2025 Conference Program
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Conference Theme:
"The Times Are A-Changin': Navigating Virginia's Evolving Planning Landscape"
The Times are A-Changin' and Virginia planners are at the forefront in addressing pressing challenges and emerging opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. As Virginia's communities grapple with fluctuating population patterns, shifting economic trends, climate resilience, housing affordability, political uncertainty, emerging technologies, and evolving transportation needs, planners must adapt to an increasingly complex and dynamic environment. The Chapter's 2025 conference seeks to explore innovative solutions, best practices, and forward-thinking strategies to help communities thrive amidst these changes. We encourage session proposals that highlight practical case studies, policy advancements, community engagement approaches, and cutting-edge planning tools that can shape the future of Virginia’s cities, towns, and rural areas. Join us in sharing your insights and expertise to help chart a path forward in these transformative times.
The conference program will delve into these varied topics and include a variety of quick takes, lectures, and deep dives.
Schedule, plenary details, and mobile tour information coming soon!
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Sessions will be reviewed and approved for credit and CM Credit details will be provided as we lead up to the Conference.
Breakout Sessions
We are actively updating this page as we confirm approved sessions.
We encourage you to check back in the coming days!
"Navigating the Noise: Smart Planning for Community-Centric Data Centers and
Energy Facilities Development"
Environment, Sustainability, and Resiliency
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The increasing demand for data centers and energy facilities has raised concerns about their noise impact on nearby communities. This session will explore noise-related challenges and effective abatement strategies, using real-world case studies to highlight best practices. Topics include advanced acoustic studies, mitigation techniques, and the integration of community feedback. The session will also discuss state-level regulations and their implications for local planning. Attendees will gain tools and knowledge to address noise issues proactively, supporting smart planning and sustainable development that balances industry needs with public concerns.
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Courtney Powell, AICP
WGI
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Jack Cramer
ATCS
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​Nicola Ianeselli
WGI​​
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"Collaboration Keys for Successful Energy Projects"
Environment, Sustainability, and Resiliency
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Growing communities require reliable energy to power development, industry and public services. Expanding existing infrastructure and developing new electric transmission facilities are critical for creating a sustainable energy resource plan. However, building or expanding electric transmission lines and substations often conflict with public sentiment, zoning ordinances or plans for future development. To mitigate some of these challenges, several key practices can be incorporated into a project process to improve collaboration and minimize conflict with project developers, community leaders, and local government. This presentation will share lessons learned from electric transmission projects that have been approved by local governments and key collaboration strategies for project success.
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Daniel Fraser, PE
POWER Engineers, Inc.
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Sam Baxter
POWER Engineers, Inc.
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"Crafting a Natural Infrastructure Resiliency Plan for Hampton VA"
Environment, Sustainability, and Resiliency
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The Hampton Natural Infrastructure Resilience Plan was created by through a partnership between the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. (the GIC) and the City of Hampton’s Resilience Division. The plan utilized new data created by GIC and merged it with city resilience needs to create detailed strategies to use natural infrastructure to build resilience. Key data, such as the finding that over the next 20 years, nearly 500 acres of parkland are projected to be inundated or impacted by sea level rise, and thus planning for new parks and adaptive infrastructure should begin now. Session participants will learn how to utilize natural infrastructure to create more resilient communities of the future today.
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Karen Firehock, AICP
Green Infrastructure Center Inc. ​
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​Lauren Doran, PLA
Green Infrastructure Center Inc.
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Anna Hammond
City of Hampton, VA
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​"Cohort-Based Community Capacity Building"
Housing, Community, and Economic Development
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This session is relevant in providing examples for early stage Main Street efforts to build an organizational foundation that is inclusive at all levels. VMS staff will introduce the Mobilizing program, discuss how they are engaging their communities and implementing the Mobilizing curriculum, with escalating services that build on each other. Both urban and rural communities are participating and VMS staff will compare and contrast different typologies and points of constraint. Portsmouth, Va. is currently enrolled in the 2025-2026 Mobilizing Main Street cohort.
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Courtney Mailey
DHCD
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"Connecting Culture, Heritage and Planning in Richmond, VA"
Housing, Community, and Economic Development
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Lead City staff will share a brief synopsis of preservation planning or lack thereof in the City of Richmond and the growing community desire to protect a sense of space and community. City staff and the consultant team will share how the project unfolded, starting with the two-phase approach which lent flexibility to the project design to enhance community engagement activities, and how the input from the community was used to directly influence development of the plan.
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Kimberly Chen
City of Richmond
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Paige Pollard
Commonwealth Preservation Group
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"Bridging Departments: A Rural Approach to Short-Term Rental Compliance"
Housing, Community, and Economic Development
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Shenandoah County discovered over 500 unpermitted short-term rentals (STRs) operating in its community—yet only 40 had applied for permits. To address this, the county launched an online STR permitting system that streamlined coordination between the Commissioner of Revenue, Economic Development, and Community Development Departments. By funding third-party compliance oversight through an STR zoning permit fee, the county ensured enforcement costs were covered by STR operators, not taxpayers. This session will explore how localities can integrate compliance, tax collection, zoning, and health inspections into an effective regulatory framework. Attendees will gain insights into STR enforcement strategies, interdepartmental coordination, and the broader housing market impacts of STRs in both rural and urban communities.
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Lemuel Hancock, MLA
Shenandoah County
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Missy Hockman
Shenandoah County
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Jenna French
Shenandoah County
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"Big Ideas to Local Action: Town and County Collaboration in Planning"
Public Engagement
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Woodstock, as the County Seat, is a model for how a community can strategically plan for investment while reinforcing its role as an economic and civic hub. Both Woodstock and Shenandoah County have developed comprehensive plans that focus on investing where infrastructure and people already live rather than promoting unchecked expansion. This session brings together town and county planning staff to discuss how these plans align and how localities can support each other’s efforts to create stronger, more connected communities. Presenters and panelists will explore how Woodstock’s four Big Ideas and Shenandoah County’s six Big Ideas work together to shape the future, ensuring that growth enhances rather than undermines existing places. The discussion will highlight how coordinated land use decisions, shared infrastructure planning, and collaborative economic development strategies turn planning vision into action.
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Lemuel Hancock, MLA
Shenandoah County
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Aaron Grisdale
Town of Woodstock
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Tyler Hinkle, AICP
Shenandoah County
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We are actively updating this page as we confirm approved sessions.
We encourage you to check back often in the coming days!