Speak up to City Council

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

Bike Committee list serve members (all 120 of you)
Below is the history of the Pickett's Ridge Trail easement.  The Bike Committee, the Environmental Policy Commission, and the Park and Recreation Commission are all sending letters to Council.  But Council seems to make decisions some times based on the amount of noise the citizenry makes. So, join in the noise making to support this easement.  You don't have to say much, just that you support trails  (and clean air, and healthy bodies, and less congestion) and hope that they make the right decision.
Thanks
Bruce

There is an important issue coming before City Council this coming Saturday, Feb. 21st, regarding a trail/open space area near Hammond School off Seminary Road. Council will hear an item for the Development Special Use Permit #2003-0036 PICKETT’S RIDGE. It deals with aspects of the development of a small number of homes at the southern end of North Pickett Street (also referred to as Pickett's Ridge/Buzzard's Gap). The developer worked closely with the City to place the homes (fewer than allowed by zoning) so that they impact trees and hydrology as minimally as possible. Most importantly, the city owns a right-of-way for all but about 40 feet between South Pickett St. south to Polk St., near Polk Elementary School. The Open Space Plan adopted by Council last spring recommended extending the city right-of-way the additional 40 feet to allow for a path/trail that would connect Polk St. (and the elementary school) with N. Pickett St. (a short distance to Hammond School). The City Planning Staff recommended approval of the development at the Planning Commission meeting, with an amendment to create an easement on one of the new home properties to complete the 40 feet to N. Pickett and to slightly widen another portion of the city right of way in order to allow the trail to avoid significant trees. Consideration of this matter either before the Planning Commission or the City Council, does not involve deciding whether a trail would go on the easement, just that an easement be placed there for future public consideration of a possible trail.
The developer and some neighbors spoke against the easement and the possible future consideration of a trail before the Planning Commission at their last meeting. In the end, a motion to remove the easement recommendation was passed by the Planning Commission on a 4 to 3 vote. Even though 4 of the 7 Planning Commission members supported the easement, they could not agree on a means to do it, though a compromise was offered.
During the debate it was stated that public parks and trails are "places where crime occurs, where homeless people squat, and where trash builds up". This perception, if perpetuated in our community, will do more to undermine the Open Space plan than development pressures. Those who use trails and who believe this City needs more of them, must tell City Council this easement is an important step that they must stand behind. Here's what you can do:
Come to the City Council meeting on Saturday and tell Council to make this easement a part of the development approval.
If you can't come Saturday, write or email the City Council and tell them to enforce the easement, which was identified on the Open Space Plan they adopted.
Send this message on to others you think will care about this issue.
Based on a statistically rigorous 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 opportunities. In this we are no different than many other cities in this country. Trails are often are ranked the most important recreational asset in many communities.
You can send a message to members of City Council by clicking your cursor on the email addresses below. Do so before Friday:

Mayor Euille's email address is alexvamayor at aol.com

Vice Mayor Pepper's email address is delpepper at aol.com

Councilman Gaines' email address is councilmangaines at aol.com

Councilman Krupicka's email address is rob at krupicka.com

Councilman Macdonald's email address is MacdonaldCouncil at msn.com

Councilman Smedberg's email address is PaulCSmedberg at aol.com

Councilwoman Woodson's email address is council at joycewoodson.net