By Steve Bigham

Zoar Road became the second Newtown thoroughfare to receive scenic road status after the Legislative Council voted unanimously in favor of the designation Wednesday night.

Zoar Road joins Sanford Road (off Echo Valley Road) as the only other road in town to receive this status.

The council approved the move this week without any discussion.

The application was filed earlier this year by resident Michael Osborne and about 10 other homeowners on Zoar Road — a 4,224-foot dirt road that juts off Berkshire Road/Route 34 and winds its way through the woods before intersecting with Bennetts Bridge Road. All 11 homeowners signed the petition requesting the road be considered for scenic road status.

The Osborne family owns a large tract of land on the road. Council member Brian White, who is related to the Osbornes by marriage, abstained from voting. His wife, Susan White — the daughter of James and Betty Lou Osborne — pumped her fist after the vote. She told the council that she would be sure to inform her parents of the news.

According to the Zoar Road application, the majority of the road is unpaved, is bordered by mature trees and stone walls, and is no more than 20 feet in width. It offers scenic views, blends naturally into the surrounding terrain, and crosses ponds, rivers, and streams. The road fronts farmland and an area designated as a tree farm. Animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, and donkeys can be seen grazing in fields along the road.

The homes on Zoar Road were built during an era between 1700 and 1800. Two watercourses cross under the road — one by an old icehouse next to the road and the other draining from a large skating pond. It is part of a watershed that eventually drains into Lake Zoar.

"We that live along the road feel it is a special road that captures a look at the past and more than satisfies the goal of the scenic road ordinance with its natural landscapes and visual quality," the application states. "Zoar Road reminds everyone of the past history of our region with its visual quality and it should be recognized and preserved as a scenic road by our community. It is an important resource to protect."

The Legislative Council came under fire nearly two years ago when it rejected the scenic road application for Washbrook Road. Members said that while the street was very pretty, it did not quite meet their standards for what a scenic road should be. The council's decision infuriated Washbrook Road residents who felt their road met all the criteria.

The revised ordinance simply includes a statement that there are "no guarantees" that the application is going to be approved, even if it meets all of the criteria. Ordinance committee members had believed that point was implied. Their experience with the Washbrook Road residents showed them that not everyone interpreted the ordinance that way. The Washbrook Road residents have also opposed the revised ordinance, saying it is in direct conflict with the enabling state statute.

Washbrook Road resident Don Hammalian stated a year ago that the rewritten ordinance conveys a strong underlying message to residents of such roads. The message is: "We don't care if 100 percent of residents want it, and that your road meets the criteria. You really don't have a voice in this matter. We make the decisions and we don't have to explain them."