The historic waterfront town of
Oxford, Maryland has maintained a charming personality and enduring sense of neighborhood
since it was first settled in 1683. Oxford gained prominence in the late 1600s as the
Eastern Shore’s first Port of Entry, and it continued to serve as a major port for
about 75 years, with ships from England purchasing tobacco from nearby plantations. In the
21st century, it's quiet charm and scenic waterfront vistas continue to provide a year
round haven to sailors and tourists from all over the East Coast.
In February, 2000,
Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC (formerly Redman/Johnston
Associates) was selected to assist Oxford in the design and preparation of an entry plan
for the Town. The project’s focus is on the quality of the entrances to the Town and
the establishment of development and design guidance to insure that the gateway to the
community presents a positive and appropriate visual image that is consistent with the
18th century character of the historic neighborhoods as well as the more modern elements
of the community that the Town desires to maintain. The project involves the Town’s
Planning Commission and the community at-large in a consensus building process that will
insure the recommendations represent the community’s vision for Oxford.
PJA coordinated the deliberations of
the Planning Commission with those of a "streetscape task force" that is
concurrently working the State Highway Administration on improvements within the
right-of-way of MD 333, the major access route to Oxford. The preliminary recommendations
of the two groups address street alignment, landscape, signage, appearance guidelines and
public art throughout the corridor. When implemented, these recommendations will not only
improve the appearance of the Town’s primary gateways, but will also effectively
reduce vehicular traffic speeds, improve pedestrian access and safety and reduce harmful
run-off currently discharging into the Chesapeake Bay.
