§ 190-3. Procedure to designate scenic roads.

A. 

Designation process.

(1) 

The Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, or by petition of citizens of the Town (consistent with petition requirements to place an article on the warrant) may propose "scenic road" status for any road in Blackstone other than a numbered route or state highway as a scenic road. The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing on the petition, notifying the Selectmen, the Tree Warden, the DPW Director, the Conservation Commission, and the Historical Commission, and advertising twice in a newspaper of general circulation, the first advertisement at least 14 days prior to the date of the public hearing.

(2) 

The Planning Board shall make a recommendation to the Town Meeting on the merits of designation of the proposed road as a scenic road.

(3) 

A majority vote of Town Meeting is required for designation. Such designation shall be effective as of the date of Town Meeting action. Any work on any portion of the right-of-way of a scenic road which was not physically commenced at the time the road was designated as a scenic road shall conform to these regulations.

B. 

Criteria for designation as a scenic road. The Planning Board, Conservation Commission, or Historical Commission shall, in determining which roads or portions of roads should be recommended for designation as scenic roads, consider the following criteria:

(1) 

Overall scenic beauty;

(2) 

Contribution of trees to scenic beauty;

(3) 

Contribution of stone walls to scenic beauty;

(4) 

Age and historic significance of road, trees and stone walls.

C. 

Notification of designation as scenic road. Upon designation by Town Meeting of any road or portion thereof as a scenic road, the Planning Board shall take the following steps within 30 days of such designation:

(1) 

Notify all municipal departments that may take action with respect to such road;

(2) 

Notify the State Department of Public Works;

(3) 

Notify the Commissioners of Worcester County;

(4) 

Indicate such designation on maps currently in use by municipal departments, as appropriate; and

(5) 

Notify all utility companies or other parties that may be working in or around such road.