Newport News Invites Residents to Shape the City's Future
"Plan Together" Workshops focus on update of City’s comprehensive plan
The City of Newport News is inviting residents to participate in a series of public workshops titled "Plan Together: Newport News" to help shape the city's future. These hands-on workshops are part of the ongoing process to update the city's Comprehensive Plan, which serves as Newport News' long-term roadmap for how the city grows and thrives.
The purpose of these workshops is to provide residents with the opportunity to offer real-time feedback on city goals, priorities, and neighborhood needs. Participants will review and react to proposed goals and strategies, identify areas in the city that require attention and explain why, and connect with neighbors and city staff in a collaborative setting.
Public input sessions about comprehensive plan
Residents are encouraged to attend the workshops to help ensure the updated Comprehensive Plan accurately reflects the community's vision and priorities for the future of Newport News. The workshops will be held:
Thursday, June 12, 2025: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, located at 2410 Wickham Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Brittingham-Midtown Community Center.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Denbigh Community Center.
For those unable to attend in person, there is also an option to complete an online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/59Q58BJ).
Understanding the City's comprehensive plan
The "Plan Together" workshops are part of updating the existing "One City, One Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan". This plan was originally adopted by City Council on August 14, 2018. It is designed to be the primary tool for guiding future investment in and development of the city, helping decision-makers address areas like transportation, housing, economic development, and neighborhood improvement.
The Comprehensive Plan contains the City's official policies on crucial aspects of city development, including:
Land use
Urban design
Transportation
Housing
Public facilities and services
The environment
Economic development
The 2018 plan was developed through a citizen-based strategic planning effort that involved significant community engagement, including surveys, workshops, focus groups, and input gathered through various channels.
Core goals of the comprehensive plan
A Prosperous and Resilient City: This theme explores the city's economic vitality, its ability to adapt to challenges, and its capacity to meet residents' basic needs. Key areas include economic diversity, research and development, advanced manufacturing, tourism, and workforce development.
A Sustainable City: This theme acknowledges the impact of growth on the environment and focuses on responsible resource use. Topics include green space, sustainable development practices, addressing sea level rise, illegal dumping, and protecting natural resources like wetlands and waterways.
An Accessible City: This theme addresses transportation and housing within the city. It covers developing a multi-modal transportation system including transit options, bicycle paths, and sidewalks, and tackling housing challenges such as aging stock, affordability for various income levels, and homelessness.
A Healthy and Safe City: This theme focuses on public safety, health services, and parks and recreation facilities. It includes initiatives to reduce crime and youth violence, ensuring access to healthcare, and improving parks, community centers, and recreational opportunities.
A City That Respects Its Uniqueness: This theme highlights the city's culture, tourism, historic preservation efforts, and aesthetics. It aims to promote the city's positive aspects, develop a consistent brand, and preserve historic areas while enhancing the overall visual environment.
A City That Balances Good Places and New Spaces: This theme looks at neighborhoods, activity centers, and opportunities for infill and redevelopment. It addresses revitalizing commercial areas, developing distinct neighborhood identities, and focusing growth in targeted areas, including the downtown waterfront area.
The Comprehensive Plan is designed as a "living document" that should be periodically reviewed and updated, typically every 5 years, to reflect changing conditions, trends, and community objectives. The current "Plan Together" workshop series is part of this review and update cycle.
A Newport News Daily editor used AI to produce this post from these sources: