Subject:
Title
Continued Discussion and Guidance on the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan
Body
Purpose:
To continue the Town Council’s review of the draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan and receive feedback and guidance regarding proposed revisions and any additional analysis needed before the plan advances to consideration for adoption.
Key QUESTIONS:
1. What feedback and guidance does the Town Council wish to provide regarding the three remaining topics identified in Attachment 01?
2. Are there any additional revisions the Town Council would like to have incorporated into the Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan?
3. Should the next discussion be another work session or a meeting?
a. The first option would mean that the Town Council would like to review the updated document in a work session before moving toward adoption.
b. The second option would mean that the Town Council is ready to move toward adoption when receiving the updated draft.
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
The Comprehensive Plan is the Town’s long-range policy document guiding land use, transportation, economic development, parks and recreation, public facilities and infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. The Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan represents a comprehensive update to the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in 2016, with minor modifications in 2020.
The Planning Commission draft reflects extensive input from the community, boards and commission, and Town staff, with final decisions on content made by the Planning Commission. It incorporates significant changes that have occurred during the past decade, including but not limited to the repeal of the Maple Avenue Commercial (MAC) zoning district, completion of major capital projects and emergence of new projects, establishment of the Department of Economic Development, and adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. It also incorporated some of the thinking that was developed during the multi-year Code Create process to update the Town’s zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as during other Town initiatives.
After the Planning Commission completed its draft in February 2026, the Town Council and Planning Commission held a joint work session on April 20, 2026, to review and discuss the draft Plan. The Town Council subsequently held a public hearing on May 4, 2026, to receive community input.
On May 18 and July 6, 2026, the Town Council held work sessions to conduct its review of the Planning Commission draft and discuss revisions based on public comments, recommendations from Town staff, and the thoughts of Council Members. During these work sessions, the Council worked from a table of topics, from which there now remain three items for discussion.
This upcoming August 24 work session provides an opportunity for the Town Council to complete its discussion of those remaining items. The Council may also raise any additional topics it wishes to discuss and provide guidance on any revisions or analysis necessary to prepare a final draft for the next stage of review and consideration for adoption.
The Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan is available on the Town’s website at www.viennava.gov/planupdate <http://www.viennava.gov/planupdate>.
The review process to date is summarized as follows:
• April 20, 2026 - Joint Town Council and Planning Commission work session
• May 4, 2026 - Town Council public hearing
• May 18, 2026 - Town Council work session
• July 6, 2026 - Town Council work session
• Current (August 24) work session - Continued discussion and direction on remaining topics
• Next step - Preparation of a revised draft that takes into account all Town Council guidance and other minor edits, for consideration and possible adoption
Attachment 01 contains a table of the remaining topics requiring Council direction from the list of items presented during the May 18 and July 6, 2026, work session.
The entire table may be viewed in the agenda report from July 6, 2026.
OVERVIEW:
During the work session, staff will review the three remaining topics identified in Attachment 01 and seek Council feedback and guidance on any associated revisions to the draft Plan.
The three remaining topics are:
10) Transportation and Intersections of Concern, for which staff has posed two questions:
• Does the Town Council support including the lists of intersections as presented?
• Is the Town Council satisfied with the intersections on the lists and how they are presented?
14) Wireless Telecommunications Policy. In a prior work session, the Town Council supported staff returning with draft language to potentially replace the language from the Planning Commission’s draft with a more-forward-looking statement, establishing that strong and comprehensive wireless communications coverage is a priority for Vienna. A draft of this updated language is included as Attachment 02. It would replace language on pages 132 and 138 of the draft plan, as specified in Attachment 02.
15) Implementation Framework, for which staff has posed the following question:
• Does the Town Council support the approach presented by the Planning Commission, as discussed in Chapter 9 of the draft Plan.
In addition to the topics identified above, Council will also have an opportunity to identify any additional changes or information needed before staff prepare a revised draft.
Following the work session or meeting, depending on which approach the Town Council would like to take, staff will incorporate Council’s feedback and prepare the Plan for the next stage of review, consideration, and possible adoption.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
The Planning Commission incorporated input from the community, boards and commissions, and staff in developing its Draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan. Resolving the three remaining discussion items and receiving clear guidance regarding any additional revisions will allow the Plan update to advance toward completion.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Town Council complete its review of the remaining topics and provide guidance regarding revisions necessary for staff to prepare a final draft for the next stage of review, consideration, and possible adoption.