Smiles of mutual congratulations and sighs of relief followed the Mathews County Planning Commission’s unanimous decision Tuesday night to send the draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan to the board of supervisors with a recommendation for approval.

"We’re sending it forward," said chair Danette Machen with a smile.

Commission members applauded planning and zoning director John Shaw for his work, and Shaw in turn gave kudos to Evie Slone, the Hill Studio consultant who developed the document.

The Mathews Board of Supervisors and the commission held a joint public hearing on the draft comprehensive plan on Sept. 21. Shaw said that the supervisors will have the document at next week’s meeting and will have 90 days to approve it as is, approve it with changes, or reject it.

The draft plan has been three years in the making. It has been the subject of many public meetings and much public discussion in an effort to ensure that it reflects the wishes of the resi...