The Huguenot Trail Advisory Committee,  which met last Wednesday, is charged with organizing and conveying citizens’ desires with respect to the treatment of Route 711 (Huguenot Trail) in Powhatan. The committee is broken into subcommittees and each working group is assigned an aspect of preservation and development of the byway. The intention is that these subcommittees function cohesively in order to present an accurate and sound report to the Board of Supervisors.
The group is expected to present their recommendations after its Dec. 3 meeting. The following is a breakdown of what’s been worked out so far.

Transportation Subcommittee:
Goal: “…To maintain Huguenot Trail as safe, functional, and efficient and to maintain beauty and byway status.”
Members: Earnest Goins (chair), David Ziletti; Citizens: Wayne Holland, Butch Cook, Lennie Tierney

Recommendations:
• Dropping the speed limit to 45 mph for the length of Huguenot Trail and accordingly, increasing police presence along the road to enforce speed limits.
• The county invests in a portable radar informing device, to be rotated around the county.
• Create multiple pull offs at scenic or historical locations.
• Widen route 711 to four lanes east of route 288.

Historic Resources Subcommittee:
Goal: “…To identify, enhance, and preserve historical and cultural assets.”
Members: Joe Walton (chair), Carson Tucker, Connie Harris; Citizens: Ruth Doumlele

Recommendations:
• Create Scenic Byway Overlay District, with special treatment given to the portions of route 711 to the East and West of route 288 respectively.
• Create specialized taxation or tax breaks for maintenance of historical sites within the created district.
• Institute a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program and actively support conservation easements.
• Create a coalition of county organizations to help identify, protect, and enhance historical resources in the district.
• Create pull-offs and erect historical markers.
• Improve access to the James River and increase maintenance and security at Watkins Landing in Powhatan.
• Generate long-term plan to create multi-use trails for hiking and biking.

Economic Development Subcommittee:
Goal: “…To determine sustainable, desirable, and balanced development to support the county’s economic growth (including tourism).”
Members: Teri Pruitt (chair), Steve Harris; Citizens: Tom Hancock, Dan Jones, Alan Hoover, Lisa Benusa, Larry Lyons; Others: Sherry Swinson

Recommendations:
• Limit land use west of route 288 to low impact commercial.
• Prohibit “big boxes” or large chain service stations.
• Promoting tourism should be the primary goal of the route 711 corridor.
• Consider conducting “macro economic development study” of the county to determine the area’s development potential relating to the greater Richmond metro area.

Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Goal: “…To protect and provide for enjoyment.”
Members:Lamar Brandt (chair), Billy Melton; Citizens: Dan Jones, Sally Aungier, Bob Reilly

Recommendations:
• Place large tracts into protected areas to ensure continued rural character.
• Protect and expand river access.
• Create multi-use trail that meanders along route 711.
• Encourage landowners to identify corridors to the James River Heritage trail.
• Encourage the continued maintenance of buffer zones and discourage clear-cutting timber.
• Designate historic overlay district for route 711.
• Support a transfer of development rights program.

Architectural Standards Subcommittee:
Goals: “…To preserve and create a diverse and yet complimentary outlook and sense of place.”
Members: Roger Richardson (chair), Jimmy Minter; Citizens: Rich Napier, Sandi Munari

Recommendations:
• East of Route 288: identify compatible, desirable, and sustainable techniques.
• Codify setbacks, landscape preservation and enhancement, lighting, and signage.
• Study traffic access and control and consider the interconnection of land parcels and independent developments.
• Establish “agile” size and scale standards to guide building design and site construction.
• Create environmentally and financially sustainable site development requirements for land ownership, resource protection, and parking.
• Consider materials and design styles that encourage creativity and respect the character of the area being developed.

Recommendations for area west of route 288:
• Identify short and long term road improvement needs and examine current improvement plans.
• In cooperation with land owners, consider improved road design (wider pavement sections and shoulder design) as well as pedestrian features like a bike path.
• Identify appropriate traffic control methods.
• Formalize standards for landscape preservation and maintenance.
• Give attention to historic places along the Trail.
• Explore setback requirements and establish appropriately scaled relationship to the road for different uses and zoning.