The May 22nd Comprehensive Plan public input session was a hit. Over 70 members of the community joined at the Community Center to address the hard issues: what are the strengths, weaknesses, vision, and goals for the Town of Middleburg.

As the Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Committee, I've listened closely at three of these "visioning sessions" in three months. I've heard similar themes at The Town Council Visioning Session and at the futures group: business development, retail sales, and destination marketing were the three key categories in common to both groups. Esteemed Members of Council also discussed the importance of the arts, infrastructure, and monitoring the Route 50 corridor.

The Comprehensive Plan meeting brought up these items too, but it was different. We had Salamander, Hill School, Shakespeare in the Burg, Banburry Cross Polo, and Freddie the Fox all gathered in one room.

What I saw there wasn't about a new website, a fancy logo, or the latest and greatest group. In fact, the future that I saw on Monday had nothing to do with anything new.

At that meeting, I saw 70 eclectic people from the Town turn up from every corner in the community. I saw us gather together to appreciate and recognize that what we have here is so friggin' good.

After all, when Councilman Peter Leonard Morgan and I encouraged the King Street Oyster Bar to make Middleburg the second location for their chipotle crusted oysters and salmon sliders, our secret weapon wasn't a brand. It was how we felt in our hearts about a Town of 800 people with a shared love for the experience of Middleburg.

If 70 of us could show up together more often, like we did May 22nd, then our our competition to the south, east, and north of us — our competition wouldn't know what to do. Sure we would bring commercial value, but it would be about us as a community first.

That vision, if we could capture it, would shape a Comprehensive Plan worth living up to.