VAPDC

An Introduction To Planning District Commissions

In 1968, Virginia was divided into planning districts based on the community of interest among its counties, cities and towns. A Planning District Commission is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth chartered under the Regional Cooperation Act by the local governments of each planning district. As such they are a creation of local government encouraged by the state. The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions helps its members meet their responsibilities to local and state government and coordinates inter-PDC functions.

There are 21 PDCs in Virginia. They are made up of elected officials and citizens appointed to the Commission by member local governments. The Commission selects an Executive Director responsible for managing daily operations. Commission offices are located generally in a central location for the region as determined by the Commission charter. Meeting schedules vary, and meetings are open to the public. Persons needing additional information are encouraged to contact your local PDC .

The purpose of Planning District Commissions, as set out in the Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-4207, is

"...to encourage and facilitate local government cooperation and state-local cooperation in addressing on a regional basis problems of greater than local significance. The cooperation resulting from this chapter is intended to facilitate the recognition and analysis of regional opportunities and take account of regional influences in planning and implementing public policies and services.

The planning district commission shall also promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and economic elements of the district by planning, and encouraging and assisting localities to plan, for the future."

Virginia's PDCs provide a variety of technical and program services to member local governments. They include grant application assistance, management services for program implementation, land use planning services and mapping. The merging of mapping and information services has created the field of geographic information systems , where PDC's often lead the way. Transportation planning is another role for PDCs, who may deal with highway development, ridesharing, airport planning, and specialized transit.

For the Commonwealth, PDCs serve as an accessible network that gives quick and complete statewide coverage. Each serves as the Affiliate State Data Center for the region. In this role they provide important information to businesses as well as citizens. PDCs are the regional contact for the Commonwealth Intergovernmental Review Process and provide input for a host of agencies and commissions.

The program work of PDCs has been meeting the needs of local and state government for the last 30 years. Within their region they may serve to build regional approaches to issues like economic development, solid waste management and legislative priorities. In other states, organizations like PDCs are known as regional councils, regional commissions, and councils of government.

One important duty of the PDC's is to create a strategic plan for their region of service. This plan is created in cooperation with local governments, businesses, citizen organizations, and other interested parties. The plan is intended to help promote the orderly and efficient develpoment of the PDC by stating goals and objectives, strategies to meet those goals, and mechanisms for measuring progress.

Other duties of the PDC's are:

-To conduct studies on issues and problems of regional significance
-To identify and study potential opportunities for local cost savings
and staffing efficiencies through coordinated local government efforts;
-To identify mechanisms for the coordination of state and local interests on a regional basis;
-To implement services upon request of member localities;
-To provide technical assistance to state governmentand member localities; -To serve as a liason between localities and state agencies as requested;
-To review local government aid applications as required by applicable law;
-To conduct strategic planning for the region as required by applicable law; -To develop regional functional area plans as deemed necessary by the commission or as requested by member localities
-To assist state agencies, as requested, in the development of substate plans;
-To participate in a statewide geographic information system, the Virginia Geographic Information Network, as directed by the Department of Planning and Budget; and
-To collect and maintain demographic, economic, and other data, acting as a state data center affiliate in cooperation with the Virginia Employment Commission.

PDC Website Directory

(Click on the Executive Director's Name for Contact Information)

PDC 1 - Lenowisco PDC Executive Director: Skip Skinner	PDC 11 - Region 2000 LGC Executive Director: Gary F. Christie
PDC 2 - Cumberland Plateau PDC Executive Director: James Baldwin	PDC 12 - West Piedmont PDC Executive Director: Robert W. Dowd
PDC 3 - Mount Rogers PDC Executive Director: David A. Barrett	PDC 13 - Southside PDC Executive Director: Joyce I. French
PDC 4 - New River Valley PDC Executive Director: Kevin Byrd	PDC 15 - Richmond Regional PDC Executive Director: Robert Crum
PDC 5 - Roanoke Valley-Alleghany RC Executive Director: Wayne G. Strickland	PDC 16 - George Washington RC Executive Director: Bob Wilson, AICP
PDC 6 - Central Shenandoah PDC Executive Director: Bonnie Riedesel	PDC 17 - Northern Neck PDC Executive Director: Jerry W. Davis, AICP , AICP
PDC 7 - Northern Shenandoah Valley RC Executive Director: Chris Price	PDC 19 - Crater PDC Executive Director: Dennis K. Morris
PDC 8 - Northern Virginia RC Executive Director: G. Mark Gibb	PDC 22 - Accomack-Northampton PDC Executive Director: Elaine K.N. Meil
PDC 9 - Rappahannock-Rapidan RC Executive Director: Jeffrey Walker, AICP	PDC 23 - Hampton Roads PDC Executive Director: Dwight Farmer
PDC 10 - Thomas Jefferson PDC Executive Director: Stephen Williams

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PDC Map

PDC Member Localities

LENOWISCO PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Lee, Scott, Wise Towns of: Jonesville, Pennington Gap, St. Charles, Clinchport, Duffield, Dungannon, Gate City, Weber City, Nickelsville, Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, Pound, St. Paul, Wise City of: Norton
CUMBERLAND PLATEAU PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell
MOUNT ROGERS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, Wythe Cities of: Bristol, Galax
NEW RIVER VALLEY PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski City of: Radford Towns of: Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd, Narrows, Pearisburg, Pulaski, Rich Creek Universities: Virginia Tech and Radford University
ROANOKE VALLEY-ALLEGHANY REGIONAL COMMISSION	Counties of: Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Roanoke Cities of: Covington, Roanoke, Salem Towns of: Clifton Forge, Rocky Mount, Vinton
CENTRAL SHENANDOAH PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, Rockingham Cities of: Buena Vista, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro 11 Towns
NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION	Counties of: Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren City of: Winchester Towns of: Front Royal, Luray, Middletown, Stephens City, Strasburg
NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL COMMISSION	Counties of: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William Cities of: Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park Towns of: Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg, Purcellville, Vienna
RAPPAHANNOCK-RAPIDAN REGIONAL COUNCIL	Counties of: Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock Towns of: Culpeper, Gordonsville, Madison, Orange, Remington, Warrenton, Washington
THOMAS JEFFERSON PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson City of: Charlottesville
VIRGINIA’S REGION 2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL	Counties of: Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell Cities of: Bedford, Lynchburg Towns of: Altavista, Amherst, Appomattox, Brookneal
WEST PIEDMONT PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Franklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania Cities of: Danville, Martinsville Town of: Rocky Mount
SOUTHSIDE PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Mecklenburg, Halifax, Brunswick Towns of: South Hill, South Boston
RICHMOND REGIONAL PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan City of: Richmond Town of: Ashland
GEORGE WASHINGTON REGIONAL COMMISSION	Counties of: Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford City of: Fredericksburg
NORTHERN NECK PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland
CRATER PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie Greensville, Prince George, Surry, Sussex Cities of: Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Hopewell, Emporia
ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Accomack, Northampton Town of: Chincoteague
HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION	Counties of: Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry, York Cities of: Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Poquoson, Williamsburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach

Note: The Richmond Regional PDC and the Crater PDC share Chesterfield County. The Middle Peninsula PDC and the Hampton Roads PDC share Gloucester County. The Crater PDC and the Hampton Roads PDC share Surry County. The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany RC and the West Piedmont PDC share Franklin County.

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Employment Links

Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association

Employment Ads

Organizations are invited to post employment opportunities at no cost.

Email your ad to the VAPDC. Please include a close date.

Principal Planner: Emergency Management

UASI Program

(Posted January 20, 2010)

Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (RRPDC) seeks a highly qualified planner to join the RRPDC team. Extensive experience with emergency management planning projects is required to coordinate projects under the UASI program. Individual must possess excellent management and analytical skills, and have a comprehensive understanding of local government emergency operations processes and government planning principles. Ability to work in a team environment and manage multiple and complex regional emergency management planning projects is essential.

Work is performed under the direction of the Planning and Information Systems Director. Position requires a master of planning or related degree and a minimum of three years of experience in planning which must include experience in a supervisory capacity; CEM preferred. Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is a must. Starting salary at $55,000. Excellent fringe benefits package and VRS retirement.

Interested candidates should submit an employment application, cover letter, and resume in confidence to Executive Secretary, Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, 9211 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23235; or by email at: jfry@richmondregional.org. Employment applications are available from the RRPDC's Web site. Applicants selected for interview will be requested to provide work samples. Position open until filled. EOE.

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