Urban Development Areas (UDA) Local Technical Assistance

VDOT, Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment

Renaissance Planning has worked with VDOT to assist Virginia localities advancing policies to support the state’s Urban Development Area (UDA) legislation into their comprehensive plans and zoning and subdivision ordinances. In 2010, the VA Legislature adopted legislation to require high-growth cities, counties and towns to adopt UDAs as the focus of high density growth for 10 to 20 years. The state later amended the legislation to make UDAs optional, but encouraged their adoption by connecting them to the state’s SmartScale transportation funding program.

Between 2010 and 2018, Renaissance has worked with several communities through the UDA technical assistance program to advance plans and policies that articulate a vision for the location of compact, walkable, mixed use development. Renaissance also helped these communities align their vision with their rules by preparing innovative code provisions such as incentives for mixed use, traditional neighborhood design, affordable housing, transfer of development rights, multi-modal transportation, access management and road connectivity.

Renaissance also assisted several UDA communities in identifying projects eligible and well suited for the SmartScale program. Under this project, Renaissance has worked with the counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Caroline, Fauquier, Franklin, Montgomery and Rockingham; and the communities of Martinsville, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, and Broadway.