Selectmen Hear Scenic Road Application, Council To Make Final Decision
A group of neighbors on Stone Bridge Trail have begun the application process to have their road designated a scenic road.
The Board of Selectmen heard information about the application at its January 6 meeting, but the final decision will rest with the Legislative Council, which next meets on January 22.
First Selectman Jeff Capeci said it was a “lengthy application process” with a “bunch of criteria that has to be met”; and the road “meets the criteria, as far as I can tell.”
The criteria are, according to the application: The road is unpaved, the road is bordered by mature trees or stone walls, the traveled portion is no more than 20 feet wide, the road offers scenic views, the road blends naturally into the surrounding terrain, and the road runs parallel to or crosses a body or multiple bodies of water.
Capeci said a number of department heads including Public Works and Police have reviewed the application and had no concerns, but the chief of Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue said that while the current road width is “functional,” increasing the width of the road would increase access for fire department apparatus.
The designation allows the road to be no wider than 20 feet wide, which is below the Newtown standard of 22 feet wide. Stone Bridge Trail is currently 14 feet wide. The residents are also hoping that the road will not be paved.
Developer Mike D’Amato, who is building seven homes at 3 Stone Bridge Trail, agreed to pave the road from Berkshire Road up to his subdivision as part of the conditions of approval for his subdivision.
The scenic section would be 1,049 feet of the road, or about 43 percent of its total length of 2,383 feet, and represents the section not to be paved by the developer.
According to the application, the section of road includes “a stone bridge which crosses over a stream that cascades down the mountain in a stunning scene — believed to be the road’s namesake dating back to the Revolutionary War era.” The road is “lined by stone walls and mature trees, several of which are native species.”
“Winding through dense forest landscape on one side and wetland on the other, the road offers endless views of forest habitats, rock formations, scenic overlooks of mountains on the horizon, a babbling stream, dense bog, and much more that any visitor to the site will be entranced by,” states the application.
According to applicant Aliya Hafiz, the purpose of the application is preservation.
“Significant changes have come to the neighborhoods, this will help protect the area in front of the residences,” said Hafiz.
Resident Melanie Roman agreed, saying the scenic road designation is being sought for the road’s “natural beauty.”
“It is spectacular,” said Roman.
Hafiz said that residents of the neighborhood are also concerned with conservation of the land across from the new development, as well as the plan by the developer to blast rock in an area neighboring the Iroquois gas pipeline.
“That is majorly concerning to residents,” said Hafiz. “We’re concerned about potential outcomes from blasting so close to the pipeline.”
Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.