1. Who Owns the Views?
- Author
-
Herbst, Ann Colin
- Subjects
- *
ENVIRONMENTAL protection , *ENVIRONMENTAL law , *ENVIRONMENTAL policy , *SCENIC byways , *LANDSCAPES , *LEGISLATION , *CONSTRUCTION laws - Abstract
Discusses a little known environmental regulation called the Berkshire Scenic Mountain Act, a bill passed by the Massachusetts State Legislature and adopted by the town of Richmond in 1974 to protect its watershed resources and preserve the scenic qualities of the mountainous area. Reference to the fact that in Richmond, Massachusetts landowners who hope to build in a protected mountainous zone must meet a number of guidelines: their projects must not be visible above the ridge line, tree-cutting must be limited to one-quarter of an acre, and it cannot cause erosion or flooding that would damage water quality; Controversies between residents who want to build and the town's Conservation Commission.
- Published
- 2005