A Tutorial of the New Shenandoah 2045 Website

Dec 30, 2024

In this episode, host Janet Michael is joined by Shenandoah County Planner Tyler Hinkle to discuss Shenandoah 2045, the county's comprehensive planning process which has now moved into the implementation phase. Today's topic focused on the launch of their new website for the plan. They discuss the importance of community involvement in the planning and implementation stages.

Tyler explains that the new website (ShenandoahCountyVA.us/future) was designed to be accessible to everyone, providing interactive and digestible forms of information that the public can use to make informed decisions. This effort reflects the collaborative nature and community involvement in creating the plan. If you'd like to watch the video of the conversation which includes a screen share as Tyler walks Janet through various features of the site, click here. 

Key features of the website include:
- Print and PDF versions of the plan to ensure accessibility.
- Interactive policy maps that show important data like emergency services locations and internet connectivity, regularly updated with census data.
- Data dashboards displaying educational demographics, internet access, and more, providing up-to-date information.
- Community Action Toolkit guides different groups (elected officials, developers, the public, etc.) on how to use the plan and get involved in implementation.
- Progress section will be updated annually to show tangible progress in implementing the plan, helping in accountability and transparency.

The overall goal of the website and these tools is to ensure continuous public engagement and make the plan’s information easily accessible. Tyler emphasizes the importance of community involvement in both the creation and implementation of the plan, aiming for a dynamic, forward-thinking approach to county development.

You can view the approved version of Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan and learn more about the planning process, on their website: https://shenandoahcountyva.us/future and follow them on Facebook.

You can listen to previous conversations with Tyler about Shenandoah 2045 by clicking here. 

https://youtu.be/P4-Xx7Y-KqA