For Immediate Release: August 18, 2026
Contact: David Fath, Communications Director
City of Albemarle to Host “Planning 101” Community Workshop on Development and Growth
ALBEMARLE, NC – The City of Albemarle Planning & Community Development Department will host a free community workshop explaining the planning and development process in Albemarle.
Residents are invited to attend “Planning 101” on Thursday, August 27 at Albemarle City Hall, located at 144 North Second Street. Dinner will be provided at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m.
“Planning 101” will explain how land‑use decisions are made, how development moves through the City, and how community members can help shape their neighborhoods. Attendees will take part in an interactive “build your city” exercise, balancing land‑use goals, transportation needs, jobs, schools, parks, and public safety. Participants will gain a hands‑on understanding of the decisions planners and elected officials consider.
The workshop continues the City’s efforts to engage residents in the planning and development process. In 2025, the City completed its comprehensive land‑use plan, Envision Albemarle 2045. Nearly 800 residents participated in surveys, open houses, and neighborhood meetings to develop the plan. Envision Albemarle 2045 outlines the community’s vision, values, and goals for Albemarle’s future.
“Planning affects nearly every part of daily life, from where people live and work to how they get around. The process itself can feel out of reach if you don’t work in it,” said Alysia Steadman, Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Albemarle. “Planning 101 is about opening that process up. When residents understand how decisions are made, they’re able to participate in them more meaningfully.”
