Date: Thu 02-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

selectmen-Washbrook-scenic

Full Text:

Residents Ask That Washbrook Road Be Declared Scenic

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Residents of Washbrook Road have filed an application with the Board of

Selectmen seeking a scenic road designation.

The selectmen are scheduled to take up the matter at their regular meeting

next Monday night.

If approved, Washbrook Road would become the second road in Newtown to receive

the scenic road status since the ordinance creating such a designation was

adopted by the Legislative Council in June. In November, the council voted

unanimously to designate Sanford Road as a scenic road, making it the first

road in town to be assured that its beauty will be protected. Ox Hill Road in

the Hattertown District has also applied, but the application has yet to be

reviewed by the Board of Selectmen.

In October, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved an application for

Riverview Condominiums, a 49-unit housing complex (with 13 affordable housing

units) on the section of Washbrook Road behind Sand Hill Plaza. Residents say

this application has little to do with the Riverview Condominium plans, they

simply want to keep their road unpaved. Their hope is that once Washbrook Road

receives scenic-road status it will become forever free of the threat of any

major road alterations or improvements, such as widening of the right-of-way,

paving, grade changes, straightening and the removal of stone walls and mature

trees.

"We like living on a dirt road," explained Peter Gucciardo of 14 Washbrook

Road. "It minimizes traffic speed."

If paved, residents fear Washbrook Road would become a shortcut for speeders

between Cold Spring Road and Meadowbrook Road.

As the 30 residents of the road who signed the petition point out, Washbrook

Road is an unpaved road "offering many scenic views which are enjoyed by all

those who travel it."

Washbrook Road is part of the bridle path for the Meadowbrook Farms.

The petition drive was led by Isabel Sodoski of 19 Washbrook Road.

Scenic road status gives a street protection against major alterations and can

present difficulties for developers. However, the recently approved ordinance

cannot be used to stop development.