Scenic Corridor and Trail-Oriented Development Plan for Charles City County, Virginia

The Virginia Capital Trail is a multi-use path that runs from Richmond to Jamestown, Virginia. Much of the trail goes through Charles City County. Charles City is a rural county with an estimated population of ~7,000 (2018). The county is part of the Richmond Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The population declined three percent since 2010, and many residents commute to work in other parts of the MSA. The trail parallels scenic Route 5 through most of the county. The county considers the trail and the scenery along the corridor as assets. The Scenic Corridor and Trail-Oriented Development Plan for Charles City County proposes trail-oriented development and scenic corridor protection, balancing the preservation of both the trail experience and rural character with the need and desire for economic development. The plan supplements the county’s current comprehensive plan, economic development plan, and small areas plans. Research and analysis looked at comparative case studies, modern planning practices for rural areas, and ESRI Business Analyst for a broad market assessment. Key recommendations include nodal development, density and mixed-use guidelines, and a focus on safety for trail-users.