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Burke Gilman Trail (Proposal to Change, Ordinance 907)
Mayor Dave Hutchinson
City of Lake Forest Park 17425 Ballinger Way NE Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 http://www.cityoflfp.com/mayor/default.html Proposed Ordinance 907 will put an end to paved "multi-purpose" trails in the city of Lake Forest Park. The Mayor has taken action to eliminate the Burke Gilman Trail at the north end of Lake Washington. The trail is often referred to as a regional treasure, with hundreds and thousands of King Count residents using the trail. The King Country Executive, Ron Sims has expressed his concern in a recent letter to the Mayor. Email using the above link or write directly to Mayor Tom Hutchinson. Opposition to Ordinance 907 is needed. |
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Burke Gilman Trail (Proposal to Change, Ordinance 907)
(For those of you unfamiliar with the Burke-Gilman Trail here in the
Seattle area, it's a very impressive, useful piece of bike-oriented infrastructure. Every decent city should have a path (or several) like this: http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/trails/trails/burke.htm So you'll have to indulge us a little regionally specific discussion.) "Billy Bigelow" wrote: http://www.cityoflfp.com/mayor/default.html Proposed Ordinance 907 will put an end to paved "multi-purpose" trails in the city of Lake Forest Park. The Mayor has taken action to eliminate the Burke Gilman Trail at the north end of Lake Washington. The trail is often referred to as a regional treasure, with hundreds and thousands of King Count residents using the trail. I contacted the mayor's office with this comment, after maikng clear that I live in Seattle and not LFP: { Word is out that there is a proposed ordinance that would shut down { the Burke-Gilman Trail in Lake Forest Park. If true, this is { unacceptable. { { The Burke-Gilman Trail is a local treasure that extends beyond any ( single jurisdiction in its value to the community. The continuity ( of the Trail must be preserved if it is to serve as a regional ( cycling thoroughfare. { { Compared to a road, it is very inexpensive and of much higher { importance in addressing the needs of the underserved non-motoring ( public. It provides a place for people of all ages to get exercise { and recreation without having to cope with the constant danger, ( noise, and air pollution from cars in the adjacent lanes. The ( Trail plays an invaluable role in the socially responsible ( transportation solution adopted by many cycle commuters. { { I ask that you act in the interest of the people of Lake Forest { Park and the surrounding communities and refuse to pass an ( ordinance that closes any multi-use paths or prohibits the ( development of new ones. Although I did not ask for a reply, I heard back from Sarah Phillips with a summary of the proposed ordinance: : Generally, this proposed ordinance would require any redevelopment of the : trail undergo a conditional use permit, add pervious surfaces in stream : buffers and sensitive areas and to examine alternatives to at grade : crossings. I took a look at the text of the ordinance, which appears he http://www.cityoflfp.com/news/proposed-ord-907.pdf While in principle, the provisions seem to be reasonable, there are some pretty grave implications. The fact that the ordinance requires a buffer on either side of the trail equal in width to the trail corridor "including disturbed areas" could make a usefully wide trail surface impossible in a narrow right-of-way. I wonder why they don't attach this requirement for vehicular streets, which obviously have a higher environmental impact to their margins? The requirement of impermeable surfacing on the trail would be fine, if the city is willing to fund something like an open pavestone surface. I doubt it, because those are quite expensive. Otherwise it's going to be a gravel surface over dirt, not a great solution for a high-traffic trail in the rainy Seattle area. An attempt to avoid at-grade crossings of streets and driveways would likewise be welcome, if it meant that the city would furnish underpass culverts or overpass bridges, as appropriate, for the trail at every crossing. I kind of doubt this will happen either. I returned this subsequent comment to Sarah Phillips, who said she forwarded it to the city clerk, mayor, and council: { I appreciate the Council's concern about permeable surfacing on ( multi-use paths, but it strikes me as totally ineffective ( window-dressing as long as we accept street construction the way ( it is. The impermeable cover represented by street pavement must { be 1,000 times as much area as that of all the multi-use paths ( combined. { { Therefore I wonder, is this proposed ordinance really intended to { be of environmental benefit, or is it just another attempt at the { marginalization of the cycling community? One would think, if { environmental concerns were the top priority here, that action ( would begin where the problem lies: in the automotive ( rights-of-way. Chalo Colina |
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Burke Gilman Trail (Proposal to Change, Ordinance 907)
"Chalo" wrote in message
m... (For those of you unfamiliar with the Burke-Gilman Trail here in the Seattle area, it's a very impressive, useful piece of bike-oriented infrastructure. Every decent city should have a path (or several) like this: http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/trails/trails/burke.htm So you'll have to indulge us a little regionally specific discussion.) The Cascade commuter board has this discussion which might be of interest: http://www.cascade.org/Community/for...&threadid=1242 -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
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