Fw: Docket Item 11 Pickett's Ridge

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

Below is an email I sent to some of the Planning Commissioners followed by the trail particulars on the Buzzards Gap/Pickett's Ridge Special Use Permit.  Staff is supporting the easement that could provide for a trail in the future.  They now have the Open Space Plan as a justification, whereas last spring, the Open Space Plan had not been approved.  We need to urge Planning Commission first and then City Council to accept the staff recommendation as one of the first steps in implementing the open space plan they recently approved. Ann Hunt plans to attend to speak on our behalf.  Any other help would be appreciated.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bruce&Linda Dwyer 
To: Larry Robinson ; Eric Wagner ; Rich Leibach 
Cc: Eileen Fogarty 
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 7:50 PM
Subject: Docket Item 11 Pickett's Ridge


Planning Commissioners on the Open Space Committee,

Re: Docket Item #11 DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2003-0036 PICKETT’S RIDGE 

The Alexandria Bicycle Committee recommends that you accept the staff recommendation for an easement for a future pedestrian or open space connection as a condition of this SUP.  This is exactly the kind of connection called for in the Open Space Plan adopted by City Council this spring. The Bike Committee has identified Pickett's Ridge/Buzzards Gap as a potential path, along with vacant land behind the Fire House on Seminary Road, as a safe route to schools and recreational facilities.  This route would connect the Holmes Run Greenway, Polk School, Patrick Henry School, Hammond Middle School and Fort Ward.  Further, 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.  Further, 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 which were made by the neighbors during the spring public hearing on this matter.
Please vote to keep this trail linkage available for future use by the children and adults of Alexandria.
Thank you
Bruce Dwyer
Chair, Alexandria Bicycle Committee
703-549-3263
ouibike at att.net

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpts of staff recommendations pertaining to the trail easement from Docket Item #11 DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2003-0036 PICKETT’S RIDGE 
Planning Commission Meeting February 3, 2004 

"Additional right-of-way on the western portion of the site will be dedicated for a future pedestrian or open space connection." 

"The Open Space Plan encourages the connection of trails and open space to promote and expand recreational opportunities and also recommends "working on a site-by-site basis with private property owners." Therefore, a recommendation of approval is the provision of a public access easement on the western portion of the site that would permit a possible future trail connection. In the previous application case for Pickett’s Ridge I DSUP#2002-0049, the adjoining residents opposed a staff condition regarding the possibility of a trail connection at this location. It should be noted that both Planning Commission and City Council supported the community and did not require that a pedestrian easement be provided on the Phase I site. However, while the City does not have immediate plans for a pedestrian trail, the easement would at least allow the possibility of a trail connection and visual accessibility of the wooded area in the future. Any future trail or path connection would require a public process. The public access easement as recommended by staff allows the possibility of a future trail connection."

" (CONDITION REVISED BY STAFF): A perpetual public access easement and vehicle ingress/egress easement shall be recorded by the applicant for the entire portion of the internal private street including a connection to the southern lot.. the easement shall provide public vehicular and pedestrian access. The applicant shall provide a 15 ft. public access easement on the western portion of lot 503 and lot 502, the easement shall provide public pedestrian access. Show all existing and proposed  easements, both public and private. A plat showing the easements and all required documentation shall be submitted to the City Attorney, Department of P&Z and T&ES with the final site plan submission. The easement shall approved by the City Attorney and recorded among the land records prior to the release of the final site plan to the satisfaction of the City Attorney. (P&Z) (T&ES) (RP&CA) (DSUP#2002-0049)"
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