Organization
The Framework for the Future organizes the recommendations of the task forces into the following chapters and concludes with
a new land use plan for the City’s physical environment.
- Economic Development
- Land Use
- Transportation
- Education
- Parks and Recreation
- Housing
- Public Safety
- Historic Preservation
- Human Services
- Culture
- Environment
- Urban Services
- The Land Use Plan
Each chapter begins with a vision statement which describes a desired future, followed by background information which introduces the topic and covers the condition of the City. Each chapter concludes with goals the task forces have recommended for the subject, and associated policies, strategies, and implementation actions.
After recommendation by the City Planning Commission, and adoption by the City Council, the Framework for the Future Update will be the City’s new comprehensive plan and serve as the basis for the City’s strategic actions.
In this plan the words shall,will,should and may frequently are used. Only the word shall is considered mandatory, i.e. something which one must do. However, the Framework for the Future, unlike an ordinance or a law, is a plan which the courts in Virginia treat as a general guide. therefore, in the context of this plan, the word shall indicates an idea that ought to be done. The word will expresses a future end or inevitability. The word should is used to describe an action that is strongly encouraged. the word may indicates a wish, desire or permissible action. These words, as well as other technical terms and acronyms, are defined in the glossary.
