Regional Commission Postfach 2569, VA 24010 Roanoke Phone ( 540 ) 343-4417 Email Copyright 2009, RVARC An Introduction To Planning District Commissions Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission In 1968, Virginia was divided into planning districts based on the community of interest among its counties, cities and towns. A Planning District Commission is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth chartered under the Regional Cooperation Act by the local governments of each planning district. As such they are a creation of local government encouraged by the state. The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions helps its members meet their responsibilities to local and state government and coordinates inter-PDC functions. There are 21 Planning Districts in Virginia. In 1999, the Fifth Planning District Commission changed its name to the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. The Commission is made up of elected officials and citizens appointed to the by member local governments. Franklin County is in the West Piedmont Planning District region, but as allowed by state law, it became a joint member with the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission on July 1, 2004. Likewise, the Town of Rocky Mount became a joint member in 2007. The purpose of Planning District Commissions, as set out in the Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-4207, is