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Sommersett Concerns Reno City Council February 25 at 6 pm by Dan Brown - Bicycle Bananas The Somersett meeting is Tuesday the 25th at 6:00 pm at the City of Reno council chambers. If you want to ensure good public access is provided, minimum quantities of open space and wildlife habitat are preserved in the Somersett Development we need you to take action. We have a new Mayor and City Council members who need to know that recreation and quality of life issues are very, very, very, important to this community. They need to know that just because a developer has a great deal of power, funding, and influence that they do not have 'carte blanche' within this community. The Washoe County Backcountry Coalition has been working with Dave Aiazzi over the last two weeks to come to a compromise on the differences between our community interest goals and the developer, Blake Smith's, objectives. Mr. Smith was quoted in the RGJ article that came out in today's newspaper saying, "It's reached a point where it's just a non-growth statement", and Somersett representatives countered, the project is under attack by interests determined to halt all growth'. This demonizing statement is a false representation of our concerns. In summary we have asked them to do the following as a compromise to the current Planned Unit Development proposal: 1. Of the 210 acres currently designated as open space north of the Somersett Parkway which are now proposed to be developed, we want to retain 65 acres. This would provide a buffer for the off-road access on Bull Ranch Rd. and deer and wildlife habitat corridors. This is still but a fraction of the open space recommended by the Nevada Division of Wildlife and agreed to by the developer in 1999. The sixty five 1 acre units proposed for the area can be returned to the townhouse zoning or the senior housing zone so that there is no loss to their overall total units. 2. Protection of the existing vegetation in the drainage ways and the provision of wildlife and human passages under the Somersett Parkway and at other drainage way crossings. 3. Enforcement of financial penalties for beginning construction prior to acquiring permits from the City of Reno and other State and Federal Agencies. 4. Provide 60 trailhead parking spaces to be allocated according to terrain and estimated trail use with the endorsement of planning staff. 5. Provide a north central motorized access way to retain USFS defined access onto Peavine Mt. This requires that the road leading up to the area be in public domain and not be gated. 6. Provide a non-motorized access trailhead to the northeast portion of the property. This access point is of great interest because it provides access to the perimeter of the project and the trail we call "Northgate" which is very important to the RSCVA plans for outdoor recreation attractions in our area. At no time have we said, 'no development'. We are a group of business owners, property owners, and mixed assortment of concerned citizens who do not want to see the character of the development change such that their high standards and current commitments to open space and access are significantly compromised. We want to be clear about the difference between 'smart growth' and 'no growth'. Granted, their land is difficult and expensive to develop. However, that is not a problem the community should be asked to sacrifice for. The amenities that the currently approved plan offers should not be abandoned. If you would like more information about the proposal please contact me and we can forward our complete appeal letter. So we plead of you to help get the word out to the community to support our recommendations. YOU CAN- - e mail excerpts of this text to all City Council and the Mayor. - write your opinion on these issues to the RGJ as letters to the editor -attend the meeting and submit an objection card to the Council or speak your mind. This is not someone else's problem! You can make a difference in creating a future where going for a hike in the mountains with your family or taking a run or a mountain bike ride after work and catching a glimpse of the Loyalton/Peavine deer herd is one of many recreation options.
Please do what you can and forward this message to everyone you know who
may
Thank you for your time,
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