36-139.7 - Boundaries of planning districts.
§ 36-139.7. Boundaries of planning districts.
A. The Department shall review the boundaries of planning districts followingevery United States decennial census of population. The Department shall alsoreview the boundaries upon the request of a member jurisdiction of a planningdistrict. An initial review shall be conducted prior to July 1, 1996. Uponconcluding such review, the Department shall, subject to the provisions ofthe Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), make adjustments to theboundaries of planning districts as it deems advisable.
B. The Department shall consider the following criteria in makingdeterminations as to the governmental subdivisions to be included in aplanning district: recognition of communities of interest among thegovernmental subdivisions, recognition of common economic and marketinterests, the ease of communications and commissioner travel time,metropolitan statistical area boundaries designated by the federalgovernment, a population base adequate to ensure financial viability, andgeographic factors and natural boundaries. In making such determination, theDepartment shall also consider the wishes of a governmental subdivisionwithin or surrounding a proposed planning district, as expressed byresolution of its governing body.
C. In conducting the boundaries review, the Department shall consult with thegoverning bodies of the governmental subdivisions within and adjoining aplanning district which is proposed to be changed and shall hold such publicand other hearing as it may deem advisable, provided at least one publichearing shall be held in each planning district which is proposed to bechanged.
D. To the extent practical, upon completion of a statutory review of planningdistrict boundaries, state agencies may provide for sorting local statisticaldata according to planning district geography for external use of informationfor state, regional and local strategic and economic development planning.
(1995, cc. 732, 796.)