In the 1972 Session. of the General Assembly, House Joint Resolution No. 44 was adopted, which directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to study land use policies, economic and population growth and changing population patterns of the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council appointed Delegate D. French Slaughter, Jr. of Culpeper to chair the Committee making the initial study and report to the Council. Appointed to serve on this Committee were: Former Senator FitzGerald Bemiss of Richmond; Senator Elmon T. Gray of Waverly; Delegate Joseph A. Leafe of Norfolk; Mr. John T. Hazel, Jr. of Fairfax; Delegate W. L. Lemmon of Marion; Mr. Rosser H. Payne, Jr. of Warrenton; Delegate Thomas J. Rothrock of Fairfax; Delegate Frank M. Slayton of South Boston; Senator David F. Thornton of Salem; and Mr. Hiram Zigler of Richmond.

The Division of Statutory Research and Drafting and the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council is making staff and facilities available for the study.

Representatives of the Governor's Council on the Environment and the Division of State Planning and Community Affairs are working with the Committee in its study.

The Committee has met to consider the subject of its study during the past five months and has held four public hearings throughout the Commonwealth to seek the views of the public on the subject.

The Committee is continuing to conduct the study but feels that there are certain matters under consideration which need prompt action by the General Assembly in its 1973 Session. The several recommendations of the Committee follow.