PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT: A VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES FOR VIEWSHEDS ALONG THE CIRCUIT TRAILS NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL March 2019 PREPARED BY: APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB Catherine Poppenwimer Patricia McCloskey, AICP Dave Publicover PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT Contents Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The Circuit ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Protecting Views Along The Circuit ................................................................................................................................ 5 The Neshaminy Creek Trail .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Study Area Landscape ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Results for Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1 ............................................................................................................... 9 Neshaminy Creek Trail Section 1, Viewshed ............................................................................................................. 9 Parcel Value Assessment ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Viewshed Resources ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Scenic Character ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Ownership Fragmentation ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Combined Parcel Value .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Conclusion for Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1 ...................................................................................................... 14 Results for Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2 ............................................................................................................. 16 Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Viewshed .......................................................................................................... 16 Study Area Key Observation Points ..................................................................................................................... 17 Parcel Value Assessment ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Viewshed Resources ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Scenic Character ....................................................................................................................................................... 20 Key Observation Points ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Ownership Fragmentation ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Combined Parcel Value .......................................................................................................................................... 22 Conclusion for Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2 ...................................................................................................... 23 Appendix A: Key Assumptions and Known Data Limitations ................................................................................. 25 Appendix B: Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. 27 Study Area ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Appalachian Mountain Club, March 2019 1 PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT Approach ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Analysis Components .................................................................................................................................................. 28 Combined Parcel Value Score .................................................................................................................................... 33 Additional Information ............................................................................................................................................... 33 List of Tables Table 1: Study Area Municipalities ................................................................................................................................... 6 Table 2: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Visual Assessment Summary ............................................................. 14 Table 3: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Visual Assessment Summary ............................................................. 23 List of Maps Map 1: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Study Area ................................................................................................. 7 Map 2: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Study Area ................................................................................................. 8 Map 3: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Viewshed Area ......................................................................................... 9 Map 4: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Visibility Resources ............................................................................... 11 Map 5: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Scenic Resources .................................................................................... 12 Map 6: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Combined Parcel Value ........................................................................ 13 Map 7: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Highest Ranked Parcels ........................................................................ 15 Map 8: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Viewshed Area ....................................................................................... 16 Map 9: Neshaminy Creek, Trail Section 2, KOP Location and Viewshed .............................................................. 17 Map 10: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Visibility Resources ............................................................................. 19 Map 11: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Scenic Resources .................................................................................. 20 Map 12: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, KOP Resources ................................................................................... 21 Map 13: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Combined Parcel Value ...................................................................... 22 Map 14: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Highest Ranked Parcels ...................................................................... 24 Map 15: Circuit Trails Included in the Study................................................................................................................ 27 Appalachian Mountain Club, March 2019 2 PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT List of Figures Figure 1: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Visual Resources Score ...................................................................... 11 Figure 2: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Scenic Character Resources Score ................................................... 12 Figure 3: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 1, Combined Parcel Value Score .......................................................... 13 Figure 4: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Visual Resources Score ...................................................................... 19 Figure 5: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Scenic Character Resources Score ................................................... 20 Figure 6: Neshaminy Creek Trail, Section 2, Combined Parcel Value Score .......................................................... 22 Figure 7: Visibility Resources .........................................................................................................................................