112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
phone: 540-885-5174
fax: 540-885-2687
Investments in the Region Report FY24
CSPDC Housing Study Report Released
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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.
Latest News
Regional Leaders Gather to Share Legislative Priorities Ahead of 2026 General Assembly Session
Left to Right: Delegate Terry Austin, Jeremy Holmes, Ann Cundy, and Senator Chris Head
On Monday, December 1st, local government administrators from Bath and Rockbridge Counties and the Roanoke Valley gathered at the historic Masonic Theater in Clifton Forge for a legislative lunch hosted by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.
Delegate Terry Austin and Senator Chris Head joined the roundtable discussion, listening as local leaders shared their perspectives on issues affecting their jurisdictions. The format allowed for candid conversation and meaningful dialogue between local governments and those who craft legislation in Richmond.
Attendees discussed a variety of municipal challenges, and common themes included housing, adequate funding for fire and rescue personnel and equipment, and maintaining local autonomy in land use decisions.
As the 2026 General Assembly Session approaches, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission remains committed to facilitating these important regional dialogues and strengthening the connection between our member jurisdictions and their state representatives.
CSPDC Begins Regional Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded the CSPDC a $270,000 grant through the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) program to fund a Regional Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan. The Plan includes 18 of the 21 localities in the CSPDC region and will allow localities to identify flooding/stormwater needs, identify priority projects such as conventional stormwater and green infrastructure improvements, and make localities eligible for DCR CFPF construction funding, which requires a locality to have an existing Resilience Plan.
The CSPDC is working with the Berkley Group to develop the plan, and the CSPDC held a plan kick-off meeting on October 24 to provide an overview of the plan and next steps. The plan process includes a public outreach phase and individual, in-person meetings with staff from each locality to identify flood and stormwater issues and projects.
The CSPDC is providing funding for the 10% grant match through the CSPDC Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Program, and no match is required from localities. The plan will be complete in fall 2026.
CSPDC Staff Attend Statewide Training Conference
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission staff participated in the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) Training Conference on November 12-13 at the Virginia Housing Center in Glen Allen. The two-day conference brought together planning district commission professionals from across Virginia for professional development and peer networking.
CSPDC’s Director of Transportation Paula Melester served as a panelist for the closing session “Building a Better Budget,” joining David Blount, Executive Director of VAPDC and Deputy Director of Thomas Jefferson PDC, and Chip Boyles, Executive Director of George Washington Regional Commission. The panel shared practical approaches to budget development and management for regional planning organizations.
The conference covered timely topics relevant to CSPDC’s work across the region. Sessions included strategies for community engagement and stakeholder mobilization, presented by communications experts Stephanie Heinatz of Consociate Media and Susan Gaston of The Gaston Group. Jason Graham, Fredericksburg City Council member and CEO of Surava, led a practical discussion on artificial intelligence applications for local government operations.
The second day featured an in-depth session on Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, with presentations from Maria Everett, former Executive Director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, Stephen Clough, FOIA Officer for the Town of Warrenton, and attorney Max Hlavin from Sands Anderson. This session provided valuable guidance on transparency and public records management—critical responsibilities for regional planning agencies.
The conference provided CSPDC staff opportunities to learn from subject matter experts, exchange ideas with colleagues from other planning district commissions, and stay current on best practices in regional planning and administration. These professional development opportunities strengthen CSPDC’s capacity to serve its 21 member jurisdictions across the Central Shenandoah Valley.
