Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250038
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WENDY WINGO
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A regional council of governments is an entity whose board is composed solely of elected officials. Virginia planning district commissions are composed of both elected and citizen representatives. However, at least 51 percent of a commission's members must be elected representatives of participating counties, cities and towns.
There are many councils of governments throughout the country, but there are more regional planning agencies that follow the model of planning district commissions, in that they have a mix of both elected officials and citizen members on their commission.
There is nothing a council of governments can do that cannot be done by a planning district commission. In the mid-1980s, the General Assembly gave authority to planning district commissions to implement any projects and programs that member governments want them to pursue. Some planning district commissions in Virginia have operated solid-waste disposal programs, others operate housing-rehabilitation programs, while others operate economic-development loan programs.
The central purpose of a planning district commission is to promote and encourage interjurisdictional cooperation, coordination and communication. The Fifth Planning District Commission has provided regional leadership on many issues over the last quarter of a century. A few examples:
In 1974, the Blue Ridge Air Transportation Systems Study detailed aviation facilities required to meet immediate and future air transportation needs of the west central region of Virginia.
In 1975, the Roanoke Valley 1975-1996 Transportation Plan provided a basis for long-term development of the transportation network now in place in the urbanized area of the Roanoke Valley.
In 1976, the 208 Wastewater Management Study presented the most cost-effective control on treatment of all sources of pollution and promoted an integrated-systems approach.
In 1978, the Comprehensive Criminal Justice Plan served as the basis for federal law-enforcement funding of action programs identified by the commission.
In 1979, the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, a part of the Fifth PDC, was designated by the federal government as the entity responsible for transportation-related planning within the Roanoke urbanized area.
In 1985, the Comprehensive Regional Stormwater Management Plan for the Roanoke Valley examined the feasibility of establishing a regional stormwater-management program in the Roanoke Valley. The Fifth PDC helped obtain funds to initiate this program in 1994.
In 1987, the Roanoke River Corridor Study resulted in a detailed inventory and analysis of the river's land use, aesthetic and environmental factors, and a model conservation-overlay zone. As a result of this work, Roanoke County adopted a protection buffer area adjacent to the river. Roanoke city, Salem and Vinton are considering a protection buffer.
In 1989, the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan served as a base document to assist local governments as they pursued community plans for meeting state-mandated recycling goals.
In 1990, the Strategic Development Process for the Interstate 81 Corridor Region - with the Fifth PDC working in conjunction with four other planning district commissions in Western Virginia, Virginia Tech and James Madison University - developed a consortium to establish a long-range plan for enhancing the economic- and community-development potential of communities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. As a part of this effort, the PDCs have sponsored three strategic-development conferences focusing on the needs of Western Virginia.
In 1992, the Regional Disabilities Service Board was formed to develop a regional plan to assist disabled citizens with issues of access and other needs. The PDC helped coordinate the establishment of this board to accommodate a state mandate to local governments.
In 1993, the Coalition for the Blue Ridge Parkway, which the Fifth PDC initiated to coordinate planning along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. was formed. More than 25 agencies and organizations participate.
In 1994, the Business Enhancement and Export Assistance Program was established by the Fifth PDC to help small to medium-sized manufacturers, agricultural and service businesses in the district identify new domestic and international markets for their products.
In 1995, the Roanoke Valley 1995-2010 Transportation Plan, developed in cooperation with the local jurisdictions, provided the strategic foundation for development of the transportation network for the urbanized area of the Roanoke Valley.
The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration recognize this financially constrained multimodal transportation document as the basis for federal investment in the transportation network of the urbanized area of the Roanoke Valley. Any transportation project of regional significance and proposed to receive federal funding must be included in the long-range plan.
In order to accommodate changing transportation priorities within the region, this document is amendable and will be updated every five years.
Many argue that Virginia's structure of independent cities and counties impedes the possibility of regional cooperation. The only answer, some suggest, is to eliminate this type of governmental structure or pursue consolidation of cities and counties across the board. In fact, many equate consolidation specifically with cooperation.
We recognize that cooperation can exist without consolidation of governments. I am not here to argue the pros and cons of consolidation, or Virginia' s unique governmental structure at the local level. However, I do want to state that regional cooperation can be pursued within Virginia's existing governmental structure.
The key to regional cooperation is truly based on the desire of local governments to work together to resolve common problems or to pursue opportunities jointly. Cooperating on a regional basis, with the sharing of resources, encourages a win-win situation in resolving many problems associated with infrastructure development, economic development, environmental problems and improvements to the region's quality of life.
This is not to say that government-cooperation efforts have reached the most desired level. There are still many important issues that need to be addressed jointly by the region's counties, cities and towns.
However, the ability to pursue regional cooperation exists through the Fifth Planning District Commission and its efforts to coordinate with the many organizations and agencies that provide specialized services. They include the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority, the League of Older Americans, Total Action Against Poverty, the various chambers of commerce, etc.
Beyond the agencies and organizations within the Fifth Planning District, the commission also works with neighboring planning district commissions on projects that transcend regional boundaries.
For example, the Fifth Planning District Commission is working with the Mount Rogers, New River Valley, Central Shenandoah and Lord Fairfax planning district commissions on promoting greater regional attention to improving the quality of life among communities along the Interstate 81 corridor.
The Fifth PDC is also working with the New River Valley and the Central Shenandoah planning district commissions, as well as regional planning agencies in West Virginia, to promote the railway heritage of this region through the formation of the Appalachian Railway Heritage Partnership.
This fall, the Fifth PDC will work with the Central Virginia and the West Piedmont planning district commissions on a study to examine improving transportation links between Smith Mountain Lake and the Roanoke Valley. Additionally, the Fifth and New River Valley planning district commissions, in conjunction with Valley Metro and Blacksburg Transit, will investigate the feasibility of establishing a public transit system between Blacksburg and Roanoke.
We don't need another layer of government to pursue regional cooperation. Regional cooperation is alive and well. But it does need nurturing to expand. When issues arise that are best resolved regionally, counties, cities and towns in the region should strive to use existing agencies instead of creating new entities.
Wendy C. Wingo, a Botetourt County supervisor, chairs the Fifth Planning District Commission.
by CNB