. It was published by VCC in cooperation with the ABPP. (MAP)

Land Use and Community Costs (1992) This study examined the relative costs and revenues of different land uses in Augusta County, Virginia. It was published by VCC.

Reports

Impact of Telecommunications Facility on Fisher’s Hill Battlefield and Miller Farm (2006)  This report was prepared for a private landowner on the Fisher’s Hill battlefield in Shenandoah County, Virginia.  The county was considering a special use permit for the installation of a wireless telecommunications facility on a parcel adjacent to the client’s farm, which is situated on the battlefield.  The report assessed the facility's potential impact on the battlefield as well as the farm itself and concluded that it would have a detrimental effect on both.  Resources cited in the report included numerous federal, state, and local evaluations of the battlefield, the county’s comprehensive plan, county-approved preservation plans for the battlefield, and other materials.  The county ultimately denied the special use permit.

Presentations

Virginia Historic Preservation Conference (2008) Presentation and panel discussion regarding the successful effort by conservation and preservation gruops to battle a $14 million plan to create a tolled, eight to 12 lane truck highway along Interstate 81 through the historic Shenandoah Valley and southwest Virginia. Learn more>

Commonwealth Land Use and Zoning Conference (2008) Workshop using the Shenandoah County Community Dialogue Project as an example of how to engage a community in the planning process. Learn more>

Transportation Research Board (2006) Presentation to the Board’s annual planning conference on the preservation of historic landscapes using Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (2005) Presentation on the use of GIS in planning heritage areas and ways to implement a GIS system/project on a small scale to a conference on historic preservation.

University of Virginia School of Architecture (2005 - 2006) Guest lecturer on the preservation of historic landscapes.

Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (2005) Presentation on community planning at the organization’s annual conference.

American Battlefield Protection Program (2005) Presentation on land conservation in the Shenandoah Valley at the program’s national biannual battlefield preservation conference.