A series of community meetings on Henrico's proposed comprehensive plan -- a guide for land use in the county through 2026 -- will begin Tuesday.

"This is very much the community's plan. We're looking for their input," said Henrico Planning Director Joe Emerson. "We need to know what they think about what we've put together based on the trends that we see."

Such trends include growth in the eastern area of the county where there is more undeveloped land than the western end, which is estimated to be built up in 15 to 20 years, Emerson said. Less land will be designated for agriculture in the east.

In the west, redevelopment is taking place in areas around the Shops at Willow Lawn and the Staples Mill Road corridor.

Several projects are more urban and would build up rather than out; homes and offices would be stacked above retail stores. Examples are West Broad Village, Towne Center West and Staples Mill Center in the west and Tree Hill Farm and Rocketts Landing along the James River in the east.

Urban mixed use is among several new land-use categories in the plan. It includes suburban mixed use, reflecting communities like Wyndham, Wellesley and Twin Hickory; and traditional neighborhood development, which would be based on a grid of interconnecting streets to encourage walking and include a mix of housing types with supporting commercial, office and other uses.

One goal of the plan is to maintain an economic balance of residences, businesses and offices that provides the proper tax base to keep the county fiscally sound, Emerson said.

Henrico has an annual growth rate of about 2 percent, and its population is expected to approach 395,000 by 2026. The current population is estimated at 284,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"You don't want a community that's not growing, and you don't want a community that may grow too fast," Emerson said.

The plan uses information from a 2005 survey of residents and new planning tools. These include computerized public utility and transportation models and geographic information system (GIS) technology. A revised major thoroughfare plan, which outlines future roads, was developed with such tools.

"We've taken a very thorough look at how our infrastructure can support and respond to land uses that we see on the horizon," Emerson said.

The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will each conduct formal public hearings before voting on the plan.

Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or mmartin@timesdispatch.com.