SCENIC CONSERVATION PLAN, BRANDYWINE VALLEY NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY FINAL REPORT Scenic Conservation Plan Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Final Report Delaware Greenways, Inc. 0 October 2017 The cover picture shows a line of sycamore and cherry trees along the Kennett Pike. According to legend, Pierre S. DuPont mistakenly gave his beloved wife, Alice, a string of pearls to commemorate two consecutive birthdays. When she received the second necklace, she asked him instead to plant trees along the newly built Kennett Pike. Thereafter, she reportedly referred to the trees he planted along a ten-mile stretch of the For many years thereafter, Mr. DuPont worked with his neighbors and other family m thatroad he as plantedher pearls. for his wife, Alice. embers and maintained the beauty of the roadside and the pearls Brandywine Valley Scenic Conservation Plan New Castle County, Delaware Funding provided by: The National Scenic Byways Program under a grant titled SB-2009-DE-55844: Brandywine Valley Carrying Capacity and Preservation Plan, Awarded to Delaware Greenways, Inc. Submitted to: Delaware Department of Transportation Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Partnership Prepared by: Delaware Greenways, Inc. October 2017 ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPING THIS PLAN The Scenic Conservation Plan is designed to reflect the vision, goals and recommendations of the members of the general public participating in the development of the Plan. While DelDOT and the other agencies participating with the public agree in principle with the Plan and its recommendations, it must be understood that these same agencies face many different and sometimes competing priorities, a changing regulatory framework, and funding challenges. As a result, the recommendations contained herein that are assigned to an agency for implementation may be implemented on a different schedule or in a different form than anticipated in the Scenic Conservation Plan or, due to unforeseen circumstances and regulatory requirements, not implemented at all. Nothing in this statement should be interpreted that any of the participating governmental agencies are withholding support of any of the contents of the Plan. SCENIC CONSERVATION PLAN, BRANDYWINE VALLEY NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS About Delaware Greenways, Inc. ..................................................................................................................................... iii Forward ........................................................................................................................................................................................ v About the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway ......................................................................................... v Byway Management ........................................................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 The Purpose of the Scenic Conservation Plan ......................................................................................................... 2 Previous Planning Initiatives ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2: Significant Events Since 2013 ..................................................................................................................... 5 The First State National Historic Park ....................................................................................................................... 5 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update .............................................................................................................................. 6 Unified Development Code Revisions (UDC) .......................................................................................................... 6 Greenville Village Study ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Design Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 3: The Existing Situation .................................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Land Use and Geography ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................................... 10 Population ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Current Zoning ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Historic and Current Land Use .................................................................................................................................... 13 Protected Lands, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space ........................................................................................ 15 Iconic Viewsheds of the Study Area .......................................................................................................................... 16 Chater 4: Transportation ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Roadways of Interest ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Traffic Volumes .................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Crash Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Bicycling and Walking in the Study Area ................................................................................................................ 24 Public Transportation Facilities ................................................................................................................................. 24 Chapter 5: Future Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 i SCENIC CONSERVATION PLAN, BRANDYWINE VALLEY NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY FINAL REPORT Development Potential ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Probability of Development ......................................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 6: Carrying Capacity of the Transportation Network .......................................................................... 31 Congestion in the Brandywine Valley in 2040 ..................................................................................................... 31 .......................................................................................................... 33 ChapterCarrying 7: ChallengesCapacity of andthe ValleysOpportunities Roadways ................................................................................................................... 35 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 35 Challenges ............................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Land Use Challenges: ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 Transportation Challenges ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 8: The Scenic Conservation Plan ..................................................................................................................