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Ghosts on the landscape
Apr. 12th, 2008 07:23 am
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sasha_feather for sending this my way. It's so interesting. As a Vermonter I sort of intuitively get both the concern for ancient roads and the importance of "public access." The article frames it as an issue of tourism (cross country skiers, snowmobilers, etc.), but it's also an issue of the size of property lots in the state - access is often an issue regardless of historical landmarks. I mean, my parents had people shoot guns across their lawn in protest of putting up "no trespassing" signs. On the other hand, Vermonters highly value property rights. I used to joke when civil unions were passed that Vermonters value property values so much it extends to issues like that - "do whatever you want on your own property." I also just love "ghosts on the landscape."
Vermont Towns Try to Find Their Roads Less Traveled
By ABBY GOODNOUGH, The New York Times, April 11, 2008
WOODSTOCK, Vt. — In the slow-paced towns of Vermont, musty archive vaults are getting a curious amount of foot traffic this year.
With magnifying glasses to decode old handwriting and tissues for dust-induced sneezing, citizen volunteers are poring over record books with a common, increasingly urgent purpose: finding evidence of every road ever legally created in their towns, including many that are now impassable and all but unobservable.
The point is to comply with a 2006 state law that gives Vermont’s cities and towns until early next year to identify all their “ancient roads.” At that point, they can add the elusive roads to official town maps, ensuring that they remain public, or turn them over to owners of adjoining land.
Unlike many other states, where towns automatically forfeit rights to roads that go unused for years, Vermont requires that they remain public until formally discontinued. That has brought fights between towns and landowners whose property abuts or even intersects ancient roads, with the towns eager to preserve public access for outdoor pursuits and the owners seeking clear titles and privacy.
( Read More )
sasha_feather for sending this my way. It's so interesting. As a Vermonter I sort of intuitively get both the concern for ancient roads and the importance of "public access." The article frames it as an issue of tourism (cross country skiers, snowmobilers, etc.), but it's also an issue of the size of property lots in the state - access is often an issue regardless of historical landmarks. I mean, my parents had people shoot guns across their lawn in protest of putting up "no trespassing" signs. On the other hand, Vermonters highly value property rights. I used to joke when civil unions were passed that Vermonters value property values so much it extends to issues like that - "do whatever you want on your own property." I also just love "ghosts on the landscape."Vermont Towns Try to Find Their Roads Less Traveled
By ABBY GOODNOUGH, The New York Times, April 11, 2008
WOODSTOCK, Vt. — In the slow-paced towns of Vermont, musty archive vaults are getting a curious amount of foot traffic this year.
With magnifying glasses to decode old handwriting and tissues for dust-induced sneezing, citizen volunteers are poring over record books with a common, increasingly urgent purpose: finding evidence of every road ever legally created in their towns, including many that are now impassable and all but unobservable.
The point is to comply with a 2006 state law that gives Vermont’s cities and towns until early next year to identify all their “ancient roads.” At that point, they can add the elusive roads to official town maps, ensuring that they remain public, or turn them over to owners of adjoining land.
Unlike many other states, where towns automatically forfeit rights to roads that go unused for years, Vermont requires that they remain public until formally discontinued. That has brought fights between towns and landowners whose property abuts or even intersects ancient roads, with the towns eager to preserve public access for outdoor pursuits and the owners seeking clear titles and privacy.
( Read More )
