Regional planning; climate resilience to be included as part of strategic plans.
Impact
The enactment of HB 1746 would require all planning district commissions in Virginia to reevaluate their strategic plans to include climate resilience strategies. This would potentially alter the framework for regional planning by ensuring that future developments are better equipped to handle environmental challenges. Localities would need to collaborate more closely to develop shared goals that address not just immediate developmental needs but also the long-term sustainability and resilience of their communities against climate-related impacts.
Summary
House Bill 1746 seeks to amend the Code of Virginia to incorporate climate resilience as a key component of the strategic plans prepared by planning district commissions. This amendment mandates that these strategic plans address not only traditional planning elements like transportation and housing but also the implications of climate change on the physical, social, and economic development of regions. The goal is to promote a more comprehensive approach to regional planning, ensuring that considerations for climate resilience become integral to planning efforts across multiple localities within each planning district.
Contention
Notable points of contention surround the capacity of local governments to adopt these new requirements and the level of state oversight involved. Critics may argue that the additional requirements could lead to increased bureaucracy and costs for local governments, which may struggle with the financial and administrative burdens of implementing comprehensive climate strategies. Proponents, however, assert that the long-term benefits of sustainability and preparedness outweigh the challenges, thus encouraging a more unified approach to addressing climate challenges within the planning framework.