BERG-JOHANSEN Erik <br />From: Marti G <martigerdes@gmail.com> <br />Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 7:20 AM <br />To: BERG-JOHANSEN Erik <br />Subject: Spring Blvd/Laurel Hill Valley/Mt. Baldy proposed development - re: Sept 21 meeting <br />Follow Up Flag: Follow up <br />Flag Status: Flagged <br />Hi Erik, <br />I'm writing to urge the City to preserve (and grow) Eugene's trail system in South Eugene area and to prevent <br />development where it will impinge on the area's rare and limited "wild" areas. <br />I understand developers continue to try to build in the Spring Boulevard, Laurel Hill Valley and Mount Baldy <br />areas. Eugene has few remaining natural areas, and none as truly wild-feeling as the areas along the Ridgeline <br />Trail. I hike the Ridgeline frequently (at least weekly) and have volunteered for trail maintenance, so I take <br />particular interest in seeing that we preserve natural areas like this where citizens can truly feel like they're out <br />in the wilderness when they're still in the city. <br />These areas especially benefit people who are carless or otherwise can't get out of town, or who simply don't <br />want to add to the carbon footprint to hike out out of town so keep their footprints literally local.The Ribbon <br />Trail, in particular, is a perfect getaway in this regard because a bus stop is so nearby. To add housing in this <br />area would destroy what is now a delightful resource the City and all citizens should be incredibly proud of and <br />work hard to preserve. <br />Eugeneans are so fortunate to have a trail system like the Ridgeline so close; it's an uncommon perk of living <br />here. I hope the City will continue to realize what a gem we have in the trail system and do all it can to prevent <br />development that will change the nature of this rare trail environment. <br />I can't attend the Sept. 21 meeting, but please include my support for continued preservation of the Ridgeline <br />Trail system and its environment, which offers untold thousands of citizens many generations of enjoyment, <br />rather than development that will line the pockets of just a few individuals or corporations while destroying a <br />sense of nature that is all too rare in metropolitan areas like ours. This one-time decision has long-range <br />consequences that, if the area is diminished through development, can't be reversed. <br />Thank you, <br />Marti Gerdes <br />