Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Ball-Washbrook-Road-scenic

Full Text:

One Resident Is Apprehensive About Life On A `Scenic' Road

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Life on a designated "scenic road" holds an appeal for many homeowners. They

like the idea of having their road protected from the major changes that can

come with residential development. The idea does not appeal to everyone,

however.

For people like Rick Ball of Washbrook Road, scenic road status may not be all

it's cracked up to be. He is hoping his road gets paved someday.

Mr Ball told the Board of Selectmen Monday how sick he is of all the mud, dust

and potholes he has had to put up with over the years as a homeowner on a dirt

road. If his road becomes scenic, it will remain a dirt road forever. Scenic

road status protects roads from widening, grade changes, and paving.

Apparently, Mr Ball's point of view is not widely held on his road, however,

since most of the residents (30 in all) of Washbrook Road recently signed a

petition seeking that their road in the Botsford area be deemed scenic by the

Legislative Council.

If paved, most of the residents fear Washbrook Road would become a shortcut

for speeders between Cold Spring Road and Meadowbrook Road.

The Board of Selectmen gave its OK on the application and passed it on to the

Legislative Council, which will have the final say.

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.

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