[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Wallingford 5-24-1988 by Ord. No. 363. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-149a, the Town of Wallingford established the following standards and procedures for the designation of certain roads as scenic roads.
A. 
In order to be designated a scenic road, the road must be free of intensive commercial development and vehicular traffic.
[Amended 9-27-1988 by Ord. No. 367]
B. 
The road must meet at least one of the following criteria:
(1) 
It is unpaved;
(2) 
It is bordered by mature trees or stone walls;
(3) 
The traveled portion is no more than 20 feet in width;
(4) 
It offers scenic views;
(5) 
It blends naturally into the surrounding terrain; or
(6) 
It parallels or crosses over brooks, streams, lakes or ponds.
The Town Council shall have the power to designate scenic roads.
An owner of lot frontage abutting the proposed scenic road or portion of said road may apply for the designation of said road as a scenic road. Applications shall be filed with the Town Clerk. A written statement shall accompany the application listing the names, addresses and signatures of the owners of a majority of lot frontage abutting the road or portion of road approving of the designation. No road may be designated as a scenic road without such approval.
The Town Council shall hold a public hearing on all applications for designation of scenic roads. Notice of the hearing shall be given at least 10 days in advance by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in said town and by posting a notice in a public place. In addition to the published notice, the applicant shall mail notification of the pending application to the owners of all land abutting the road or a portion of road to be designated as a scenic road not more than 15 days or less than 10 days before the date set for public hearing. The notification shall specify the road or portion of road to be designated as a scenic road and the date, time and place of the public hearing. Proof of the mailing, by certified mail, shall be submitted to the Town Clerk along with the names and addresses of said owners not less than five days before the hearing date.
Upon receipt of said application, the Town Clerk shall send a copy of said application and hearing notice to the Town Engineer, Department of Public Works, Electric Department, Water Department and Sewer Authority.
The Town Council shall designate by resolution scenic roads. The Town Council shall have the discretion to reject any application if in the Council's opinion it is not in the best interest of the Town.
Any road or portion of road designated as a scenic road shall not be altered or improved without the consent of the Town Council. Designation as a scenic road does not prohibit future alterations or improvements on said road, including but not limited to widening of the right-of-way grade, straightening, removal of stone walls and removal of mature trees. The Town Council reserves the right to make any alteration or improvement it deems necessary to maintain the road in a safe condition and keep it in good and sufficient repair and in passable condition.
The scenic road designation may be rescinded if it fails to satisfy the criteria of § 174-2 and/or the owners of the majority of lot frontage abutting said road concur, in writing.