Panhandle is prominent
in Scenic Roadway Plan
County hoping to enhance and preserve its scenic roadway system
By jane meggitt
Correspondent

Based on a countywide scenic roadway plan, the panhandle area ranks highest in miles of scenic byways.

The Monmouth County Planning Board approved a draft of the Monmouth County Scenic Roadway Plan as an element of the Monmouth County Growth Management Guide on Sept. 17.

Local roads included in the plan are Route 27 in Upper Freehold (sections of Holmes Mill, Burlington Path, Arneytown-Hornerstown roads, and Main Street); Route 43 (sections of Imlaystown-Hightstown, Davis Station and Imlaystown roads in Upper Freehold); Route 524 (sections of South and North Main Street in Allentown, Old York and New Canton-Stone Tavern roads in Upper Freehold, and Stagecoach Road in Millstone).

Also Route 526 (sections of Waker Street in Allentown, Allentown-Red Valley Road in Upper Freehold, and Trenton-Lakewood Road in Millstone); Route 539 (High Street in Allentown, sections of Allentown-Davis Station, Forked River, and Old York roads in Upper Freehold).

Also Route 571 (sections of Perrineville and Rising Sun Tavern roads in Millstone, and N. Rochdale Ave. and Clarksburg Road in Roosevelt); as well as the Allentown Bypass and Sharon Station Roadway in Upper Freehold as proposed scenic roadways not currently in the system.

Jeffrey Valiante, senior planner for the Monmouth County Planning Board and author of the draft, explained that the goals of the plan were to identify and enhance scenic roadways in the county, develop alternative design guidelines for the county in its development review process and capital improvement projects, and bring design guidelines/enhancements to municipal and other government agencies.

The plan, according to Valiante, has the "potential in the county for beautifying roadways and the landscapes around them." The plan states that scenic roadways "possess such a high degree of visual quality that driving, biking or walking along these roadways is a pleasurable experience."

He noted that implementation of the plan, which involves only county roads, started a few years ago, working with developers for design guidelines. Now the plan will be brought, through meetings to municipalities, so that towns may establish their own scenic roadway plans. The staff of the county board will be available to provide technical assistance.

There was a public comment section of the meeting, but no participants. Board member Dr. William Warters, Lincroft section of Middletown, commented, "Scenic [views were] natural 40 years ago. With population and growth, it is important to focus attention on this."

A total of 134 miles of county roads are eligible for the plan. Ratings are done in half-mile increments. County roadways are identified as having positive attributes, including but not limited to: panoramic views, dune vegetation, historic buildings, natural focal points, seasonal changes, agricultural pattern and stone walls or wooden fences.

Negative attributes would include: severe erosion, dilapidated structures, overhead utility lines and corridors, litter, high traffic volume, excessive curb cuts, inappropriate fencing, out-of-context development, obtrusive signage and lighting, strip development and other unaesthetic factors.

Roadways will be reviewed every six years for landscape and other changes. According to the plan, "All scenic roadways traverse through an environment composed of multiple elements [natural, man-made, historical, cultural, recreational, view, topographical]. The environment, through which a person travels, affects both their visual and psychological perceptions and impressions."

The Scenic Roadway Program also will be coordinated with other efforts, such as historic preservation and environmental commissions, open space and farmland preservation programs, and Monmouth County Clean Communities, which sponsors the Adopt A Roadway program.

There is also a N.J. Scenic Byways Program, prepared by the state Department of Transportation in 1995. Eligibility requirements for the state program include a minimum route length of five miles, with "significant opportunities to observe waterways, skylines, mountain tops or ridges and other features of natural, historic or recreational interest."