This meeting of the APA Board is open to APA Virginia Chapter members. All members are welcome to attend and witness the planned annual meeting of the chapter board. Those considering board appointment or a deeper engagement with the chapter's operations will find this session especially useful.

Join fellow planners from across the Commonwealth and provide professional support to the emerging local efforts to actualize some of the Town of Lovingston's unrealized potential to once again be an attractive, prosperous, dynamic rural mountain village through the Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT). Founded in 1807, Lovingston is the county seat of Nelson County and is situated between the steep slopes of Peebles Mountain and US 29, and contains the Nelson County Courthouse, a small commercial district, and a small residential neighborhood. Devastation wrought by Hurricane Camille in 1969 greatly impacted the structures, infrastructure, and social and economic vitality of the village. Lovingston did not fully recover from this event. Although Lovingston has not experienced much of the emerging economic vitality associated with the Rockfish Valley area of Nelson County, there has been a recent uptick in commercial development and reinvestment in the village. There has also been a renewed interest among local stakeholders to focus public and private energy into downtown revitalization efforts. The CPAT will tour the Historic District; view the ongoing Courthouse renovation; and briefly review the policies contained in the Zoning Ordinance and the goals and strategies identified in the Comprehensive Plan, the Lovingston Master Plan (Land Planning & Design Associates – 2006), and the Lovingston Safety Study (TJPDC / VDOT – 2005). CPAT participants will have the opportunity to contribute their expertise by: evaluating the existing planning priorities and policies – and identifying appropriate updates and additions; evaluating existing structures, development patterns and form, infrastructure – and identifying the most important opportunities and priority places/projects/needs and identify opportunities to induce private investment and infill development. 

Join CSPDC staff on a tour of the award-winning Agritourism Program of the Shenandoah Valley, Fields of Gold! Staff will share insights on launching and running a successful agritourism program, including identifying and securing grant funding, marketing, and member support. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from members about how participating in a regional agritourism program has benefited their businesses. Recently, Fields of Gold was honored by the Southeastern Economic Development Council for outstanding efforts in building their strength and viability through economic and community development programs. The tour leaves Wintergreen at 12:30 PM and the cost per person is $30. The tour ends in Staunton, home to two Fields of Gold Farm Trail restaurant options. Tour cost does not include dinner, but snacks will be provided on the bus. Join us as we sample the treasures of the Shenandoah Valley in our Fields of Gold! 

Vinegar Hill was a thriving African-American neighborhood in Charlottesville. In the 1960s, this neighborhood was demolished as part of the City’s Urban Renewal efforts. The former residences scattered across the city, but no neighborhood since then has replaced the Vinegar Hill neighborhood as the center for African American activity in the City. This mobile tour will walk the location of the former neighborhood and include a discussion of its history, lessons learned and how the City is moving forward. Sponsored by the Planning for Inclusion Initiative, a part of the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee. Maximum 20 attendees.

There is often a gap between the good intentions embedded in well crafted planning document and the ability of planning commissioners and staff to realize the vision. This LUEP hosted workshop will enhance the leadership capacity of attendees so that they can affect the changes needed for effective plan implementation. We will review the concepts of "change management" to help attendees identify ways of improving their facilitation, communication, and risk management skills. A "ready for change" diagnostic tool will be used to help attendees identify specific steps they can take to build their leadership back home. Knowing where you want to go is the first step. Knowing what actions to take, and when, is a very different task. We're here to help you figure out how to get things done.

Let's kick off the conference with a bang! This reception will highlight beer and wine from the 151 corridor of Nelson county and we will provide hors d'oeuvres.  Come, network, enjoy! A special honor will be paid to Mike Chandler (Director of Education for LUEP). As we gather in Wintergreen we acknowlege the 30th anniversary year of the Certified Planning Commissioners' program. Mike's dedication to training public elected and appointed officials have been honored at the national and state level. Let's cheer him on as he continues to inform the discretion of hundreds of decision makers across the Commonwealth each year! If you've benefited from the CPC program, don't miss your chance to say thank you and congratulations to Mike!