112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
phone: 540-885-5174
fax: 540-885-2687
View Our Regional Collaboration Video
Investments in the Region Report FY24
CSPDC Housing Study Report Released
Welcome to the CSPDC
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) represents and serves the local governments of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro as well as the 11 towns within the Central Shenandoah region.
The CSPDC works with its member jurisdictions, communities and agencies to provide high-quality planning, technical assistance, and facilitation of services that address local, regional and state needs in an innovative, timely and cooperative manner. Covering everything from land use planning, transportation, water and waste-water utilities, natural resource management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, agritourism to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.
CSPDC Hosts Regional Urban Karst and Stormwater Workshop
The CSPDC hosted an Urban Karst and Stormwater Workshop on October 28th in Waynesboro City Council Chambers, bringing together approximately 35 stormwater management and public works professionals from across the region. The full-day event explored challenges and best practices for planning and implementing stormwater projects on karst, a geological feature that can complicate conventional approaches.
A primary focus was Appendix E of the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, released by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) earlier this year. Appendix E provides site assessment and design guidelines for stormwater management in karst terrain, helping practitioners navigate the technical complexities these geological conditions present.
The workshop featured four expert speakers with extensive karst and stormwater experience. Wil Orndorff, Karst Protection Coordinator for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, co-authored the draft of Appendix E and provided insights into karst geology throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Lisa Perry, a Mitigation Specialist at Ecosystem Services with prior experience administering erosion control and stormwater management for Rockingham County, shared perspectives on regulatory compliance in karst areas. Sheila Reeves, Water Resources Service Director at VHB, drew on her expertise in stormwater management, watershed planning, and floodplain compliance to discuss project planning strategies for karst sites. Aislinn Creel, Senior Stormwater Project Manager at Timmons Group, joined Reeves to present a case study on Mulberry Run Wetlands, an award-winning constructed wetland in Waynesboro that successfully addressed stormwater management challenges in a karst environment.
The workshop concluded with a site visit to Mulberry Run Wetlands, allowing participants to see firsthand how innovative design can overcome karst-related obstacles while achieving effective stormwater management and ecological benefits.
2025 Central Shenandoah Bike Walk Summit
On Friday, November 14, the CSPDC, Shenandoah Valley Bike Coalition, and Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley hosted the 2025 Central Shenandoah Bike Walk Summit at The Liberty St. Loft in Harrisonburg. For the first time, this event brought together stakeholders from the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro and Harrisonburg-Rockingham regions to discuss the potential of non-motorized transportation improvements to boost the Valley’s quality of life and how to unify active transportation efforts regionwide.
The day kicked off with a keynote address by Melicent R. Miller, DrPH, MSPH, a Chronic Disease and Obesity Prevention Consultant with the Virginia Department of Health and President of Health Forward LLC. Dr. Miller drew on her fifteen years of experience at the intersection between public health and the built environment to make the case that investing in safe places to walk, roll, and bike is an effective public health strategy, particularly when local governments, health systems, and community partners work together. Subsequently, JMU’s Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue facilitated breakout sessions exploring experiences and opportunities for building trust and momentum for safer biking, walking, and moving in communities.
Following the keynote and facilitated breakouts, the afternoon focused on local progress and on-the-ground implementation. The Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership shared updates on the trail’s progress from Front Royal to Broadway while the City of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation staff discussed the Rockfish Gap Gateway Trail and other local greenway developments. To conclude the formal session, the City of Harrisonburg and the Harrisonburg Community Connectors Team gave attendees an overview of the recent demonstration project to reimagine North Mason Street as a complete two-lane street with shorter pedestrian crossings, temporary roundabouts, and activated public space. Afterwards, Harrisonburg Councilmember Monica Robinson gave a walking tour of the historic Northeast Neighborhood and North Mason Street Corridor, sharing history on the corridor’s pre-urban renewal character and results from the demonstration project.
For additional details on the Summit, please visit the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition website.
A New Chapter for Buena Vista: Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Virginia Innovation Accelerator
The City of Buena Vista officially welcomed a powerful new engine for economic growth on December 3rd, marking the culmination of years of collaborative effort. The Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA), housed in a revitalized former cigarette paper printing factory, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by The Advancement Foundation (TAF).
Since 2022, staff from the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) have worked closely with TAF to adapt and reuse this historic industrial building. The result is an inspired business hub poised to become a central force for agriculture value-added product development, small-scale manufacturing, and community revitalization.
The atmosphere at the event was lively, filled with the many individuals and organizations who helped bring the project to life. It was a powerful demonstration of how community partners, coming together, can turn visions into tangible realities. Mayor Tyson Coper of Buena Vista echoed this sentiment.
A key speaker at the event was Senator Chris Head, who highlighted the crucial importance of business hubs in fostering regional prosperity and shared successful examples he has witnessed.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees gathered in the event space for a panel of entrepreneurs already utilizing the VIA. Testimonials showcased the hub’s diverse potential—from representatives of an agriculture tech company and a hobby mushroom grower who successfully transitioned to a mushroom farmer, to a talented baker. The collective energy of innovation and aspiration was evident.
The future looks bright and truly innovative for Buena Vista and the surrounding region, thanks to the VIA. The Virginia Innovation Accelerator is more than just a building; it is a collaborative platform designed to launch new businesses, support local food systems, and revitalize the community fabric.
Exciting news was shared during the celebration: Phase 3 of the project will include the development of 16 loft apartments, integrating residential living directly into this dynamic center of innovation.
We encourage everyone to visit the new location and witness this inspiring, innovative work firsthand!
