16-0118_DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS OAK, LLC_E1a_Correspondence- Wood, SharonMatisse Reischl
Subject: FW: Proposed Asphault Bike Trail at the Oaks Project
From: Wood, Sharon (US - MSSOC)
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 3:07 PM
To: Lindsev Stigall; City Clerk Scanstation; Sam Allevato
Cc:
Subject: FW: Proposed Asphault Bike Trail at the Oaks Project
Importance: High
(Please forward this to the correct department if I haven't directed it correctly)
To whom it may concern,
1/18/2016
Ela
As a long time boarder at Tar Farms Stables and a frequent user of the trail paralleling San Juan Creek commonly known
as "The Berm," I urge the City Council to uphold the Trails and Equestrian Commission vote to leave the current trail "as
is" and not develop it further.
"The Berm" trail is one of the few off-road trails on the east side of the city that is completely flat and provides a
beautiful, wide multi -use path for beginning riders & young horses and (on the other side of the spectrum) older horses
and/or older riders who can no longer take the steep inclines of the hills, all the while remaining off slippery -for -horses,
neighborhood streets and sidewalks. The wide path also enables riders and people walking their horses to stroll
companionably two abreast when the traffic allows, something a narrower path will not accommodate, certainly not
with high speed road bikes using the same area.
The Berm has been shared over many decades by dog walkers, hikers, horseback riders, bike riders and others with no
major issues between any of them. In fact, the open -use path is a continuing source of community education about the
famous SJC equestrian lifestyle and a platform for mutual understanding. I'm often asked about my senior horse while
I'm out exercising him by families out having a stroll themselves and I've become acquainted with other long-time trail
users, sharing a friendly wave with joggers, bike riders and others. Finally, because frequent users of the berm are on it it
so often we're always aware of when things aren't quite right and report it to the correct authorities (as with the young
people "hanging out" in the creek bed lighting fires this past summer and fall.) If things change dramatically on the
Berm, making it more difficult and less appealing to use, this community oversight will be lost.
Again, I encourage the Council to keep the Berm Trail paralleling San Juan Creek as it is and thank you for your attention,
With respect,
Sharon Wood
Data Analyst
Meggitt Sensing Systems
14600 Myford Road
Irvine. CA 92606 USA
www.megg illsensingsestems.corn
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