Williamsburg Civic Association -- Conservation Plan

The Williamsburg Civic Association began its neighborhood planning effort in March 1997, when the Association sent a letter of commitment to the county and joined the Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee. In April 1997, a conservation plan steering committee was organized and began meeting regularly.

Boundaries for the Williamsburg area are North 27th Street, North Trinidad Street, the Arlington County line, and North Kensington Street. The area is dominated by single family homes but includes a small commercial area and one townhouse development.

Since the planning effort began, the Association:

Developed a written survey and hand delivered it to every household in the Association.
Compiled the survey results and identified preservation, safety and public improvement goals.
Conducted walking surveys of the neighborhood.
Drafted a plan and distributed the draft to all interested property owners and invited them to support or oppose the plan and to make specific recommendations in writing.
Adopted the final draft at a meeting on September 8, 1999.

The plan is intended to guide future development of the neighborhood and make specific recommendations for its improvement. Of equal importance, the plan is intended to protect those features of Williamsburg which make it such an attractive place to live.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the survey, neighborhood meetings, walk-throughs, and discussions between members of the steering committee and county staff, a list of 54 recommendations was developed. The major issues are the following:

Parks and Beautification

Acquire additional parkland and install additional recreational facilities in the Williamsburg area.
Maintain Minor Hill as natural open space and install additional landscaping and hardscape at both Emily Sharp Park and the county's water storage facility.
Preserve the Birch-Payne Cemetery and the large median near 3100 John Marshall Drive and install appropriate landscaping.
Create landscaped pedestrian paths on the undeveloped 28th Street right-of-way between Lexington Street and John Marshall Drive and on the site of the current footpath between Kensington and 27th Streets.
Install additional landscaping on the traffic circle at Williamsburg Boulevard and Sycamore Street and on the traffic island at the junction of Little Falls Road, Kensington Street and Yorktown Boulevard.
Install additional landscaping and seating at Nottingham Elementary School.

Traffic Management and Pedestrian Safety

Install additional speed limit signs and increase police surveillance and enforcement of speed limits on designated streets.
Install landscaped medians on both Little Falls Road and Sycamore Street.
Support the installation of four-way stop signs at designated intersections.
Evaluate existing school zone signs on the approaches to Nottingham Elementary, Tuckahoe Elementary and Bishop O'Connell High Schools and replace them if more effective signs are available.
Work with property owners and county staff to eliminate hazardous obstructions such as tree limbs and shrubs which restrict visibility at intersections.
Install at-grade or textured pavement crosswalks at designated locations.
Install traffic nubs at designated locations.

Land Use and Zoning

Improve the county's notification procedures about variance applications and require notification of adjacent property owners about all construction, including "by-right" construction.
Re-examine the county's Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances on allowable heights for the construction of new residential housing and renovation of existing homes, access requirements for pipestem and in-fill development, minimum street coverage for new houses, and lot coverage for buildings, including decks and detached structures.

Sidewalks, Lighting and Neighborhood Signs

Install curb, gutter and sidewalk on the north side of Little Falls Road from John Marshall Drive to Ohio Street, around the large median near 3100 John Marshall Drive, and in any other location where it is supported by property owners.
Replace the tar-and-chip street surface on John Marshall Drive and other applicable locations with asphalt.
Improve lighting at designated locations and install pedestrian-style lighting in any location where it is supported by residents.
Install neighborhood signs at appropriate entrances to the neighborhood.

Business Conservation

Support efforts to maintain and improve the appearance of the businesses in the shopping center.
Screen dumpsters, loading areas and other service elements from adjacent residential neighbors where possible with fencing and/or landscaping.
Support the installation of additional trees and/or landscaping around the shopping center parking lots.
Support continued efforts by businesses to control and/or eliminate rats and other pests and to manage litter and trash.

Public Safety and Community Services

Work with the Police Department to increase the number of active Neighborhood Watch Programs.
Increase police surveillance around the shopping area, Nottingham Elementary School and Minor Hill to eliminate vandalism, loitering, public drinking, and drug sales and use.