Development along a scenic or historic road shall preserve, maintain, and enhance the scenic or historic character of the landscape viewed from the road, and the achievement of maximum possible density is not a sufficient justification to allow impacts on a scenic or historic road. Development along a scenic or historic road shall occur in accordance with the following:
(1) structures and roads shall be designed to retain the open character of the site and to minimize the impact of the development on views from the road;
(2) structures and uses shall be located away from the road right-of-way unless sufficiently screened by topography or vegetation;
(3) development shall minimize tree and vegetation removal and protect existing vegetation adjacent to the road;
(4) the design shall minimize grading and retain existing slopes along the road frontage;
(5) development shall avoid having a rear facade oriented towards the road but, if that is unavoidable, the structure shall be set back as far as possible from the road;
(6) utilities, storm water management facilities, drainage structures, bridges, lighting, fences, and walls shall be located and designed to have the least impact, be unobtrusive, and harmonize with the surroundings and character of the road;
(7) the primary access or entrance to new development shall not be located on a scenic or historic road if any reasonable alternative access is available and, if unavailable, the primary access or entrance shall be located in an area that has the least impact to the scenic or historic qualities of the road;
(8) entrance features shall be low, open, and in keeping with the scenic or historic character of the surrounding area;
(9) road improvements required as a result of new development shall preserve, maintain, and enhance existing road alignments and be limited to those minimal improvements required for purposes of safety;
(10) there shall be a buffer of existing forest between the road and the proposed development that is sufficiently wide to preserve, maintain, or enhance the visual character of the road and, when there is inadequate existing forest to screen the development from the road, reforestation or landscaping shall be required to create a buffer;
(11) new structures shall be located to the extent practical behind natural screening or in or along the edges of forests, at the edges of fields and hedgerows, or near existing buildings;
(12) the development shall preserve the existing forest, tree canopy, foreground meadow, pasture, crop land, and other natural screening and shall be designed to place development in the background as viewed from the road;
(13) the scenic or historic character of each road shall guide the design of visible shoulders, curbs, and sidewalks; and
(14) the design shall include select materials for guardrails and bridges that are compatible with the surrounding character.
(Bill No. 3-05)