Page 111 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 5: ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS

The case study research also identified a number
of strategies useful in eliminating or mitigating
potential impacts.

These strategies include:
• Traffic Control: Many of the participants
cited the need to optimize traffic control
procedures, tailored for their site, and to
follow them consistently. This is critical for

Tree to Tree Aerial Adventure Park parking lot. Photo courtesy of on-site traffic management to avoid spill-
Scott Chapman
over effects where arriving patrons could
• Parking Capacity: Having large fields to park back up onto access roads. Engaging certified
patrons' vehicles and provide internal vehicle traffic control personnel and providing off-site
circulation will prevent traffic from backing up signage for large events may also be critical.
on access or primary roads.
• Matching Monitoring Staff to Nature of
• Patron Arrival Times: Concentrating arrival Event: In addition to possible noise impacts,
times to small windows can increase traffic inappropriate behavior on the part of
congestion. This is often the case for events patrons can result in impacts on neighboring
with a scheduled start time. Operations that properties. These include trespass on
engage customers throughout the day or with residential and agricultural properties,
staggered start times tend to minimize traffic littering, public drunkenness, and unsafe
congestion. behavior on roadways (e.g. violating traffic

• Geographic Separation and Natural laws or controls to avoid congestion). In
Environment: Distance and natural barriers addition to any permit and liquor license
(e.g. trees and topography) can greatly reduce requirements, case study participants noted
noise levels that may reach neighboring land that they provide internal or contracted
uses. While none of the case study participants monitoring staff when the potential for

created airborne impacts (other than dust inappropriate behavior is the greatest.
from cars and trucks using gravel roads), those This is often the case for large events with
growing agricultural products report some liquor being served. It was also noted that
problems with herbicide/pesticide spraying knowing one’s audience is key to knowing
from near-by developments, especially from when greater policing is required (i.e. when
residential land uses. Geographic separation attracting patrons who are not regular
can also reduce airborne impacts onto visitors and who may be looking for a party

tourism-based activities from neighboring atmosphere). The provision of lodging
agricultural operations. Topography also facilities for anyone not in proper shape to
impacts how sound travels. drive was cited as another option.

WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 107