APPENDIX I Scenic Visual Analysis and Historic • APA Visual Impact Analysis Methodology I2-3 • National Historic Landmark Designation I4-12 • Scenic Byway Designation: State Highway Law, Article 12-C, Section 349 I13-21 I- 1 Visual Impact Assessment Methodology Agency and Department staff will consult on the need for a Visual Impact Assessment (VIA). Typically, VIAs would only be required in major reconstruction projects where there is a substantial visual change proposed in the highway corridor, or where the Department is proposing new or out-of-kind replacement buildings, bridges or other structures, or where there is significant vegetative cutting along State highways. The Department (and its Consultants, as appropriate) shall prepare a Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) of significant visual resources in accordance with current NYSDOT visual assessment policy. The VIA shall be prepared by or under the direct guidance of a registered landscape architect experienced in VIA preparation. In addition to the general methodology and subtasks outlined below, the Department shall consult with the Agency regarding any project-specific methodology and subtasks before starting the work. The Department shall prepare appropriate viewshed mapping for existing conditions, each design alternative, and the null alternative (wherever null alternative viewsheds at the design year would differ significantly from existing conditions) to define the physical limits of the affected visual environment. Delineate the relevant viewsheds on a 7.5 minute topographic map: Foreground (0 to 0.5 mile), middleground (0.5 to 3.5 miles) and background (3.5 to 5 miles). Indicate the location of all public use areas on this map. The Department shall identify each viewer group within the project area and determine the viewer exposure and viewer sensitivity of each group. The Department shall consult with the Agency to identify the key views and the range of significant visual resources for each viewer group. Agency staff should be present of any in-field analysis. Key views shall include the views of the project that best represent the visual environment for each design alternative. The Department shall prepare high quality representative photographs from each identified viewing location (i.e., photo station) keyed to the maps and showing both existing and proposed/simulated views. At least two, 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch photographs using 55mm and 85mm camera lenses should be provided from each photo station. Also provide GPS coordinates for each station. A third photograph using a 120mm or greater camera lens is recommended for each photo station to aid in the development of simulations. Higher camera lenses are also useful to simulate closer views from bodies of water when boats are not available or practical to take actual photographs from the water. All photographs should be labeled or indexed to a table describing the location the photograph was taken from and the size (mm) of the camera lens used. I- 2 The Department shall consult with the Agency to determine what constitutes sufficient detail for producing quality simulations, e. g., pavement delineation, guide rail, traffic control devices (overhead signs, signals, etc.), structure type (truss vs. contemporary), sidewalks, side roads, and any enhancements. Based on this information the Department shall produce the visual simulations and shall review initial drafts of them with the Agency before they are finalized. The Department shall assess the visual impacts of each design alternative and the null alternative, including changes to significant visual resources and probable viewer response to these changes. As agreed to in advance with Agency staff, separate representative line of sight profiles of actual visibility from each viewing location/photo station depicting the proposed structure, existing topography and heights of intervening vegetation may be required. The VIA shall include measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate negative visual impacts and to enhance positive impacts. Descriptions and costs of these measures shall be in sufficient detail for incorporation into the preliminary design and for use in evaluating relative advantages and disadvantages among the alternatives. The Department shall document this study in a Visual Impact Assessment report, to be presented as a technical appendix to the application made to the Agency. This report shall include color copies of the simulations. When mutually agreed upon, the Department shall submit a draft of this VIA report to the Agency in advance for preliminary review. The Department shall revise the draft report per Agency review comments before incorporating it into the application and Design Approval Document. I- 3 I- 4 I- 5 I- 6 I- 7 I- 8 I- 9 I- 10 I- 11 I- 12 Scenic Byway Designation: State Highway Law, Article 12-C, Section 349 Adirondack Trail Adirondack Trail Route Segments: Route I.D.: From: To: Route: Length: 30 22061 0.00 83.80 NY 30 83.80 30 72071 0.00 1.24 NY 30 1.24 30A21032 0.00 3.23 NY 30A 3.23 30A21031 0.00 0.65 NY 30A 0.65 30A21034 0.00 5.62 NY 30A 5.62 30A21033 0.00 1.26 NY 30A 1.26 30 72091 0.00 66.82 NY 30 66.82 30 75081 0.00 0.59 NY 30 0.59 30 21051 9.70 22.55 NY 30 12.85 30A25021 13.70 16.15 NY 30A 2.45 New York State Highway Law: Portion of State Highway System to be designated and known as the "Adirondack Trail": All that portion of the State Highway System beginning at Malone, traveling south on Route 30 through Lake Clear, Tupper Lake, Long Lake and Speculator; continuing from Speculator south on Route 30 through Wells and Northville to Riceville; continuing south from Riceville on Route 30A terminating at Route 5 in Fonda. I- 13 Scenic Byway Designation: State Highway Law, Article 12-C, Section 349 Central Adirondack Trail Central Adirondack Trail Route Segments: Route I.D.: From: To: Route: Length: 365 26013 0.00 11.95 NY 365 11.95 28 17101 0.00 21.43 NY 28 21.43 28 23081 0.00 20.78 NY 28 20.78 28 22091 0.00 49.30 NY 28 49.30 9 17102 0.00 17.09 US 9 17.09 L00058 0.00 1.27 L00058 1.27 28 26071 4.93 30.03 NY 28 25.10 46 26022 5.02 5.15 NY 46 0.13 365 26012 7.02 9.59 NY 365 2.57 New York State Highway Law: Portion of State Highway System to be designated and known as the "Central Adirondack Trail": All that portion of the State Highway System beginning at the Hudson River Bridge on Route 9 between the village of Glens Falls and the City of Glens Falls, continuing north on Route 9 to Lake George; continuing north from Lake George on Route 9 through Warrensburg; continuing northwest from Warrensburg on Routes 9 and 28 through North Creek and North River to Indian Lake; continuing west from Indian Lake on Routes 28 and 30 to Blue Mountain Lake; continuing southwest on Route 28 from Blue Mountain Lake through Inlet, Eagle Bay, Old Forge and Thendara to Woodgate; continuing southwest from Woodgate on Route 28 through Forestport to Alder Creek; continuing south from Alder Creek on Routes 28 and 12 to Barneveld; continuing southwest from Barneveld on Route 365 through Holland Patent to Rome, terminating at the Route 46, 69, 49 overlap in Rome. I- 14 Scenic Byway Designation: State Highway Law, Article 12-C, Section 349 Roosevelt Marcy Trail Roosevelt - Marcy Memorial Highway Segments: Route I.D.: From: To: Route: Length: 28N17031 0.00 4.54 NY 28N 4.54 28N12021 0.00 26.81 NY 28N 26.81 28N22011 10.60 19.60 NY 28N 9.00 New York State Highway Law: Portion of State Highway System to be designated and known as the "Roosevelt - Marcy Memorial Highway": All that portion of the State Highway System identified as running from the hamlet of North Creek in the county of Warren through the hamlets of Minerva and Newcomb in the county of Essex to the hamlet of Long Lake in the county of Hamilton shall be designated and known as the "Roosevelt - Marcy Memorial Highway". I- Olympic15 Byway Scenic Byway Designation: State Highway Law, Article 12-C, Section 349 Olympic Byway Segments: Route I.D.: From: To: Route: Length: 3 74041 0.00 11.43 NY 3 11.43 3 73033 0.00 10.78 NY 3 10.78 3 73032 0.00 4.20 NY 3 4.20 3 72061 0.00 25.41 NY 3 25.41 9N71041 0.00 11.82 NY 9N 11.82 86 12021 0.00 26.71 NY 86 26.71 3A73011 0.00 5.18 NY 3A 5.18 3 75051 0.00 54.89 NY 3 54.89 86 72011 12.40 12.46 NY 86 0.06 3 73033 20.58 26.15 NY 3 5.57 3 73031 23.62 29.25 NY 3 5.63 9N12031 61.41 67.39 NY 9N 5.98 New York State Highway Law: Portion of State Highway System to be designated and known as the "Olympic Byway": All that portion of the State Highway System beginning at the intersection of Route 180 and Route 3, continuing east on Route 3 through Watertown to Deferiet; continuing east from Deferiet on Route 3A to Fargo; continuing northeast from Fargo on Route 3 through Natural Bridge, Harrisville, Fine, Star Lake, and Cranberry Lake to Tupper Lake; continuing northeast from Tupper Lake on Route 3 to Saranac Lake; continuing east on Route 86 from Saranac Lake through Ray Brook; Lake Placid, and Jay; continuing northeast from Jay on Route 9N and terminating at Route 9 in Keeseville.