2017 REGIONAL RIVERS PLAN PhPhototo CrCrededitit: JoJohnh Henenleley A Plan for the Richmond Region 3 01/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Th is plan fulfi lls the James River Regional Plan strategy, one of Westham Fund of Th e Community Foundation, and Th e four strategies presented to Th e Capital Region Collaborative by Cameron Foundation and guidance from the local governments Bill Street, Chairman of the James River Work Group, on April of the Richmond Region. 26, 2013. Th e plan is the work of the James River Association and Richmond Regional Planning District Commission with Additional gratitude is extended to the Crater Planning assistance from consultants of Timmons Group and 3north. District Commission, Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR), federal and state agencies, organizations, Th e creation of this plan would not have been possible without and individuals who contributed knowledge, expertise, and the generous support of Altria, WestRock Foundation, Custis guidance throughout the creation of the plan. It is imperative 4 for the region to have a plan to help guide the various uses of the James, Appomattox, Chickahominy, and Pamunkey Rivers. Regional Rivers Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 06/REGIONAL 01/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS 3 44 02/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 07/LOCALITY 6 RECOMMENDATIONS 58 03/INTRODUCTION 9 08/CONNECTIONS 78 PART I: EXISTING CONDITIONS 04/EXISTING CONDITIONS 14 09/STEPS TO IMPLEMENTATION 80 PART II: VISION, RECOMMENDATIONS, & IMPLEMENTATION 05/VISION 10/CONCLUSION 43 88 APPENDIX A: PLANS AND STUDIES 90 02/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 02/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Th e James River, “America’s Founding River,” has defi ned Richmond throughout its history. Richmond’s It is imperative for the region to have a plan to help historical and modern signifi cance is attributed to guide the various uses of the James, Appomattox, the James. Th e James was an important mode of Chickahominy, and Pamunkey Rivers while ensuring transportation before railroads and highways existed the health of each river is protected. Th is plan makes and it continues to be vital to commerce and industry, recommendations, many of which are found in the a source of drinking water, a place where residents Virginia Outdoors Plan, local comprehensive plans, recreate, and the Richmond Region’s top attraction. other plans and studies, to expand and enhance public recreational access, encourage business Th e Richmond Region benefi ts from river-based development, and promote tourism on the rivers of economic activity, tourism, recreation, and events. the region. Th e plan presents both regional and local Th erefore, the region should enable sustainable recommendations as well as steps for implementation. riverfront development and expand its network of public access sites and spaces that connect humans Th is plan is an extension of the work of Th e Capital to rivers and their tributaries. Doing so will create Region Collaborative’s James River Work Group and opportunities for recreation and enjoyment, improve complements recommendations of the Richmond quality of life, and catalyze economic activity. When Riverfront Plan, adopted by Richmond City Council the plan is implemented, the Rivers of the region in November 2012. When fully implemented the will be centerpieces of recreation, entertainment and rivers of the region will be the centerpieces for commerce. entertainment, recreation, and commerce. 02/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Richmond's historical 7 and modern significance is attributed to the James. Regional Rivers Plan 88 Map of Th e James River, 1862 03/ INTRODUCTION 9 03/ INTRODUCTION region, was supported by a work group tasked with reviewing community input and developing specifi c strategies for the region with Th e James River priority area was supported by a work group tasked with reviewing Th e Capital Region Collaborative (CRC) was conceived in 2007 by community input and developing specifi c strategies for the region. Bill Chamber RVA, formerly the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Street, Chief Executive Offi cer of the James River Association, served as and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (RRPDC) and Chairman of the James River Work Group. Th e work group was convened became a regional eff ort to engage government, business, and community on numerous occasions to identify goals and strategies to better leverage stakeholders in prioritizing and implementing actions to enhance quality the James River in the Richmond Region. Members of the work group of life in the Richmond Region. RRPDC supports the nine jurisdictions of identifi ed three goals intended to make the James River a centerpiece for the Richmond Region include the City of Richmond, the Town of Ashland, entertainment, recreation, and commerce: and the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfi eld, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, and New Kent who work together on issues of regional 1. Develop a public access network throughout the region that allows concern. Th ese local governments work together on issues of regional people to connect to the James River in a variety of ways and that concern through the RRPDC. Th e businesses of the region come together enhances and expands existing network elements (parks, trails, dining, as members of Chamber RVA. Th e CRC promotes regional collaboration, recreation, etc). honest conversation and information sharing to create a strong collaborative region with economic vitality, social stability and increased 2. Implement coordinated education, promotion and celebration activities quality of life. Th e Capital Region comprises nine jurisdictions with over to ensure that everyone in the region has an understanding and 1 million people and more than 2,000 square miles. Th e Collaborative appreciation for the James River. Council is made up of government representatives from each jurisdiction and equal number of business and community leaders. More than 8,000 3. Establish suffi cient mechanisms both to protect the river’s natural beauty, community residents helped to identify priority areas of the region which health and unique character and to encourage business development include: that enhances the Region’s connections to the river, including the Port of Richmond. • Job Creation • Healthy Community • Workforce Preparation • James River Th e James River Work Group identifi ed four strategies to achieve these • Quality Place • Social Stability three goals: • Coordinated Transportation • Economic Development • James River Regional Plan • Consistent Signage Th e James River, identifi ed as one of seven original priorities of the • Centralized Information • Increased Celebrations and Events 03/ INTRODUCTION 10 In 2013, a group of local government representatives was organized by staff members of the RRPDC and James River Association to create a Request For Proposals for the creation of a James River Regional Plan. During the draft ing of the RFP, the scope of the regional plan expanded to include the Appomattox, Chickahominy, and Pamunkey Rivers. Aft er receiving proposals, the group reconvened in August 2013 to review them and selected Timmons Group to prepare the plan. In 2015, a group of four funders including the Altria, WestRock Foundation (formerly MeadWestvaco Foundation), Custis Westham Fund of Th e Community Foundation, and Th e Cameron Foundation awarded the James River Association grants to coordinate the creation of the plan. Th e James River Association executed a contract with Timmons Group on March 3, 2015, which commenced the planning process for the creation of this plan. Big Tupelo Chickahominy River 11 03/ INTRODUCTION 12 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN the creation this plan, the Richmond Riverfront Plan and 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan were tremendously infl uential. Th e Richmond Region lacks a regional plan coordinating public recreational access and river-dependent business development on the four prominent rivers of the region: James, Appomattox, Chickahominy, • Richmond Riverfront Plan and Pamunkey. Th erefore, the purpose of the Regional Rivers Plan is to Th e Riverfront Plan was adopted by Richmond City Council in produce a coordinated regional plan for the rivers of the Richmond region, November 2012 and is the vision document for Richmond’s riverfront, endorsed by each jurisdiction, for the public access network and business beginning at Belle Isle and extending downriver on both riverbanks development. to Rocketts Landing. Th e plan identifi es opportunities for new and improved connections and open spaces and highlights preferred private development sites that will both gain from and contribute to APPROACH the long-term stewardship of the riverfront. Th e implementation of Th e following localities were included in the scope of this plan: Cities this transformative plan is underway with the completion of the T. of Richmond, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Colonial Heights; the Town Tyler Potterfi eld Memorial Bridge, a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly of Ashland, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfi eld, Dinwiddie, connection between Brown’s Island and the Manchester Climbing Wall. Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, and Prince George. Other Riverfront Plan projects that have been completed to date are Existing conditions of the James, Appomattox, Chickahominy, and Tredegar Green, a public green space adjacent to the Belle Isle Parking Pamunkey Rivers were conducted to build the foundation on which to Lot and the demolition of the Lehigh Cement silos. make recommendations for the future. Local comprehensive