Framework for Beautification of Route 60

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

PREPARED BY CARLTON ABBOTT AND PARTNERS, P.C. ARCHITECTURE - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING

SPONSORED BY:

DRAFT

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.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

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.

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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.

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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

EXISTING PLANTING REQUIREMENTS

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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DECIDUOUS TREES

Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonica)

Redbud Fabaceae (Cercis canadensis)

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis)

Willow oak (Quercus phellos)

River birch (Betula nigra)

Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree) MALE

Japanese zelkova (Ulmaceae Zelkova serrata)

Large Varieties:

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) EVERGREEN TREES

Eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

American holly (Ilex opaca)

Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodora)

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflor)

Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

RECOMMENDED TREES

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa)

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

Small Varieties

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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

RECOMMENDED PLANTS

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Maiden Grass

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

Ornamental Grasses

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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 Establishment of overall corridor theme Coordination of improvements within specific areas

Possibilities with Railroad and Route 143 Viewsheds Sustainability of proposed improvements

Identify potential utility conflicts above and below grade

Future Roadway improvements

Coordination with existing signage or signage improvements

Other future site improvements

Coordination with existing plantings to remain Site lines and visibility issues

Maintenance operation concerns Introduction of Raised Medians

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

C O R R I D O R D E S I G N C O N S I D E R AT I O N S

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Explore possibilities of plantings or other improvements on private property

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

Introduction of median plantings

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DESIGN PHILOSOPHY 6

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

and Control Views 2

Plant Trees and Foundation Shrubs to

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Modify Parking Layout to Introduce Tree Plantings

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New Street Trees to Help Define Corridor

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Lower Planting to screen parking also providing color

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Continue the Proposed Multi-Purpose Trail

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

and interest along pedestrian circulation

Break-up Building Façades

Replace existing concrete sidewalk with brick pavers

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5

3

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6

4 Typical Commerical

Typical Parking Lot

Bike Lane

West Bound Route 60

East Bound Route 60

Bike Lane

Proposed Multi-Purpose Trail

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

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

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Planting Beyond Corridor to Help Mitigate

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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street trees along the Rt. 143 Shoulder 2

Install a raised median in place of center lane

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Plant flowering trees and shrubs 5

Remove Existing Vegetation A decorative fence to provide a physical barrier

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and maintenance edge

Place Overhead utilities underground Remove existing sidewalk Install a Multi-purpose Trail Community Character Corridor Buffer

Plant low maintenance native grasses for color and interest 4

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CSX Railroad

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West Bound Route 60

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Proposed Median

East Bound Route 60

Proposed Multi-Purpose Trail

T Y P I C A L R O A D WAY S E C T I O N - T R A N S I S T I O N

ZONE

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Plant a combination of evergreen trees and

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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other areas to naturally regenerate.

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Define mowing limits with a curvilinear line

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Plant large deciduous trees and small flowering trees

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Plant a combination of large deciduous

and shrubs. Install guardrail where necessary.

trees, evergreen trees, and small flowering

Allow drainage to continue in grass swale.

trees as well as flowering shrubs to screen Busch Gardens service road & parking lot.

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5 3

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4 CSX Railroad

West Bound Route 60

Existng Median

East Bound Route 60

Busch Gardens Service Drive

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

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Selectively Plant evergreen trees and allow

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

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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

RAISED MEDIANS

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Perennials for Color & Interest

Route

60

Route

60

Shrub Plantings

Brick Median Nosing Treatment

Add Planting where Possible to Mitigate Views from Corridor Street Trees to Help Define and Reduce Scale of Corridor

TYPICAL INTERSECTION PLAN

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

Curvilinear “Parkway Like” Mowing Patterns

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

Additional Depth of Planting to Achieve Layering Effect

Low Plantings to Help Screen Views of Parking Areas

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CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG - AREA 1 12

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR

CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG - AREA 2 13

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EAST TO BUSCH GARDENS

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JAMES CITY COUNTY - AREA 1 14

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JAMES CITY COUNTY - AREA 2 15

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YORK COUNTY - AREA 1 19

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FRAMEWORK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE ROUTE 60 CORRIDOR