Fauquier County Planning Commission Briefing

September 15th , 2016

Schedule
November 16

September 21

4.

December

Stepping Stones to
the Future

3.

1.

Achieving the
Vision

What does the Future

Hold?

2.
May 17

Future
Opportunities &
Constraints
July 12

Final Action Plan

Results from the Second

Conversation
What are the

Obstacles & opportunities

to achieving our vision?

The Countys Vision

Fauquier County is a thriving
community that honors its
natural and cultural resources,
agricultural heritage and rural
landscape while building a
sustainable economy and
promoting outstanding services
and growth within defined
service districts.

Meeting One

What they said

What kind of future do you want
for Fauquier County?

Expanding Business
and Employment
Opportunities
Vibrant Towns and
Villages

Managed Growth and

Concentrated
Preserved Rural
Development
Areas and Open
Spaces

A Strong
Agricultural
Economy

First:

Survey results
WEBSITE:

Project info
Market analysis
Meeting summaries
Videos of prior meetings
Review or take prior
surveys

To Date:
Survey 1 278 responses
Survey 2 85 responses
Additional input via email

PROJECT WEBSITE: www.fauquiercommunityconversations.org

3 most important challenges to

achieving the vision

3 most important opportunities for

achieving the vision

Survey: Matching Opportunities with Challenges

Opportunities/Challenges
More transportation options for aging population
Walkable communities for aging population
Smaller homes and lots for aging population
Shopping, entertainment, and jobs in service districts for millennials
Focus development and jobs in service districts to reduce commuting
Better internet and cell service to allow for telework to reduce commuting
Better internet to encourage jobs, business growth, and economic development
Comprehensive development plans for towns to guide location/form of growth
Limit infrastructure investment to limit population growth/development
Improve infrastructure in service areas to guide location/form of growth
Update zoning to protect rural areas and guide location/form of growth
help strengthen the agriculture industry to address loss of farm land

Second Community
Conversation Meeting
Held July

th
12

at Fauquier High School

Over 80 attendees

Two discussion questions:

What are the most important

obstacles
that Fauquier County will need to address in
order to achieve its vision?

What are the most important

opportunities
that Fauquier County can utilize in order to
achieve its vision?

Meeting Two

What the community said

What are the most important obstacles to achieving our vision?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Limited water supply and wastewater treatment capacity (20 responses)

Lack of housing diversity and affordable housing (20 responses)
Lack of local employment and career opportunities (19 responses)
Inadequate transportation infrastructure and public transit service (17 responses)
Limited facilities and local markets supporting local agriculture (15 responses)

Meeting Two

What the community said

What are the most important opportunities for achieving our vision?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Numerous existing and potential tourism destinations (16 responses)

Job training programs with Lord Fairfax Community College (15 responses)
Organized local agriculture advocacy programs (13 responses)
Existing and proven growth management techniques (13 responses)
Preserved farmland and open spaces (9 responses)
Increasing financial support for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (9 responses)

Meeting Two

Priorities by Age
Age: 39 and Younger

Age: 40 and Older

Top Obstacles
Lack of employment opportunities
Lack of affordable/diverse housing
Limited entertainment options

Top Obstacles
Insufficient water/wastewater systems
Insufficient transportation infrastructure
Lack of affordable housing

Top Opportunities
Job training programs
Public transportation
Vicinity to DC

Top Opportunities
Tourism destinations
Managed growth
Agricultural support

Online Survey: Additional Ideas

Results of the online survey were mostly consistent with the ideas shared during the meeting.
Some additional ideas to note, however, include:

Obstacles

Opportunities

Growth pressure from

Washington DC
Satisfying the desires of the
Millennial generation
Limited broadband access

Remote telework employment

Supporting business startups
and small local businesses

Potential take-aways from Second

Conversation
Continuing broad support for the
fundamental vision concepts
Is this a good cross section of
County population?
Need for additional outreach
Most critical issues include how
Service Districts develop and the
future of the Ag economy

Whats ahead:
September 21

November 16

3.

4.

Achieving the
Vision

Stepping Stones to
the Future

How do we get there? Review the Draft

What are gaps to
Action Plan
achieving the Vision Refinements and
What are ideas for
affirmation
getting there?

December

Final Action Plan

Final Action Plan

presented to Board

The next Conversation:

What are potential

actions

that Fauquier County should

consider
in the context of the OPPORTUNITIES and
OBSTACLES that have been identified to
achieving its Vision

The next Conversation:

Brainstorm Actions around these
three Vision Themes:

Managed Growth and

Concentrated
Development and
Vibrant Towns and
Villages

Rural & Open Space

Preservation and A
Strong Agricultural
Economy

Expanding Business
and Employment
Opportunities

The Challenge:
Staying true to the Countys VISION
while accommodating a growth of

1,000 new people

and 1,000 new jobs per year!

potentially