Graphics by Raybould Associates
Isle of Wight Master Plan & Design Guidelines
Isle of Wight County, Virginia (2006)
Established in 1634, Isle of Wight County is one of the oldest county governments in the United States. Located at the confluence of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay, the County experienced a growth rate of 19% between 1990 and 2000. However, because of very deliberate growth management policies enacted by the County to approximately 2% to 3%. Despite their recent successes in managing growth, there is concern that the Route 17 corridor, which connects Southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina, including the Lower and Middle Peninsulas, will be overwhelmed with strip commercial development.
The Walker Collaborative (TWC) was hired by the County as part of a consultant team led by Raybould Associates to create a plan and design guidelines to help shape the corridor's future growth. TWC had the lead role in two key components of the project: public input and the creation of the design guidelines. The design guidelines address all basic facets of the corridor's physical attributes, including: streets, blocks, lots, buildings, architectural design, and site features, such as landscaping, lighting and signage. The design guidelines are used by the County to serve as a gauge by which to evaluate all proposed future development within the Route 17 corridor.