Please Support Trails

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

Please give me comments on this proposed letter to City Council.  We can vote on it Wed night so I can get it off in time for the Saturday hearing.  Please also contact Council directly.

Dear Mayor and City Council,

Re: Docket Item #8 DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2003-0036 PICKETT’S RIDGE 

The Alexandria Bicycle Committee recommends that you accept the staff recommendation made to the Planning Commission for an easement for a future trail connection as a condition of this SUP.  Unfortunately, the Planning Commission approved the SUP without the easement recommendation.  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 some during the recent Planning Commission hearing as well as in hearings on this matter last spring.
 The foundation for the trail network called for in the Open Space Plan is the Bicycle Transportation and Multi-use Trail Master Plan approved by City Council on 1998. The Bike Committee has been disappointed that very little of this plan have been implemented over the six years since it was adopted.  Now, with an Open Space Plan received and supported by a broad range of Alexandria's residents, we are hopeful that you will show a commitment to trails by voting to support the staff recommendation for an easement.  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