Members are Mrs. W.E. Tilson, J.G. Johnston, H.B. Chittum, John D. Sterrett Sr., Robert A. Shields, Worthington Faulkner and A.C. Goodwin. W.M. Leech Jr. joins the commission and is elected chairman. A new zoning ordinance is adopted by the board of supervisors. Larry Hoover, a lawyer and expert on legal aspects of land use planning who advises Rockingham County in its planning efforts, gives talk in which he discusses the purchase of development rights as a strategy for preserving farmland. The Rockbridge Area Economic Development Commission is founded to promote the Rockbridge area as a location for industry and help maintain industry in the area to improve the employment rate and enhance the tax base of the three jurisdictions.
Supervisors approve an updated county comprehensive land use plan.
The board of supervisors places a moratorium on new limited subdivisions so the planning commission can review related ordinances to prevent people from buying land in a limited subdivision and later expecting the county to bring the roads up to state maintenance standards. The moratorium is lifted in September after a change to the ordinance is adopted requiring that both the plat and the deed for limited subdivisions with private streets that do not meet state standards contain a statement that the streets will not be maintained or improved by the state. The number is later increased to 11 so that each magisterial district may be represented by two members while allowing one additional slot for a member of the board of supervisors. The 60-member Rockbridge County Strategic Planning Commission, appointed by the board of supervisors, completes its report. The board of supervisors hires Sam Crickenberger as director of planning and development, effective Oct. 18.