CHAPTER 2 Scenic Resources O ASSESS the scenic resources of the Byway, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) staff traveled the road and systematically Trated the landscape along the Byway corridor and the long-range views. The scoring system is based upon a very similar landscape assessment procedure used by the FRCOG to assess the scenic resources along the Route 112 corridor and the Connecticut River Scenic Byway corridor. Some modifications were made to suit the different characteristics of the Mohawk Trail. The assessment pro- cedure is described below. Step 1 were sequentially numbered using the To assess the scenic resources of the following format: the regional plan- Byway, the corridor was divided into ning commission identifier/visual “visual segments” which share com- segment number/category (for ex- mon visual characteristics as deter- ample FRCOG/1/ farmland). mined while driving along the length of the byway. The following six catego- Step 2 1 ries were used to divide the byway into Each ⁄2-mile segment within the larger “visual segments”: Farmland/Open “visual segment” was evaluated twice, Land (defined as crop fields, orchards, once driving west and once driving hayfields, pasture land, and non-for- east, using the Scenic Assessment ested open land including recreation ar- Evaluation Form. All features, both eas); Forest (defined as forest land scenic and detracting, along each side 1 including both mature and succes- of the ⁄2-mile road segment were noted sional); Village/Town Center; Devel- for the ranking. Scenic features re- oped Land (including residential ceived a +1, and detracting features re- subdivisions, commercial development ceived a –1. In addition, for the and industrial areas); Scattered Devel- topography landscape features, all to- opment; and Summit (areas where the pography that could be seen from the dominant visual characteristic is a pan- byway, not just topography within the 1 oramic view). ⁄2-mile study area was noted. This ac- For visual segments that have two counts for the many long-range views different characteristics, for example that can be seen from the Byway. For residential development along one example, if a farm field were present side of the road and agricultural land with a mountain range in the back- with a historic farm house on the ground, both flat and mountainous other side, the evaluator made a judg- would receive a +1. These figures were ment about which is the dominant vi- added together for either a west or east sual feature. Each “visual segment” directional total. After the same assess- 1 ment was completed in the opposite di- was evaluated every ⁄2 mile according to the procedure detailed in Step 2 rection, the two directional totals were and a separate Scenic Assessment added together and divided by 2 to give 1 a “segment score.” Evaluation Form for each of these ⁄2 mile sections. The “visual segments” 8 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Step 3 opment on both sides of the road. The “visual segment” score was calcu- There are entrances/exits to the com- lated by adding the total score from mercial establishments on both sides each of the Scenic Evaluation Forms of the road, which include several fast 1 food and family style restaurants, completed (one for each ⁄2-mile sec- tion) within that “visual segment, and two grocery stores, a large scale ware- 1 house price club store, an office sup- dividing by the number of ⁄2-mile sec- tions within the particular “visual seg- ply store, motels and numerous other ment”. For example, if a particular retail stores. “visual segment” is six miles long, 12 Issues Scenic Evaluation Forms would be ■ This segment has a concentration of filled out, and these 12 segment scores commercial development within a would be averaged to calculate the vi- small area with a lot of separate ac- sual assessment score. The “visual seg- cess locations on Route 2. While it ment” was then ranked based on the is positive for the commercial devel- following categories: opment to be concentrate in this lo- cation close to Interstate 91, the Outstanding (Score Range: 7 or greater) many entrances/exits creates a visual Distinctive (Score Range: 5 - 6) jumble and a confusing traffic con- Noteworthy (Score Range: 3 - 4) figuration. Average (Score Range: less than 3) SEGMENT 2 Scattered Commercial Scenic Assessment Development From the “Mohawk Trail” sign in 1 of the Franklin Greenfield located ⁄2 mile west of the ro- tary at Routes 2, Routes 2A and Interstate County Region 1 91 to a small pull off area located ⁄2 mile The Franklin County section of the west of the Long View Tower and Gift Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway is 21.9 Shop (mile .5 to mile 1.5) miles long. This section was divided Characteristics into twenty-three visual segments. The This 1-mile segment is located in segments begin at the rotary at the in- Greenfield and has scattered commer- tersection of Route 2, Interstate 91 and cial development within a forested Route 2A in Greenfield and are de- area. On the north side of this corri- scribed sequentially from east to west, dor segment is the Long View Tower ending at the Charlemont/Savoy town and Gift Shop with both long and border. panoramic views towards Greenfield and to the north. To the south is a SEGMENT 1 steep, wooded incline with scattered Commercial Development commercial and residential develop- From the rotary at Route 2, Route 2A and ment sites. West of the Long View Interstate 91 in Greenfield to the Mohawk Tower there is a wooded area on the 1 Trail sign located ⁄2 mile west of the rotary north side of the corridor with rock (mile 0 to mile .5) outcroppings abutting the road. Characteristics Issues 1 This ⁄2-mile segment is located in ■ In some areas, the steep slopes on the Greenfield and has concentrated high south side of the road have been traffic generating commercial devel- cleared of vegetation. The lack of veg- CHAPTER 2: Scenic Resources 9 A view of Greenfield and beyond from the Mohawk Trail Scenic etation is a negative landscape feature, There is a wooded area of wetland to the and has the potential for erosion. Byway at the Long View Tower. north of the road. ■ To the west of the Long View Tower Issues there is a vacant building that disrupts ■ the panoramic view to the north. None SEGMENT 5 SEGMENT 3 Forest Forest From small pull off area located .5 miles From the Auto Electric Specialist Shop to Peckville Road (mile 3.0 to mile 3.3) west of the Long View Tower and Gift Shop to JED’s (mile 1.5 to mile 2.6) Characteristics Characteristics This .3-mile segment consists of a small area of forest. The trees are not The landscape of this 1.1-mile segment is characterized by forest with steep as mature and dense as those encoun- slopes and rock outcroppings on each tered in the previous forested segment. There are not visible signs of develop- side of the road. JED’s is an historically significant structure as it was part of ment from the road. the 1920s auto-tourism era. Issues ■ Issues None ■ Existence of historically significant SEGMENT 6 architectural structure from the 1920’s auto-tourism era that is in Scattered Commercial need of some repair. Development From Peckville Road to Skinner Road SEGMENT 4 (mile 3.3 to mile 5) Scattered Development Characteristics From JED’s to the Auto Electric Specialist This segment is characterized by scat- Shop located approximately .3 miles east of tered development, which includes a Peckville Road (mile 2.6 to mile 3.0) farm stand, cemetery, antique store, a Characteristics small grocery/convenience store, small golf course, and a coffee shop located This .4-mile segment has scattered devel- opment sites within a forested area. within a forested area. A number of 10 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY tourist oriented gift shops, including a Characteristics basket store and antique are located The landscape of this segment is char- within this segment. Roadside cottages, acterized by scattered development. known as the “Orange Glow Cottages” There is a mix of commercial and resi- are remnants of the auto-tourist era. dential development. There is an area The westernmost part of this segment of forest to the south of the road. has some residences with business such as a veterinary clinic and an antique Issues ■ store. None Issues SEGMENT 9 ■ Again, there are some structures that Forest are of historic significance to the era From Mercy Anderson Road to the All of auto-related tourism that are in Around Tile store (mile 5.8 to mile 6.1) need of repairs. These structures do not appear to be in use at this time. Characteristics ■ Parking areas for some commercial This short segment begins at the top of uses are located close to the road and the rolling hill with a spectacular view to very prominent, which can nega- the west that is framed by steep slopes tively impact the scenic nature of the with rock outcroppings and the mature road. forest that abuts the road. The large rock outcroppings and forest on each SEGMENT 7 side of the road create a tunnel effect. Farm/Open Space Issues From Skinner Road to Little Mohawk ■ None Road (mile 5 to mile 5.4) Characteristics SEGMENT 10 There is a large old farm to the south at Farm/Open Space the easternmost end of this segment From the All Around Tile store to the with rolling hills and fields.