The Code of Virginia states that the Comprehensive Plan should be updated every five years. The most recent update was in 2011. The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is that the challenge of planning for the future is to manage the process of change. The Code of Virginia also mandates that jurisdictions prepare and regularly update a Comprehensive Plan for the development of their communities.
The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1978 and was prepared by the Highland County Planning Commission, the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, the Highland County Board of Supervisors and the Monterey Town Council with the assistance of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission.