On July 18 the Metropolitan Washington Transportation Planning Board announced the award of a technical assistance grant to Middleburg a technical to develop a Washington Street Streetscape Improvement Plan. It was one of only two Virginia grants out of a total of nine awarded under the program to projects in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Given the relatively small size of Middleburg proper, the award reflects both high confidence in Middleburg's ability to plan, confidence in its ability to execute, and the importance of the community along the Route 50 corridor.

Thus, the improvement of the Washington Streetscape will be integrated seamlessly into an ongoing effort to shape, plan, and implement a larger vision for Middleburg.

David Beniamino, the Town Planner and Zoning Administrator is a professional, well respected for his work throughout the region. He is quick to point out, however, that in a town the size of Middleburg, nothing of significance really happens without everyone working together, the professional staff, the Mayor and Town Council, and perhaps most important, interested and hard-working citizens of the town and surrounding areas.

Planning Commission

One of the most important and, perhaps all too little noticed of Middleburg's extensive web of powerful volunteer-staffed and volunteer-driven government organizations is the Town Planning Commission.

Chaired by Stephen Plescow, the Commission meets monthly. It is legally responsible for, among other things: preparing and recommending to the town council: a comprehensive plan for the growth, development and redevelopment of the town and areas; amendments to subdivision regulations; policies, ordinances, administrative procedures, and other methods for achieving it plans in a coordinated and efficient manner. It also initiates or makes recommendations to the town council regarding special use permit applications and zoning map changes.

Citizen and Stakeholder Input

The Commission is also responsible for establishing "advisory committees from time to time to help carry out its planning responsibilities in a particular subject area."

At its July meeting the Commission began the process of soliciting input for a major revision of the Town's Comprehensive Plan. According to Town Planner Beniamino, Comprehensive Plans "are normally updated about once every five years, in order to make sure the community is able to understand current trendsand account for large projects that are developed."

Over the next month Plescow Vice Chair Kathleen Ribaudo, Commissioners Daniel Broderick, Eric Combs, Amanda Scheps, and Donald Woodruff, will work with town staff and town council liason Kevin Hazard to develop processes and procedures to solicit as broad a range of public input as possible on the future of Middleburg.

The results of that work will not only shape a "vision" of when, where, and how the Town should change, but the rules, regulations, legislation, staffing and spending necessary to carry out the plan.

The "Visioning" Process

According to Town Planner Beniamino, "the critical first step" in the development of a comprehensive plan is the "community vision" process. That vision, once developed, sets the tone for the rest of the plan.

"Ideally," he notes, "the process brings the the community together, leads stakeholders to , put aside their differences and envision a future where all things are possible".

2) "Comprehensive Plans are normally updated once every five years, in order to make sure the community is able to understand current trends and account for large projects that are developed."

3) "In order to make sure this process is successful, we need to get the most support possible from residents, business owners and members of the larger Middleburg Community. This is your town, help us shape its future with your suggestions in mind".

The Commission is currently working to "establish a group of elected and appointed officials , representatives from groups like the Historic District Review Committee, Go Green, Middleburg Arts Council, Middleburg Business & Professional Association, Main Street Committee, Streetscape Committee, Middleburg Community Center & Wellhead Protection Advisory Board, plus local citizens to help with both input and facilitation of the overall vision".

At some point in the early fall, the Commission will report on specific approaches to this information gathering task: surveys (on line and on paper), charettes, topical meetings, social media input, and a host of other ideas are being considered.

Town Planner Beniamino has asked that everyone watch the town's web site for further developments. http://www.middleburg.org

"In order to make sure this process is successful, we need to get the most support possible from residents, business owners and members of the larger Middleburg Community," he said. "This is your town, help us shape its future with your suggestions in mind".