The residents of the Town of Stanford (the Town)
consider the rural tranquillity, scenic beauty and historic character
of the Town to be assets of the greatest importance in determining
the character of the Town. This law strives to preserve the visual
quality of some of the Town's roads while ensuring the safety of the
users of these roads. The roads deemed important to remain in rural
condition may be designated scenic roads by the Town of Stanford Town
Board for the purpose of controlling any future changes to them.
The objectives of the Scenic Roads Local Law
are for the common good and to:
A. Preserve, improve and protect the present quality
and character of designated scenic roads of the Town;
B. Recognize the contribution the Town's road system
has made and will make to the rural character, scenic beauty, historic
and cultural heritage, uniqueness and quality of life in the Town;
C. Recognize that the Town's road system is an integral
part of the diverse environment of the Town and that the roads and
alterations and improvements to them affect the ecology contiguous
to the roads;
D. Recognize that there are specific unique features
which contribute to the beauty and enjoyment of the Town's roads;
E. Determine the most appropriate balance between the
responsibilities of the Town Highway Department to maintain Town roads
to the required standards and the desires of residents to maintain
the aesthetic quality of designated scenic roads; in determining this
balance, the long-term objective of preserving and protecting the
irreplaceable scenic road assets shall outweigh short-term maintenance
procedures.
F. Recognize that Town roads should continue to provide
safe, confident use to residents and transients and at the same time
offer, as well as enhance where possible, the wealth of aesthetic
features already in place and there to be enjoyed;
G. Recognize the many fragile components that are connected
with Town roads which are presently taken for granted; this article
recognizes that fragility and that once eliminated or adversely altered,
these resources may be irreplaceable; and
H. Recognize that it is the intent of the Town of Stanford
that all activities on or along Town roads conform to relevant law.
Prior to designating a road as a scenic road,
the Town Board must find that at least two of the following criteria
are met:
A. The road is bordered by mature trees or stone walls;
B. The traveled portion of the road is no more than 20
feet in width;
C. The road offers views of near or distant landscapes;
D. The road is compatible with the natural environment
and is integrated well with the surrounding terrain;
E. The road is not paved; or
F. The road has significant scenic, recreational, cultural,
natural or historic features that once altered are irreplaceable.
Examples of these features might include:
(1) Memorable or unusual landscape elements bordering
the road;
(2) A section of road that is particularly appealing to
bikers, hikers or horseback riders for its specific characteristics;
(3) A road that passes through or abuts upon a traditional
working landscape, i.e., farming, orchards, etc., where alteration
of the road would diminish the significance of the landscape;
(4) A road that passes through or abuts unusual geologic
formations, topography, water resources, wetlands or habitats for
rare or endangered wildlife; or
(5) A road that passes through or abuts a site of historical
importance where altering the road would diminish the impact of the
historical reference.
The following standards shall guide Highway Department routine road maintenance and emergency repairs on or along scenic roads (or portions thereof) and shall be considered by the Planning Board in evaluating proposals identified in §
164-71D above:
A. Vehicular speeds. Scenic values are correlated with
lower vehicular speeds. The impact of the alteration or improvement
on the existing speed of vehicular traffic along the scenic road shall
be determined. The lower speed limit shall be posted and suitably
enforced.
B. Curves. Scenic values correlate with the existence
of curves in a roadway which allow a constant unfolding or new and
changing views. Curves shall not be eliminated unless they constitute
a safety hazard and unless no reasonable economically practicable
alternative, such as lower speed limits, could address safety concerns.
C. Grades. Hills and valleys and corresponding changes
in typography and road grades are correlated with scenic values. Changing
grades through cuts and fills shall not be undertaken unless necessary
for road safety.
D. Widths. Narrow roads correlate with scenic beauty,
especially when surrounded by natural vegetation and a canopy of trees.
Scenic roads, or portions thereof, shall not be widened unless there
are no other reasonable, economically practicable alternatives, such
as construction of wide bypasses and turnouts at intervals where they
will have the least impact on scenic values.
E. Side slopes. Existing steepness of side slopes is
preferred to reduction of gradient through extensive removal of soil,
rock and slope, particularly where the slope is fully stabilized and
has extensive ground cover, shrubs or trees.
F. Vistas. Roadside views of near and distant scenic
landscapes shall be preserved and, where possible, enhanced through
vegetative management and selective cutting to maintain or open up
such views.
G. Stone walls. Stone walls shall be retained wherever
possible. If stone walls or portions thereof must be removed for safety
reasons, they should be rebuilt in a comparable manner within the
untraveled portion of right-of-way of the scenic road.
H. Road surface. Often a road surface, in combination
with other scenic features, contributes to the scenic quality of a
roadway. Changing the surface of a scenic road, or portion thereof,
shall be authorized only after the Planning Board has examined all
alternatives and determined that changing the surface is the only
reasonable alternative.
I. Utility lines. Wherever possible, utility lines should
be placed underground. Where they are overhead, the utility corporations
should be encouraged to cooperate by implementing suitable vegetation
management techniques which preserve the wildflowers and the shrubs.
J. Vegetation. Vegetation on the side of the road shall
be managed in such a way as to preserve flowers, shrubs, wildlife
and trees. Overarching isolated trees, and the canopy of a closed
forest, are valuable scenic qualities and should be preserved wherever
possible. Maintenance of scenic roads shall be done so as to minimize
root damage to bordering trees.
K. Drainage ditches. Drainage swales shall be vegetated
or lined with stones in areas subject to erosion.
The official scenic road will be recorded on
New York State's inventory of the Town of Stanford Highways.