Who We Are

The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), one of 21 Planning District Commissions in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a regional organization representing this area's sixteen local governments. Planning District Commissions are voluntary associations and were created in 1969 pursuant to the Virginia Area Development Act and a regionally executed Charter Agreement. The HRPDC was formed in 1990 by the merger of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission and the Peninsula Planning District Commission.

What We Do

The purpose of planning district commissions, as set out in the Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-4207 is …to encourage and facilitate local government cooperation and state-local cooperation in addressing on a regional basis problems of greater than local significance.

The HRPDC mission is to:

• serve as a forum for local and elected officials and chief administrators to deliberate and decide issues of regional importance;
   

• provide the local governments and citizens of Hampton Roads credible and timely planning, research and analysis on matters of mutual concern; and
   

• provide leadership and offer strategies and support services to other public and private, local and regional agencies, in their efforts to improve the region's quality of life.

The HRPDC serves as a resource of technical expertise to its member local governments. It provides assistance on local and regional issues pertaining to Economics, Physical and Environmental Planning, Emergency Management, and Transportation. The HRPDC staff also serves as the support staff for the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is responsible for transportation planning and decision-making in the region. As a Virginia Planning District, the HRPDC is also the Affiliate Data Center for our region, providing economic, environmental, transportation, census, and other relevant information to businesses, organizations and citizens.

Who We Represent

The HRPDC represents over 1.6 million people and includes 16 jurisdictions: the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry, and York.

How We Operate

Membership on the 45-member Commission is based on population, with each jurisdiction having a minimum of two members. The Commission has an Executive Committee, made up of one member from each jurisdiction. The Executive Committee provides policy oversight to the HRPDC's activities through monthly meetings held between the quarterly meetings of the full Commission. The Executive Director/Secretary, selected by the Commission, manages the daily operations of the planning district's professional staff of over 40 people.

Funding Sources

The HRPDC is funded by annual contributions from its member local governments, by appropriations from the Virginia General Assembly, and by grants from federal, state and local governments.

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