Minor Hill/Sharp Park Land Use Recommendations (DRAFT)
April 30, 2002; Revised May 14, 2002
Letters/numbers keyed to Land Use Map

Area A Recommendations:

1. Provide a small picnic area, including picnic tables, trash receptacles and an accessible path on the northwestern side of the pump house. On-street parking on N. Powhatan Street is available to serve this area, if needed.
2. Remove chain link/barbed wire fence along N. Powhatan Street to provide access to this area for pedestrians. Install a new, taller, dark green, chain link fence on both sides of the pump house connecting to the perimeter fence.
3. Remove low, metal fence which bisects the area north of the pump house.
4. Install street/shade trees along N. Powhatan Street behind sidewalk.
5. Install removable/locking bollards at the driveway entrance.

Area B Recommendations:

1. Reclaim asphalt parking area for green space.
2. Evaluate plant material along N. Powhatan Street and throughout this area. Remove all volunteer and invasive plant material, including trees, shrubs, ground cover and vines. (Depending on the amount of plant material removed, new trees should be installed.)
3. Selectively prune remaining plant material to open views to/from N. Powhatan Street.
4. Remove large, overgrown shrub groupings.
5. Provide a small butterfly garden, including benches and accessible paths. On-street parking on N. Powhatan Street is available to serve this area, if needed.
6. Install metal bollards and chain along the west side of service drive.
7. Locate a bird house in this area.

Area C Recommendations:

1. Widen and realign asphalt path connecting to Williamsburg Boulevard.
2. Reclaim remaining asphalt path for green space.
3. Supplement existing trees with native tree plantings.

Area D Recommendations:

1. Remove concrete sidewalk and return to green space.
2. Reclaim asphalt parking area for green space and install native trees.
3. Remove existing entrance metal gate and replace with removable, locking bollards.
4. Retain asphalt connection to service drive.
5. Remove wooden bollards and split rail fence.
6. Install metal bollards and chain along the east side of asphalt path. Remove split rail fence.

Area E Recommendations:

1. Stabilize slope by installing a retaining wall to prevent erosion at southeast corner of concrete tanks. New wall should be compatible with existing retaining wall materials. Remove invasive plant material. Add new plantings.
2. Screen the large tank wall facing Sharp Park by installing evergreen/coniferous trees and large shrubs.

Area F Recommendations:

1. Install dark green, chain link fence to restrict access to service area on the east side of the tanks.
2. Remove light fixtures and associated concrete bases on top of concrete tanks.
3. Study the feasibility of removing concrete wall and chain link fence on top of wall. Replace with dark green, chain link fencing.
4. Remove graffiti from concrete surfaces.
5. Paint or replace the existing chain link fence on top of the concrete tanks.
6. Install evergreen shrubs in front of concrete structures at the center and corners of the tanks.

Area G Recommendations:

1. Study the feasibility of removing the existing external chain link fence with barbed wire and replace with a taller (8 or 10 ft. ht.), dark green, chain link fence. The treatment of fences abutting areas A, B, C and D should take into consideration adjacent pedestrian activity, as well as security requirements.
2. Study options for replacing internal chain link fences which enclose the underground tanks, with a less visually obtrusive option.

Note: Fencing recommendations are pending the results of a separate consultant study that is reviewing fencing and security for county facilities.

Return Home