Manassas residents can play a large role in planning the city’s future.
The Planning Commission recently hosted a Comprehensive Plan Kickoff and Community Conversation.
It served as the start of an 18-month process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan, according to a release.
The update will focus on 2040 and outline issues and plans for specific parts of Manassas.
Officials use the Comprehensive Plan to make decisions about growth and development, according to Councilman Ian Lovejoy.
“This comprehensive plan is going to set the stage for a lot of decisions to be made, not only over the next decade [but] certainly in the near future,” Lovejoy said.
The kickoff, held at the Martin K. Alloy Boys & Girls Club in Manassas, is one of several Community Conversations that are being held.
During the next three months, community members can attend meetings that focus on various topics, including parks and recreation, economic development and infrastructure.
The first meeting centered around land use.
Much of the conversations focused on balancing residential and commercial space, and how green space can be preserved in the City of Manassas, according to Lovejoy.
Developing the identities of neighborhoods was discussed, as well.
“If there was a way to incorporate signage that would help identify neighborhoods so the people would get a better sense of place and what neighborhood they were in was an interesting idea,” Lovejoy said.
Additional meetings planned
The next Community Conversation will be about Parks & Recreation. It will begin at 7 p.m. on July 11 at The Manassas Museum.
“Since there’s interest in green space, I think that’s going to be an important meeting for folks to attend,” Lovejoy said.
The meetings allow community members to voice concerns, comments and suggestions.
“A lot of citizens, I think, have said that they want the city to be well organized and well planned, and this gives them a chance to have a part in it,” Lovejoy said.
Here, are the upcoming Community Conversations:
Parks & Recreation Community Conversation
- Wednesday, July 11 at 7 p.m.
- The Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William Street
Community Appearance & Environment Community Conversation
- Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
- Public Works, 8500 Public Works Drive
Economic Development Community Conversation
- Thursday, August 2 at Noon
- CenterFuse, 9071 Center Street
Infrastructure Community Conversations
- Thursday, August 9 at 7 p.m.
- Public Works, 8500 Public Works Drive
Culture & Historic Resources Community Conversation
- Tuesday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
- The Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William Street
Community Conversation Town Hall on Land Use and Transportation
- Monday, September 17 at 7 p.m.
- Location TBA
Organizations can also request to meet with city staff members.
Those interested in hosting a meeting can call 703-257-8223.
More information about the Comprehensive Plan and about how to join in the online conversation is available online.
