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Politics & Government

Public Hearings Set on Historic Byway

Essex National Heritage Commission opens public forums on 85-mile byway this month in Lynn.

Anyone interested in learning more about the proposed Essex Heritage Scenic Byway, an 85-mile route from Lynn to Newburyport, will have a chance to attend a series of public hearings this fall and winter. The byway is being developed to attract tourists interested in the region's history and geography.

The first hearing will be held October 21 in Lynn at Room 302 of the Lynn City Hall. The hearings come to Marblehead on January 31 at the Abbot Public Library.

The Essex National Heritage Commission, which promotes the North Shore communities, will hold the public forums in the 13 coastal communities which host the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway. The public and businesses are invited to participate and learn about the development of the state-designated scenic coastal route.   

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Annie Harris, ENHC's executive director, said in a recent press release, "People are beginning to see the byway as a tool that a community can use to both preserve and promote the physical assets that define its very character. By working as a regional coalition, we can create and market a distinctive and powerful brand that we believe will boost local economies by drawing heritage tourists from both near and far."

The forums will give the public an opportunity to hear how the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway can offer tourists the best possible experiences while enhancing the quality of life for residents along the coastal route, Harris said.

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"These public meetings will introduce the byway's primary attributes and present recommendations for its long-term preservation and promotion" she said.

Planning for the byway is expected to be completion by March. The byway uses existing highways and roads in Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester , Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley and Newbury and Newburyport. It follows portions of Routes 1A, 129, 114, 127, 127A, and 133 as well as local roads in Marblehead, Gloucester, Newbury and Newburyport.

Essex Heritage received grant funding from the federal National Scenic Byways Program and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to create a corridor management plan for the byway. Taintor & Associates, a Newburyport-based planning, policy and development firm is leading preparation of the plan that will identify strategies for preserving, enhancing, and promoting the byway's scenic, cultural, historic, recreational and natural qualities.

For more information about the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway, visit the Essex Heritage website at: www.essexheritage.org/scenicbyways

Other currently scheduled public forums include:

Wednesday, November 10 at the Rockport Public Library, Brenner Room

 Thursday, November 18 Gloucester City Hall , Kyrouz Auditorium

Tuesday, November 30 Salem City Hall Annex, 3rd Floor

Wednesday, December 8 Swampscott High School, Room B129

Thursday, December 16 Beverly Public Library, Sohier Room

Monday, January 31, 2011 Marblehead at Abbott Public Library.     

All hearings begin at 6:30 p.m.

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