NOTE: the Potomac Heritage Trail corridor is not included on any of our maps, as it was not finalized as of the printing of the draft.

Transcription

1 Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, P.C. Memorandum: To: Beth Clark (Charles County), Cathy Hardy (Charles County), Teri Wilson (St. Mary s County) From: Jim Klein Date: May 30, 2008 [Updated July 23, 2008] Subject: Religious Freedom Byway Management Plan Comments Received to Date (as of 7/16/08) The following comments have been received to date regarding the above referenced byway management plan. Proposed changes to the plan in response to the comment follow. Errata please note the following corrections P43 Recreational Trail Linkages, column 1 add the following bullet point: Potomac Heritage Trail coordinate signage, trailheads, and interpretation with the ongoing planning and implementation of the trail in Charles and St. Mary s Counties. NOTE: the Potomac Heritage Trail corridor is not included on any of our maps, as it was not finalized as of the printing of the draft. P60 2nd Column, last paragraph correct spelling of Register P74 graphic the following higher resolution image will be placed in the final document P76 1st column add the following text describing the Potomac Heritage Trail Equal Opportunity Employer 815 North Royal Street, Suite 200 Alexandria, VA (PHONE) (FAX)

2 Memorandum Page 2 Southern Maryland RC&D Board, Inc. and the National Park Service are partnering to extend the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail into Southern Maryland s Charles and St. Mary s Counties. The PHNST is a dynamic, interpretive trail experience that will bring unique and sustainable economic development opportunities, such as heritage and placebased tourism, to Southern Maryland s trail adjacent communities. The PHNST will be a biking/driving route on existing roads, linking public spaces, parks and heritage sites. The RC &D Board is also partnering with Charles and St. Mary s Counties to utilize existing trail projects to create a hiking loop with he White Plains to Indian Head rails-to-trails project (see page 75) and the Three-Notch Trail. Signage coordination is discussed separately, starting on page 78. Notes and Comments from St. Mary s County Board of County Commissioners 5/6 and Planning Commission (4/28) Briefings BOCC discussion & comments: * Suggested using route versus tour on signage; tour may be interpreted as a group. The corridor management plan will recommend that the name Religious Freedom Byway be utilized, or on signs where only 2 words fit, Religious Freedom (see graphic below). * Preferred the older cast iron signs; i.e., MD historic markers. P61, add the following sentence to end of column 1, add a new paragraph: Efforts should be made to coordinate future interpretive signage with the existing Maryland Historic Trust s Roadside Marker Program. * Encouraged consolidating and minimizing the number of signs along county roadways. P78, 2 nd column, introductory text for Strategy 5.3: In St. Mary s County, both the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners expressed the desire to consolidate the number of signs along county roadways. The following strategies are designed to accomplish this goal. P78, after item 4, delete address this need and insert the following text and graphic. to place the byway route finding signs on existing highway route markers, thereby reducing the number of byway directional signs. Upon designation as a National Scenic Byway, the following prototype will be used: NOTE: the graphics and text will be modified to reflect this change and the options will be removed from the text.

3 Memorandum Page 3 * If the plan is successful with the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners, it will become part of the St. Mary s County Comprehensive Plan P83 Insert the following as new strategy 6.1 and renumber the subsequent strategies: Strategy 6.1 Adopt Corridor Plan As a first implementation step, each county should adopt the Corridor Management Plan by reference. This will strengthen the byway s chances for national designation and funding. * Depending on the location, byways are designed for motor vehicles, bikes, or both. Making improvements to Point Lookout Road accessing Point Lookout State Parks should be factored in. P76 insert the following at the end of the 1st column Point Lookout State Park Bicycle Access Work towards implementing the improvements for Point Lookout Road from the Ranger Station to south of Camp Brown Road (see page 15 for description) as a means to provide better and safer bicycle access to Point Lookout State Park. The narrow shoulders combined with the heavy use of the route by wide vehicles and trailers make it difficult for bicycles access the park. * The Byway Manager and Byway Steward could be the same person. By supporting the plan, the BOCC will not be committing to a new position. The Byway Manager will be a byway advocate, partnering with other agencies and programs relative to land use, transportation, heritage tourism, and economic development in Southern Maryland. P 83, 1 st column, insert the following text after the first sentence under Strategy 6.1 The byway manager is funded through scenic byway program implementation grants from the Federal Highway Administration. A twenty percent match is required which can come from labor as long as it has a non-usdot funded source.

4 Memorandum Page 4 St. Mary s County Planning Commission DECISION PLANNING COMMISSION MOTIONS OF JULY 14, 2008 Corridor Management Plan, Religious Freedom By-Way Ms. McNeill made a motion in the matter of proposed amendments to the St. Mary s County Comprehensive Plan (Quality of Life in St. Mary s County a Strategy for the 21 st Century): having accepted the July 1, 2008 post public hearing staff report describing, analyzing and recommending amendments to the Comprehensive Plan to incorporate by reference a Corridor Management Plan for the Religious Freedom Scenic Byway prepared by Lardner Klein and Associated and dated March 2008, and having conducted a public hearing thereon on June 23, 2008, and having complied with all other requirements of Article 66B of the Maryland Annotated Code pertaining to amending the comprehensive plan, I move that the Planning Commission approve the Corridor Management Plan, and recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that it be adopted and incorporated by reference into the St. Mary s County Comprehensive Plan with the following modifications: 1. At page 71, Strategy 4.1 add a new third bullet that states: If, in the future, growth and development in the County create the need for expanding the capacity of existing minor arterials from two or four lanes, then the County should work with the Maryland State Highway Administration to identify context sensitive solutions for increasing roadway capacity in a manner that maintains the character defining features of the roadway, while at the same time addressing any safety and capacity needs along the byway. 2. On page 16 at the end of the second column add the following text: Any business seeking to install a sign along any road must be in conformance with the sign provisions contained in the St. Mary s County Zoning Ordinance. The traveling public often has an interest in being able to find businesses that serve their needs, and businesses want to be sure that the traveling public can find them. These needs can also be served either through the Tourism Area Corridor signing program, or through off-premise signs on private property that conforms to St. Mary s County sign regulations. These needs will also be addressed under marketing strategies. 3. On page 77 at the end of the fifth paragraph add the following text: The TAC signing program should perform a post-construction evaluation of the system, including both users of the highway and residents of Southern Maryland, to determine the effectiveness of the program and to identify any additional problems where refinements to the system will be beneficial. 4. On page 55, column 2, after The Story insert these words: Parish established in 1692; Church built in 1736 site 5. Also on page 55, final paragraph, add to the end of the third sentence: during which period Chaptico was an important port of entry on Chaptico Bay. I move further that the chair be authorized to sign a Resolution on behalf of the Planning Commission to convey this recommendation to the Board, with the Corridor Management Plan and modifications included as Attachment A to the resolution and Mr. Thompson seconded. The motion passed by a 5-1 vote with Ms. Guazzo opposed.

5 Memorandum Page 5 Charles County Planning Commission response to comments at public hearing B. DRAFT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BYWAYS MANAGEMENT PLAN Comments: Hollis Hite, who felt that the role of Blacks should be included in this, since he felt they played a major part of the history of Southern Maryland Ms. Janice Walthour, an advisory committee member, provided us with a list of African American Churches and historic sites, that help tell the story of African Americans in Colonial settlement. All of the sites provided by Ms. Walthour are on our inventory maps (including an anchor site, Sotterly Plantation, Secondary Sites that may not be ready for visitors, or as Additional Suggested Sites. The historical significance of the byway recognizes the critical contribution of African American s to the colonial settlement of Maryland and the Tidewater region. What is missing from the document is a specific statement on incorporating the African American (and Native American) story into the interpretive planning and implementation planned for the byway. Add the following text to page 61, Strategy 2.1 As a high priority, additional research, including oral history, is needed to better communicate and educate byway travelers and residents alike about early contributions of Native Americans and African-Americans to the Colonial-era history of Southern Maryland, especially as it relates to the byway themes outlined starting on page 46. Appendix 4 Add the oral history project to the list of projects identified in Appendix 4, and add language to the proposed interpretive master plan specifically identifying the need to identify specific interpretive elements that better tell the stories of role that Native American and African Americans played in Colonial history as it relates to themes on page 46. John Downs, resident of Nanjemoy area who has driven Old Durham Church Road on a regular basis for over twenty years requested that the byway be realigned to stay on 425 to Route 6 at Ironsides avoiding Old Durham Church Road for safety and other reasons. A highway safety analysis was performed by Daniel Consultants, Inc. Mr. Downs personal observations regarding the safety of the route will be added to the safety analysis. We will review the accident history and traffic data for Durham Church Road, a county road, and identify any additional measures that may be needed such as regulatory or warning signs along the route. Regarding the changing of the route: While noting Mr. Downs concerns about the safety of the route, we do not recommend changing the route for the following reasons: - A byway route is not intended to be a high speed travel route it is intended to provide opportunities for heritage tourism and to help tell the story associated with the

6 Memorandum Page 6 themes of the byway. Byway travelers are typically active retirees or empty nesters. They don t typically drive large vehicles or pull trailers (although byway travelers may use motor homes in the more rural or Western states where there are fewer hotels and bed and breakfasts.) The trailer traffic Mr. Downs refers to is most likely coming from the boat ramp at Friendship Farm Park. - The large majority of new visitors to the byway are likely to come during the summer months or on spring and fall weekends when school is not in session. - Christ Church, Durham Parish (1692), is located at the corner of Route 425 and Durham Church Road and is identified as a key site along the byway as well as on the Charles County web site listing historic churches. St. Ignatius Church, Chapel Point is on the Byway (Chapel Point Road). The historically black Church in Ironsides, has not been identified to date as a site. If the congregation would like to be identified as a site, they can do so by contacting the Charles County Tourism Office. They would be identified as a side trip. We have not included any sites that have not given us permission to be included as part of the byway. Comments from Elmer Biles 1. It is felt that information on tourism options, as well as information on restaurants and lodging, etc., should be available at or near the other three entry points So noted, this need is identified on the Byway Access and Interpretive Sites Map. Chapman Forest will be identified as a secondary site (see Comment 4); and the two churches and Marshall Hall will be added as suggested sites on Map 1 and included in the text. Add the following text to page 68: Strategy 3.6 Develop a new visitor center or kiosk in the vicinity of Indian Head to serve the Washington DC travelers heading towards the byway and expand or relocate the existing visitor center in La Plata. 2. Additional Secondary Sites or Byway extensions endorsement so noted 3. Page 75 Greenways and Trail Linkages a. The paragraph on Indian Head to White Plains Rail Trail should be updated to reflect the current status of this trail b. The paragraph on Mattawoman Creek Greenways (Ecological Greenways) should reflect the fact that more than 1,300 acres of Chapman State Park is part of this Greenway. This information will be updated as per the comment 4. Map 1 Byway Access and Interpretive Sites I suggest, at the very minimum, that Chapman State Park be designated a Secondary Site. So noted the change will be made. Map 5 Charles County, Natural & Scenic Features with Existing Land Conservation. -- This map is difficult to read. There should be a clear distinction between the Legend identifier (shades of crosshatching) for Public Lands (Federal State and County) and County Priority Funding Areas.

7 Memorandum Page 7 So noted we will change the legend of the County Priority Funding to differentiate it from the others mentioned. 6. Estimate of Projected Visitors by Entryway Mr. Biles recommendation for a priority is noted in the comment above adding a specific strategy for a Indian Head vicinity visitor center. 7. Summary Recommendation Chapman State Park, including the Mt. Aventine area consisting of 185 acres on the National Register of Historic places, contains one of the most important centers of historical, cultural and natural features in Charles County and Southern Maryland and as such should be included and featured in any tourism program for the region. So noted we will add text to the report indicating the interest of the Chapman State Park and Chapman Forest Foundation in expanding interpretive and educational facilities as an integral part of the Byway. Comments from Bonnie Bick President, Chapman Forest Foundation The Chapman Forest Foundation would like to support the comments Elmer Biles submitted on the plan. We would also like to volunteer to provide further input and assistance in the process of incorporating Chapman State Park at Chapman Forest as an historic and interpretive site and an important asset of the Religious Freedom Byway Plan. Comments noted and will be incorporated into the plan. Chapman Forest is identified on the interpretive sites inventory. The site will play an important role in interpreting the natural history of the region as part of Sub-theme #1, Drawn by the Water and the Land. Comments Received from Maryland Department of Planning In response to the comments received from MDP (see attached letter) please note the following: With regard to evaluating growth related ordinances: Pages of the Plan list seven strategies for conservation and preservation along the byway. The focus of the byway planning effort is on the use of existing programs and policies, especially the use of conservation and preservation easements, rather than on growth related ordinances. Page 42 of the plan identifies the recommendations for extending and expanding the application of historic district design guidelines. With regard to the number of tourists and the amount of traffic already being served by these byways, and the existing tourist base: Unfortunately, there is no existing and available information regarding the number of tourists using these byways. Traffic volumes are included on page 12 and 13, but identifying which vehicles are there primarily to travel on the byway, and which are there for some other purpose is beyond the scope of this study. The volume of visitor counts are very low in this area, with the largest numbers of visitors going to Historic St. Mary s City and to Thomas Stone (or perhaps the Bass Tournament). The one of the goals of the effort is to increase the tourism base. Comments Received from Maryland Department of Environment

8 Memorandum Page 8 In response to the comments received from MDE (see attached letter) please note the following: No construction will take place as a direct result of this plan. The letter will be included in the appendix of the plan and be referenced when future implementation projects take place. Comments Received from Prince George s County In order to facilitate the educational goals of the program, a system of a visitor center and interpretative sites should be developed to tell the thematic story of the Byway; otherwise, the descriptive title of "Religious Freedom' doesn t make sense Such a system is proposed in Strategy 2.1 The Byway Management Plan also addresses the issues of development and sprawl. Although a regional approach is rightly emphasized, provision should be made for strategic design and planning assistance for participating communities in the Byway. Page 42, add to end of Strategy 1.6 Efforts should be made to work with regional partners to establish a design assistance center for providing information and advice to landowners regarding tools and techniques for ensuring that new construction projects help to maintain the character defining features of the byway. This design assistance could be initiated through existing programs such as through the National Endowment for the Arts Your Town: The Citizens Institute on Rural Design program or the National Trust for Historic Preservation s Community and Countryside Workshops. This may help establish a foundation for the design guidance services on a more permanent basis for the byway and Southern Maryland region. Part of the Byway Management Plan implementation should include public workshops and other opportunities for local residents to express the desire to conserve the open space qualities of their region along the Byway roads See note above regarding Your Town and Community and Countryside Workshops Uniform roadway enhancement projects and program "branding" initiatives should be implemented. So noted these recommendations are included throughout the plan Suggestion from Marci Ross and Ann Kyle, Maryland Office of Tourism Development Ms. Ross and Ms. Kyle suggested changing the name of the byway to more broadly represent the national significance of the byway themes. - America s First Freedom (Byway): The Quest for Religious Tolerance. Historic Saint Mary s City, director of research, Henry Miller suggested "America's First Right: Religious Freedom" as the most accurate name. The name change would require a coordinated revision to the name plates on signs already in use, and a commitment to a printed map and/guide or brochure with the new name at the same time as designation of the Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. This is being investigated further as to the logistics.

9 Memorandum Page 9 In response to the need to ensure that the themes of the byway represent the national significance, the main theme will be changed as follows: P47 the change the first paragraph under Primary Interpretive Theme and Sub-Themes; to read: Primary Interpretive Theme and Sub-Themes: America s First Freedom: The Quest for Religious Tolerance The establishment of a colonial settlement on the shores of the Potomac River was a bold endeavor fraught with difficulties. Among the four earliest English settlements along the east coast of North America, the original vision for the colony introduced the concepts of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state to North America. Though overwhelmed at the time by religious rivalry and conflict, these concepts later became founding principles of the United States Constitution, documented in the First Amendment.