Need Help for Buzzards Gap Path

[Bruce & Linda Dwyer]

Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night Feb 3 starts at 7:30 pm room 2000 City Hall last item (#13)
The developer of the property at Buzzards Gap is requesting a SUP and the issue of use/non-use of a right-of-way or easment for a trail apparently will come up again.  See below email previously posted on the BSC list serve for some history. For specifics, the docket item is on the city web site (unfortunately the PDF file crashes my computer so I am only speaking from second-hand infomation).   Any help with specifics and emails to the Planning Commission and speaking at the public hearing would be appreciated.  I am helping with election training from 7:00-9:30 so can't be sure I can make it on time.
Rails to Trails inforamation on the Economic benefits of Trails is at 
http://www.trailsandgreenways.org/resources/benefits/topics/tgc_economic.pdf

Thanks
Bruce Dwyer
Chair, Alexandria Bicycle Committee
703-549-3263
ouibike at att.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: eberweincouncil 
To: Bruce & Linda Dwyer 
Cc: Whitmore Sandra ; Fogarty Eileen ; Baier Rich 
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: Buzzards Gap Path


Dear Bruce - 

I presume the landowners probably raised the "safety" issue - it always comes up when folks are trying to achieve an objective that precludes public access.  A simple answer is for parents who are concerned about safety to take the responsibility to tell their children not to use the path.  

I was frustrated with how it was dealt with by the Planning Department - it was a luke warm response and I felt they should have supported Rich Baier and Transportation strongly on this.  Parks and Rec., Transportation, and Planning should have been together on it.  Preserving the woods was an excellent accomplishment but it was essentially preserved for the owners of the future 10,000 + square foot homes.  

It was very late in the process and the docket was long.  However, I regret that I did not move to put it back in - I do not believe I had the support to do so - but should have taken a shot at it.  

I will forward this to department heads so that they will know my concern.  We really don't have money for open space and I do not want future opportunities to be lost.  Please do pursue this at your next meeting and feel free to share this e-mail if you believe it will help in any way.

I believe it is too late for this piece of property but would help staff pursue it if there is a way.  

Best Regards,
Claire Eberwein
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce & Linda Dwyer 
  To: Claire M. Eberwein 
  Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 10:41 AM
  Subject: Buzzards Gap Path


  Claire,
  Thanks you for asking the question on the demise of the path on the Buzzard's Gap site.  Too bad you did not get satisfactory answers and too bad it is too late.  I apologize for not following this closely enough to have made any specific comment in advance.  However, the Bike Committee has made extensive input on potential trail locations, including this one.  Also, this is exactly the kind of connection the Open Space Plan calls for.  The Bike Committee with the help of Bill Dickinson had identified Buzzards Gap as a potential path, along with vacant land behind the Fire House on Braddock Road, that would provide a safe route using a combination of off road paths and low traffic volume street.  This route would connect the Holmes Run Greenway with Fort Ward. The Rails to Trails Conservancy has done studies and surveys that show that trails most frequently lead to reduced crime and increased property values, contrary to the assertions of the neighbors that seem to have been supported by city staff in the case of Buzzard's Gap.
  Over the years the Bike Committee has met with many neighborhoods and found both support of and opposition to neighborhood paths.  Unfortunately, the naysayers (usually in the minority, but more vocal) most often carry the day.  Yet, in the recently completed Recreation Needs Assessment Study, based on a statistical survey of City residents, multi-use trails ranked first with 63% of the respondents saying multi-use trails were very important for developing and maintaining NEW recreation facilities.  I guess they are the silent majority.  After 10 years of advocating for bicyclists and pedestrians, I am not optimistic that involved outspoken Alexandrians really want to rely less on cars like the citizens of Arlington have committed to. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
  My first specific request would be that the  sidewalk on Pegram (the street alternative to Buzzard's Gap) be cleaned up and the brush cut back. Probably the adjoining property is privately owned and I know that some on the intruding bushes are  on residential property, which by the way is a problem all over the city for pedestrians.  I will make this request to the city staff at our next Bike Committee meeting, but....
  Again, thanks for you support for pedestrians on the Buzzard's Gap issue.

  Bruce Dwyer
  Chair, Alexandria Bicycle Committee
  703-549-3263
  ouibike at att.net



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