At its regular meeting on September 12 Middleburg followed up the opening of the new Salamander Resort and Spa with the adoption of a new set of guidelines for the evolution of Washington Street, Route 50, the town's main thoroughfare and the retail heart of Middleburg.

The Washington Street Improvement Plan was formally was made possible by a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and was first formally presented to Council on July 11 by the consulting firm Rhodeside & Harwell.

The plan presents a "vision" of an evolved Washington Street, with illustrated general guidelines for tree placement, care and preservation, improved signage for visitors, the design care and maintenance of brick sidewalk, improved parking meter technology, new dark-sky-friendly streetlights, and more.

With Council's formal endorsement Town staff will now be able to pursue outside funding for the suggested additions and improvements more effectively. Historic District Review Committee Chairman William Turnure reported that his committee had focused on improving efficiency while minimizing disruptive change.

Planning Commission Chairman Stephen Plescow emphasized the importance of careful planning for what would be the necessarily slow step-by-step implementation of the plan as funds become available.

Town Administrator Martha Semmes reported that the first project covered by the plan to be completed would most likely be it crosswalk project in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The new formal vision for street lighting, she noted, would help make the case for the state to install conduit under the new crosswalks to avoid later digging and disruption.

Council adopted the plan for use as a general guideline and "vision" statement, without objection.