Prince William County Seeks Community Input on Sustainability and Resilience Planning

Prince William County is updating its 2040 Comprehensive Plan to better integrate sustainability and resilience, and residents are invited to help shape the effort. 

County staff are developing a Sustainability and Resilience Comprehensive Plan Amendment that will provide an opportunity to address future growth, infrastructure needs and community priorities while aligning county policies with long-term environmental, social and economic goals. Sustainability focuses on meeting today’s needs while protecting future generations by reducing environmental impacts, promoting equity and strengthening the economy across areas such as energy, land use, transportation and green building, while resilience strengthens the county’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural, technological and human-caused hazards. 

The amendment will also advance actions identified in the county’s Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan (CESMP) and support the Board of County Supervisors’ Climate Mitigation and Resiliency goals.  

Those goals include reducing countywide greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent from a 2005 baseline by 2030, achieving 100 percent renewable electricity for county government operations by 2030, expanding renewable electricity countywide by 2035 and reaching carbon neutrality for county government operations by 2050. 

This effort is being led by the County’s Planning Office in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability and Office of Emergency Management. 

“Integrating sustainability and resilience into the Comprehensive Plan strengthens our ability to meet today’s needs while preparing for future challenges,” said Planning Director Tanya Washington. “This amendment will guide sustainable and resilient development, strengthen long-term community stability and ensure Prince William County remains a healthy, vibrant place to live and work.” 

How to Get Involved 

Community engagement is a central part of the amendment process. The first round of public input opportunities includes: 

• Online meeting:
  • ​​​​​​​Feb. 18, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Overview of the amendment and opportunity to share priorities.
• In-person meetings:
  • Feb. 26, 7–8:30 p.m. Occoquan Elementary School, 12915 Occoquan Road
  • March 4, 6:30–8 p.m. Suella Gilbert Ellis Elementary School, 10400 Kim Graham Lane, Manassas 

Public feedback will help guide policies addressing energy, land use, transportation, environmental protection, all-hazard preparedness and long-term resilience. 

Public hearings before the Planning Commission and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors are anticipated by fall 2026. 

To learn more about the amendment and stay informed about engagement opportunities, visit pwcworks.pwcva.gov.