Scenic Roads

The town of Woodstock has an Ordinance Concerning the Designation of Scenic Roads, which became effective in 1986.Section 2 says that the Planning Commission can only designate roads as scenic if they are free of intensive commercial development and intensive vehicular traffic, and meet at least one of the following criteria. They are:

• unpaved; bordered by mature trees or stone walls;
• traveled portion is not more than 20 feet in width;
• offer scenic views; blend naturally into the surrounding terrain;
• or parallel or cross over brooks, streams, lakes, or ponds.

Nothing prohibits an owner of land abutting the road from doing things on their own land (in accordance with any other applicable town regulations), as long as it is not on the right-of-way of the road. However, Section 4 states that roads designated as scenic under the Ordinance cannot be altered or improved (e.g., widening [beyond 20 feet] the right of way or the traveled portion of the road, paving, changes of grade, removal of stone bridges, straightening, removal of stone walls, and removal of mature trees), except for good cause. An example of good cause for removing a mature tree would be that it presents a threat to the public because it is dead or dying or has been damaged by a storm The town does have to maintain the roads in good repair.

Before the Planning Commission would approve an alteration or improvement of scenic road, they must schedule a public hearing.The Selectman, Highway Supervisors, and owners with frontage on the scenic road are notified of the public hearing.

In order to designate a road as scenic under the Ordinance, the people who live on the road have to agree that they want this designation. Then a form has to be completed and filed with the Planning Commission, after which it will go to a public hearing. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission either votes for or against it.

Currently, the following roads are designated as scenic in Woodstock, including 15 improved gravel and paved scenic roads for a total of 9.83 miles:

More Information and References:

• See the scenic roads map on Woodstock Conservation Commission Maps webpage (Bradford corner not shown.)
• Click here for a copy of Woodstock's Scenic Road Ordinance - MS Word or PDF format.
• Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance for Dirt and Gravel Roads (EPA Manual)