Page 35 - Town of Newcomb Comprehensive Plan - 2010

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2.10.5 Visual Resources

The Town of Newcomb’s visual resources are one of its most defining features. Mountain vistas,
wild streams and river filled valleys, forested hillsides, and placid mountain lakes are not only

an essential part of Newcomb’s identity, but are a fundamental part of what defines the
Adirondack Park as well. As the 1990 Comprehensive Plan noted, “The Town of Newcomb is
fortunate to possess not only an extensive variety of scenic landscapes, but a number of
interesting historic features as well.” The 1990 plan identified the following scenic resources:

• Views from Rt. 28N Overlook. • Views from Camp Santanoni
• Views along Goodnow Flow Road • Views from the Town park on Harris
• Views from northern end of Tahawas Lake
Road • Views from NYS Harris Lake
• Views from the fires towers on campground
Goodnow Mountain and Mt. Adams • Views along the Hudson River
• Views from Harris and Rich Lakes

In order to better visualize the location and interrelationship of these resources, a viewshed
analysis was conducted using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. A viewshed

analysis use topographical data and selected viewpoints to identify highly visible areas. The
above mention locations, along with selected sites along Tahawas Road and on Goodnow Flow,
were plotted on a digital map. The GIS software then located areas throughout Newcomb that
were visible from either a single viewpoint or multiple ones. Figure 17 (see Appendix I)
illustrates the results of the viewshed analysis.

2.10.6 Land Use and Development

Established by the New York State Legislature in 1971, the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is
tasked with developing “long‐range land use plans for both public and private lands within the
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boundary of the Park.” The Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan, divides private
lands into six (6) land use classifications: Hamlet, Moderate Intensity Use, Low Intensity Use,
Rural Use, Resource Management, and Industrial Use. The plan also divides public lands into
seven (7) use categories, which determine the type and intensity of public use allowed for that
area. In addition to the APA’s long range planning responsibilities, the Agency has permitting
responsibility for significant private projects that may have a regional impact. In 1993, the Town

applied for and received Agency approval for its local land use program. The local land use
program serves to transfer portions of the Agency’s statutory authority to the Town for it to
administer while the Agency retains an oversight role. The Town of Newcomb is one of
eighteen (18) communities within the Adirondack Park that has an APA approved land use

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http://www.apa.state.ny.us

Town of Newcomb Comprehensive Plan
March 2010