intact; however, a connecting corridor needs to be maintained between the two protected <br />sides. I suggest that a public/private partnership or HOA be established to retain the Videra <br />Oak Meadow’s woods in a natural state such as through a conservation easement. <br /> <br />For several years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service I was responsible for evaluating, <br />commenting, and obtaining mitigation and clearance for development proposals of various kinds <br />all along the Front Range megalopolis fusing together in Colorado. My job was to identify and <br />advocate for the needs of federally protected natural resource values such as listed species and <br />at-risk habitats of special concern. Development projects included some involving hundreds <br />upon hundreds of lots establishing whole communities at a single stroke including infrastructure, <br />commercial services, fire protection, schools, etc. Some of these cities’ officials raced forward <br />with development even before water rights had been secured, rubber-stamping every proposal <br />put forward, turning established peaceful communities or agricultural lands into masses of <br />congested sprawl in a matter of a few years. However, when a protected public resource value <br />was threatened by a developer, they were required to first avoid identifiable impacts, then <br />seriously minimize and mitigate impacts that could not be avoided and restore onsite and nearby <br />habitat in compensation. The developer pays. The conservation costs are built into the project’s <br />spreadsheet and by downsizing their ambitions. <br /> <br />On a very small scale, this kind of high impact development is what I see proposed here for the <br />Videra Oak Meadows. It’s the same attitude, to take without consequences. Please do not allow <br />Piculell to take from us by inflicting their bad concept on Videra Oak Meadow, a site that has so <br />much to give us now and long after Piculell has vanished. I urge the City of Eugene not to bend <br />over for Piculell. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />