Pre-Filed Testimony and Exhibits of David Raphael - Vermont Public ...

Aesthetic Assessment of the Proposed Beaver Wood Biomass Facility
2. The Quechee Analysis
2.1.E Where is the Project visible from?
Exhibit I of this assessment provides photographs of the site and environs,
demonstrating the limited visibility of the Project site from surrounding locations.
The Project viewshed map (Exhibit 3) also demonstrates the limited visibility of this
Project from surrounding locations. There are very few areas in Fair Haven from
which the Project will be visible due to the density of the neighborhoods and
presence of mature trees throughout Town.
A site reconnaissance conducted by LandWorks along the roads within a 1 and 3
mile radius, including Prospect Street, US Route 4, Swamp Road, Pleasant Street,
Academy Street, South Main Street to the New York Border, River Street, Maple
Street, West Park Place, Caernarvan Street, 1st Street, jst Avenue, 2 Street, 3rd Street,
4th Street, Airport Road and West Street yielded the conclusion that visibility of the
site will be limited to only those roads directly adjacent or very close to the site,
namely Prospect Street where it meets US Route 4, including the Vermont Welcome
Center, US Route 4 along the southeast edge of the Project site, and the western end
of West Street before it passes into New York State. The views From the south will be
partially screened by the berms, rock outcroppings and trees that currently exist
along US Route 4. Views from West Street will be limited to small sections of road
and partially screened by roadside vegetation. In these locations that have visibility,
the view encompasses an existing cell tower across the border in New York, a rail
road bridge, and highway.
The Welcome Center site and Old School site on Academy Street provide the only
vantage points from public property in the vicinity of the Project. Otherwise the only
locations with potential visibility of the site would include a short stretch of Prospect
Street running easterly from the Welcome Center, and limited locations along West
Street. Given the view will be very limited from the Old School site and that there are
no other public lands in the vicinity of the Project, the Project will not be readily
visible to large numbers of local residents. The view of the Project from the Welcome
Center site will definitely change the current conditions, but not in an extreme or
overt manner, given the viewing context from the site (see Photographic Inventory-
Exhibit 1). This context includes the view of the highway itself, the railroad and
railroad bridge over Route 4, a nearby cell tower approximately 4/lOths of a mile
from the Welcome Center, as well as commercial structures and sites immediately to
the east on Prospect Street. This is not, as described in the initial section of this
analysis, a highly scenic or engaging area with tourist destinations or tourism
infrastructure. The Welcome Center has been established to serve travelers entering
Vermont with the typical Welcome Center elements including restrooms, snack
machines and brochure racks. The Welcome Center does contain some interpretive
exhibits, but none that are specific to or highlight the site. This is a not an area where
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