WHEREAS, changes in economic and population growth affect all Virginia cities, counties, and towns; and
WHEREAS, community planning and plans can help manage these changes in a way that provides better choices for how people work and live; and
WHEREAS, community planning provides an opportunity for all residents to be meaningfully involved in the decisions that determine the future of their community; and
WHEREAS, the full benefits of planning requires public officials and citizens who understand, support, and demand excellence in planning and plan implementation; and
WHEREAS, the month of October is designated as National Community Planning Month throughout the United States of America and its territories; and
WHEREAS, the American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, endorse National Community Planning Month as an opportunity to highlight the contributions sound planning and plan implementation make to the quality of our settlements and environment; and
WHEREAS, Community Planning Month is an opportunity to recognize the Commonwealth’s planning commissions and citizen planners, who have contributed their time and expertise to the improvement of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Virginia also recognizes the many valuable contributions made by professional community and regional planners of the Commonwealth and extends our heartfelt thanks for their continued commitment to public service;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 2019 as COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
