Comprehensive Planning

A Comprehensive Plan is a long-range document that outlines a locality’s goals, desires, and future land uses. It is a dynamic document that changes along with the County, and its content is influenced by the residents of the County itself. 

The Code of Virginia requires each locality in the Commonwealth to adopt a Comprehensive Plan to guide decisions related to local land use, capital investments, and programming throughout the jurisdiction.  The Comprehensive Plan must be reviewed every five (5) years.

The Comprehensive Plan is managed by the Planning and GIS Services Department, who works with the Planning Commission to amend and update the Plan as needed.  Amendments are ultimately approved by action of the Board of Supervisors.

Montgomery Matters

The County's new Comprehensive Plan, Montgomery Matters, took effect on July 1, 2026.  The Board of Supervisors approved the new Comprehensive Plan following two (2) years of extensive public engagement by the Planning & GIS Services Department and Planning Commission.

Thousands of County residents participated in surveys, open house events, meet and greets at public events, and village level meetings to provide input for Montgomery Matters.  The resulting document outlines a bold, collaborative vision for the future of Montgomery County through the year 2045.

Montgomery Matters highlights four (4) Core Matters, or guiding principles, for future decision making in Montgomery County.  These Core Matters are at the heart of each goal and strategy outlined throughout the Comprehensive Plan:

• Intentional:  An intentional Montgomery County takes the initiative to anticipate opportunities and implement solutions before problems arise.
• Accessible:  An accessible Montgomery County provides opportunities, services, and facilities for everyone, regardless of abilities, age, health, housing status, identity, or income.
• Collaborative:  A collaborative Montgomery County is where local and regional governments, institutions, organizations, and residents actively work together, share resources, and engage in partnerships to address common challenges and enhance the community’s well-being.
• Resilient: A resilient Montgomery County maintains a healthy environment, strong community, and reinforced resources, ensuring the well-being of its residents and ability to recover from adverse events and challenges quickly.

Explore Montgomery Matters

Montgomery Matters consists of five (5) main parts:

Montgomery Matters Parts 1-4

Part 1:  The Plan and Process - details the data, public engagement, and process utilized to create Montgomery Matters

Part 2:  Outdoors and Culture Matters - details goals and actions related to Environmental Resources, Cultural and Historic Preservation, and Recreation

Part 3:  Community Development Matters - details goals and strategies related to Land Use, Economic Resources and Development, Housing, and Transportation

Part 4:  Health and Services Matters - details goals and strategies related to Education, Health and Human Services, Public Infrastructure, and Public Safety

Montgomery Matters Part 5

Part 5 of the Plan contains the Future Land Use Map and details the County's long-range growth strategy to be accomplished through strategic investment and land use policy within Growth Areas, Villages, and Rural Villages.

To learn more about the County's new Comprehensive Plan and to explore interactive maps, graphics, and content, please visit www.montgomerymatters.com 

Village Planning

Montgomery Matters also contains four (4) small area plans for each of the County's designated Villages.  The Village Plans outline a vision for these unique communities, along with specific goals and actions to ensure orderly growth and development.  The Village Plans coordinate with the overall Montgomery Matters Comprehensive Plan to ensure that future residential and commercial growth are balanced with preserving the rural character of Montgomery County. 

Explore each village plan:

Elliston-Lafayette Village Plan

Prices Fork Village Plan

Riner Village Plan

Shawsville Village Plan

The communities of Belview and Plum Creek are considered Rural Villages and are identified as areas of limited growth in Montgomery Matters.  Learn more about the vision for these communities in Part 5 of Montgomery Matters.

Data Report & Additional Long-Range Planning Documents

Montgomery Matters focused on a data-driven approach to determine the recommendations found within the Comprehensive Plan.  This approach included the integration of other long-range planning documents and studies.  Explore these documents to learn more about the information that informed this process.

Montgomery's Voice Engagement Summary

State of the County Data Report

Transportation Matters - Countywide Transportation Plan

Historical Planning Documents

Montgomery County, 2025 – The County's previous Comprehensive Plan (2005-2025) 

Previous Village plans (Belview, Elliston & Lafayette, Plum Creek, Prices Fork, Riner, and Shawsville) and the previous village transportation plan are provided at a separate, county-maintained digital library.

Information regarding Urban Development Areas are available within the UDA-related documents that are provided at a separate, county-maintained digital library.