Planning Workshops

The Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission regularly convenes workshops focused on topics of interest to regional stakeholders, including issues relevant to our member jurisdictions and regional partners. past examples include the long-running living towns workshop series and stand-alone workshops focused on water resources, green infrastructure, solar planning, tourism marketing, agritourism, GIS Land Cover analysis and housing.Materials from past workshops can be found at the links below.


Living Towns History

From 2002 to 2013, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission conducted a series of Living Towns Planning Workshops annually in towns and villages throughout the Rappahannock-Rapidan region based on a model developed by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission.  The Living Towns' workshops brought together representatives of the region’s towns with those of public and private sector entities to network and exchange information on planning, revitalization and preservation of towns as vital economic living centers.

Goals of the Living Towns Planning Workshops include:

  • Share ideas for planning and quality of life in towns and villages - the original smart growth strategy.
  • Help preserve the historic and natural heritage of the region.
  • Participate in local and regional research and intrepretation to make area history come alive.
  • Work to build linkages and enhance networking among area communities.
  • Integrate resources of the Department of Historic Resources, the Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Transportation and the Virginia Main Street Program in support of Living Town goals.
  • With positive intent, integrate private, public and non-profit resources to build, maintain and enhance the identity of the region, and sense of place of its towns, rural communities and open spaces.