bizSearchLewes Scenic Byway corridor management planning under way
Smaller focus groups for each road in the byway network are now being formed and a preliminary schedule is set up with meetings beginning in October. The purpose of the focus groups is to formulate strategies and recommendations for preserving and enhancing the byways intrinsic qualities on each road. There will be six focus groups: New Road, Pilottown Road/Front Street, Savannah Road, Kings Highway, Gills Neck Road and Cape Henlopen Drive.
The first focus group meeting will concern New Road at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20. Anyone who is interested in participating in this group or any other focus group should contact Delaware Greenways at hwaite@delawaregreenways.org.
The byway program consists of a two-step process. The first step involved producing a nomination application, where the qualities of the proposed byway network roads were assessed and evaluated with extensive public involvement. The Lewes Byway nomination was prepared by Delaware Greenways on behalf of the city in January, 2009, submitted to the Delaware Department of Transportation and approved in that same year.
The group has now begun step two of the process that requires completing a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for the byway through a consensus building process. The CMP will address preservation and enhancement of the byway’s intrinsic qualities (scenic, historic, natural, recreational and archeological), transportation and traffic safety, tourism and visitor experience, marketing and resource interpretation, and byway education and stewardship.
Work will be done in two phases, with the first phase focusing on developing detailed recommendations and implementation strategies through a public outreach process. Delaware Greenways is leading the planning efforts for this first phase.
A larger Lewes Scenic Byway Advisory Committee was recently formed by Delaware Greenways to provide guidance throughout this process on the formulation of strategies and recommendations that can preserve and enhance the byway resources. It includes representatives of the various stakeholders, landowners, businesses, organizations, institutions, government agencies and elected officials along the byway route. The first advisory committee meeting was held Sept. 21 in Lewes, kicking off the start of the CMP process. A presentation was made on byway corridor management planning and was followed by a discussion on various issues along the byway route.
Members anticipate that the first phase of this process will be completed within approximately six months. There will also be a public meeting as part of this public outreach process. For information contact gvangilder@delawaregreenways.org.
