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, hazard mitigation, agritourism, to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Central Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.

Danielle Gannon Selected for Virginia Transit Leadership Institute

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

We are proud to announce that Danielle Gannon has been selected to join the Virginia Transit Association’s (VTA) third cohort of the Virginia Transit Leadership Institute (VTLI).

The Virginia Transit Leadership Institute is a nine-month intensive program designed for mid-level professionals and future executives ready to see transit through a comprehensive, statewide lens. Through five immersive full-day sessions, participants will dive deep into leadership development, expand their industry knowledge, and enhance critical skills that will shape Virginia’s transportation landscape.

Danielle will join peers from across Virginia’s transit ecosystem, including representatives from Hampton Roads Transit, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Greater Richmond Transit Company, DASH/Alexandria Transit Company, and many others. This diverse cohort brings together perspectives from urban and rural systems, creating a rich learning environment that reflects Virginia’s varied transportation needs.

Danielle’s selection reflects both her individual expertise and the CSPDC’s commitment to advancing public transportation in our region. The knowledge, professional connections, and leadership skills she’ll gain through VTLI will directly benefit the communities we serve, ensuring our transit planning efforts remain innovative and responsive to evolving needs.

The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony at the VTA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in 2026. Congratulations, Danielle, on this well-deserved recognition!

The Virginia Transit Association represents over 125 members working together to advocate for more efficient and sustainable public transportation throughout Virginia.

Grottoes Adopts New Comprehensive Plan, Launches Multimodal Transportation Study

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

After 18 months of collaborative planning, the Town of Grottoes has officially adopted its Comprehensive Plan 2025-2045, setting the stage for strategic growth and community improvements over the next two decades.

CSPDC staff led the comprehensive planning process with Grottoes, facilitating extensive community engagement through surveys and public input sessions. The CSPDC team conducted demographic analysis and developed strategic goals and objectives that will guide the town’s future land use decisions.

The resulting Comprehensive Plan provides an overview of the Town’s present needs along with a holistic vision for Grottoes through 2045, addressing the full spectrum of physical, social, and economic development needs while reflecting community-driven priorities. Following this collaborative planning effort, the Town Council unanimously adopted the final plan on July 14, 2025.

Next Step: Improving Walkability and Biking

One of the first projects that will come out of this newly adopted plan originates from a high priority need shared by Grottoes residents who expressed a desire to further develop walking and biking facilities to improve the overall quality of life across the Town. Building on the foundation of the Comprehensive Plan, the CSPDC will now work with the Town to develop a Multimodal Master Plan for Grottoes that will:

Assess connectivity across existing sidewalk, cycling, and trail networks
Identify priority connections to key destinations including Grand Caverns, local businesses, schools, and neighborhoods
Provide a prioritized list of bicycle and pedestrian improvements with cost estimates
Include funding recommendations to help the town compete successfully for state transportation grants

This strategic approach positions Grottoes to systematically expand its walking and biking infrastructure while building on the strong foundation established with the assistance of CSPDC’s comprehensive planning work.

Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Achieves Milestone

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

On August 8^th, the CSPDC’s Community and Economic Development team achieved a major milestone by hosting the final steering committee meeting for the new Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Nearly 40 representatives from local governments, regional organizations, and state agencies gathered at Augusta Community Care to collaborate on this critical planning initiative.

The steering committee finalized a set of regional goals and strategies that will guide the region’s hazard mitigation efforts over the next five years. The goals focus on six community themes:

Economic Resilience
Housing and Neighborhood Protection
Environmental Stewardship
Public Infrastructure Hardening
Public Health and Safety Enhancement
Regional Collaboration and Innovation

The Plan’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), which evaluates the region’s vulnerability to specific natural hazards and man-made threats, informed the steering committee’s discussion. Among the 12 hazards and threats analyzed, flooding, wildfires, severe winter weather, and hazardous materials release had “high” risk ratings. Additionally, the region faces unique challenges to bolstering its infrastructure, given its karst landscape and communication restrictions under the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ).

This fall, the CSPDC will incorporate the committee’s input and work with localities to identify specific projects that will boost community resilience. Once approved by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), these projects will become eligible for federal grant funding.

Watch CSPDC Connects for a draft plan and opportunities to provide comment and input later this fall.