Framework for Beautification of Route 60

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDORCOLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

P R E P A R E D B YC A R L T O N A B B O T T A N D P A R T N E R S , P . C .A R C H I T E C T U R E - L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E - P L A N N I N G

S P O N S O R E D B Y :

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1H I S T O R I C A L S I G N I F I C A N C E

U.S. Route 60 in Virginia runs 312 miles west to east through the central part of the state, generally close to and paralleling the Interstate 64 corridor, except for the crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in the South Hampton Roads area.

U.S. Route 60 leaves downtown Richmond by crossing the James River on the Manchester Bridge and heads easts on Government Road and the Williamsburg Road, which follows the old Richmond-Williamsburg Stage Road for some distance. This area was the scene of several major American Civil War battles during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862.

First designated through the Williamsburg area in the late 1920s, US 60 also has a shorter bypass of the Historic District which encompasses most Colonial Williamsburg attractions before heading further east passes multiple Anheuser Busch developments in James City County, which include an office park, the Kingsmill Resort, its Williamsburg brewery, and the Busch Gardens Europe theme park. East of there, US 60 narrows again to two lanes, passing through the historic Grove Community and past Carter’s Grove Plantation in southeastern James City County.

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2E X I S T I N G P L A N T I N G R E Q U I R E M E N T S

City of Williamsburg Beautification Advisory Committee

Currently Discussing a Recommended Plant List for the City

James City County Zoning Ordiance:

Sec. 24-96. Landscape area(s) along right(s)-of-way.

Community Character Corridors - Includes Route 60

Requires Average Planted Width of 50-feet along roadway for new development

Plant List Task Force Committee

Chaired by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent in James City County

Prepared Recommended Native Plant List

York County DIVISION 4. LANDSCAPING, BUFFER, AND GREENBELT REGULATIONS

Sec. 24.1-245. Greenbelts.

Greenbelts shall be provided contiguous to the street right-of-way; minimum width - 35 feet. Shall

be left in an undisturbed natural state. Unvegetated or under-vegetated greenbelts shall be

landscaped in accordance with the planting requirements as if they were front yards.

DIVISION 7. OVERLAY DISTRICTS

Sec. 24.1-375. TCM-Tourist corridor management overlay district

Tree protection:(1) Tree of any species having a trunk caliper of eight inches (8”) or larger

Clear-cutting of trees is not permitted within one hundred feet (100’) of the right-of-way

Virginia Department of Transportation “Guidelines for Planting Along Virginia’s Roadways”

Available online at www.virginiadot.org

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3R E C O M M E N D E D T R E E S

DECIDUOUS TREES

Small Varieties

Kousa dogwood Japanese snowbell Redbud Fabaceae Crape myrtle Chinese pistache(Cornus kousa) (Styrax japonica) (Cercis canadensis) (Lagerstroemia indica) (Pistacia chinensis)

Large Varieties:

Red Maple Willow oak River birch Ginkgo biloba Japanese zelkova (Acer rubrum) (Quercus phellos) (Betula nigra) (Maidenhair Tree) MALE (Ulmaceae Zelkova serrata)

EVERGREEN TREES

Eastern arborvitae American holly Deodar cedar Southern magnolia Sweetbay magnolia Loblolly Pine(Thuja occidentalis) (Ilex opaca) (Cedrus deodora) (Magnolia grandiflor) (Magnolia virginiana) (Pinus taeda)

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4R E C O M M E N D E D P L A N T S

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Maiden Grass Fountain Grass Switch Grass Sedge Pampas grass Broomsedge bluestem

Miscanthus sinensis Pennisetum alopecuroides Panicum virgatum Carex conica Cortaderia selloana Andropogon virginicus

GROUNDCOVERS

Purple Wintercreeper St. Johnswort Creeping Juniper Lilyturf Mondo Grass Thrift; Moss pink Sarcococca; Sweetbox

Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ Hypericum perforatum Juniperus horizontalis Liriope muscari Ophiopogon japonicum ‘Nana’ Phlox subulata Sarcococca hookeriana

EVERGREEN SHRUBS

Abelia Chinese Holly Wax Myrtle Heavenly Bamboo Sargent's Juniper Japanese Holly Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel Viburnum tinus

Abelia grandiflora Ilex cornata ‘Burfordii” Myrica cerifera Nandina domestica Juniperus chinensis sargentii Ilex crenata Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ Laurustinus

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Oakleaf Hydrangea Winterberry Chinese Witchhazel Forsythia Red Chokeberry Japenese Snowball Vib. Japanese Spirea Virginia Sweetspire Summer Sweet

Hydrangea quercifolia Ilex verticillata Hamamelis mollis F. x intermedia Aronia arbutifolia Viburnum plicatum Spiraea japonica Itea virginica Clethra alnifolia

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5C O R R I D O R D E S I G N C O N S I D E R A T I O N S

Establishment of overall corridor theme

Coordination of improvements within specific areas

Identify potential utility conflicts above and below grade

Coordination with existing signage or signage improvements

Coordination with existing plantings to remain

Site lines and visibility issues

Adapt new plantings to existing drainage problems

Areas of potentially erosive soils and difficult grade

Relocation of overhead power lines

Possible screening of existing parking lots

Elimination of existing improvements considered inappropriate for corridor

Setback requirements including right of way width and restrictive easements

Explore possibility of plantings or other improvements on private property

Introduction of median plantings

Explore possibilities of plantings or other improvements on private property

On Private Property – Consider Layering of Trees and Vegetation off highway

Consideration with existing or proposed walkways along corridor

Coordination with Local Jurisdictions Planting Guildlines

Pavement improvements

Opportunities for fencing or guardrails

Coordination with existing or future lighting improvements

Possibilities with Railroad and Route 143 Viewsheds

Sustainability of proposed improvements

Future Roadway improvements

Other future site improvements

Maintenance operation concerns

Introduction of Raised Medians

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6D E S I G N P H I L O S O P H Y

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7T Y P I C A L R O A D W A Y S E C T I O N - U R B A N Z O N E

Typical Commerical

East BoundRoute 60

West BoundRoute 60

BikeLane

Colonial WilliamsburgFoundation

1 Planting Beyond Corridor to Help Mitigate

and Control Views

Plant Trees and Foundation Shrubs to

Break-up Building Façades

Modify Parking Layout to Introduce Tree Plantings

Lower Planting to screen parking also providing color

and interest along pedestrian circulation

Replace existing concrete sidewalk with brick pavers

3 New Street Trees to Help Define Corridor

Continue the Proposed Multi-Purpose Trail

Create Landscape which enhances the Corridor’s Character with varying interest and color

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ProposedMulti-Purpose Trail

BikeLane

Typical Parking Lot

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8T Y P I C A L R O A D W A Y S E C T I O N - T R A N S I S T I O N Z O N E

CSXRailroad

East BoundRoute 60

West BoundRoute 60

ProposedMedian

ProposedMulti-Purpose Trail

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1 Plant a combination of evergreen trees and

street trees along the Rt. 143 Shoulder

Remove Existing Vegetation

A decorative fence to provide a physical barrier

and maintenance edge

Plant low maintenance native grasses for color

and interest

Install a raised median in place of center lane

Plant flowering trees and shrubs3 Place Overhead utilities underground

Remove existing sidewalk

Install a Multi-purpose Trail

Community Character Corridor Buffer

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9T Y P I C A L R O A D W A Y S E C T I O N - R U R A L Z O N E

CSXRailroad

East BoundRoute 60

West BoundRoute 60

Existng Median

Busch Gardens Service Drive

1 Selectively Plant evergreen trees and allow

other areas to naturally regenerate.

Define mowing limits with a curvilinear line

Plant large deciduous trees and small flowering trees

and shrubs. Install guardrail where necessary.

Allow drainage to continue in grass swale.

3 Plant a combination of large deciduous

trees, evergreen trees, and small flowering

trees as well as flowering shrubs to screen

Busch Gardens service road & parking lot.

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10R A I S E D M E D I A N S

Enhances overall aesthetics of corridor

Recommend reduction of speed limit to 35 mph

Provides physical barrier between opposing traffic lanes

Reduces headlight glare distraction where shrub plantings are used

Protected left turns reduces opportunity for rear-end crashes

Increases safety by reducing the number of potential conflict points at driveways

Provides space for planting trees which tends to calm traffic by narrowing the

perceived scale of the roadway width

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11T Y P I C A L I N T E R S E C T I O N P L A N

R o u t e 6 0

R o u t e 6 0

Perennials for Color & Interest

Brick Median Nosing Treatment

Shrub Plantings

Low Plantings to Help Screen Views of Parking Areas

Add Planting where Possible to Mitigate Views from Corridor

Street Trees to Help Define and Reduce Scale of Corridor

Additional Depth of Planting to Achieve Layering Effect

Curvilinear “Parkway Like” Mowing Patterns

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12C I T Y O F W I L L I A M S B U R G - A R E A 1

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13C I T Y O F W I L L I A M S B U R G - A R E A 2

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14J A M E S C I T Y C O U N T Y - A R E A 1

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19Y O R K C O U N T Y - A R E A 1

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27I M P L E M E N T A T I O N S T R A T E G Y

Documents

Framework for Beautification of Route 60