Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Hill-Rd-scenic

Full Text:

Bid Made For Walnut Tree Hill Rd Scenic Status

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Residents of a section of Walnut Tree Hill Road are seeking scenic road

designation for the road through their neighborhood. Their request may be a

long shot.

On Monday, the Board of Selectmen declined to accept the application because

it was incomplete. According to Town Clerk Cindy Curtis Simon, the application

lacked the sufficient number of signatures from property owners. However, even

with more signatures, this application is unlikely to fly, according to First

Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

"Based on conversations I have had, I don't believe roads like this were

intended," he said. "The ordinance says scenic roads are supposed to be free

of intensive traffic."

Virginia Zimmerman Gutbrod of 4 Walnut Tree Hill Road thinks otherwise. She

said "intensive traffic" is a relative thing and pointed out that the

ordinance does not give an actual definition of what a busy thoroughfare is.

"If you come from an urban area, then Route 25 and Church Hill Road are the

only traffic intensive roads," she said. "It's a matter of perspective."

Mrs Zimmerman Gutbrod grew up in New York City, although she has also lived in

North Dakota.

The applicants are seeking scenic road status for Walnut Tree Hill Road at its

intersection with Church Hill Road to Black Bridge Road, a road length of

9,700 feet.

The homeowners believe the road is deserving of scenic road status because it

is a "historical, irreplaceable resource." Several antique home lines the

street as do tree farms, orchards, stone walls, ponds and vistas.

"The preservation of the road's aesthetic beauty and unfolding sense of

community are the drive behind the petition," the application stated.

It is not a back road, but it has been there a long time, Mrs Zimmermann said.

The Conservation Commission on September 9 voted to recommend the road not be

changed. The need for potential road improvements and design flexibility to

protect the wetland areas and other natural features on the road may be

jeopardized by the scenic road designation, the commission ruled.

The Planning & Zoning Commission concurred, although it did not take a final

vote.

There are 102 property owners for that section of Walnut Tree Hill Road.

In June, Mrs Zimmermann Gutbrod of 4 Walnut Tree Hill Road wrote a letter to

Mr Rosenthal stating her concerns over plans to widen her "rambling country

road."

"The only thing you get when you widen a road is increased speed," she

explained. "It doesn't make the road safer, just faster."

The Legislative Council, which has the final say on all scenic road

applications, rejected requests made by New Lebbon and Washbrook roads this

past April. The decisions were met with harsh criticism by residents, who

claimed they met all the criteria required for scenic road status.

Mrs Zimmermann Gutbrod said the town's "window" is so narrow, she wonders if

any road will end up being designated scenic -- besides, of course, Sanford

Road, which was given its scenic status a year ago.