During the 1974 Session of the General Assembly, the House of Delegates adopted House Resolution No. 14, directing the Counties, Cities. and Towns Committee to study the planning, funding and siting for public facilities and questions related to furnishing such public facilities to accommodate growth in Virginia's counties and municipalities. At the conclusion of its study, the Committee recommended legislation requiring every local government in the Commonwealth to adopt a planning commission by July 1, 1976; to adopt a subdivision ordinance by July 1, 1977; and to adopt a comprehensive plan for all territory within its jurisdiction by July 1, 1980. The proposed recommendations were approved and enacted by the General Assembly as Chapter 641 o P the 1975 Acts of Assembly.

The Committee, having made recommendations for improving the process of planning and reserving sites for public facilities, requested that the study be continued for the purpose of considering the question of funding for public facilities. Pursuant to the Committee's request, the General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution No. 188.