Save the American River Parkway from Development!

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!

To:  ALL WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT THE PARKWAY

On August 31st, for more than four hours, 60+
committed citizens watched and listened in disbelief
as some of our elected representatives on the Board of
Supervisors set the American River Parkway on a path
to decline.  Our children and their children, in
coming years, might only have pictures and words in
history books to remember what the Parkway was
supposed to be before the County of Sacramento
abandoned our miracle of nature and beauty and peace.

In l961 dreamers and doers dared to step forth and
make the vision of a 23 mile natural preserve in the
middle of an urban area a reality.  The creation of
this Parkway has served over the years as a beacon of
hope and inspiration to others throughout this region,
California and beyond.  Others see that it is possible
to preserve the land, the river, the trees, the fish
and the animals and watch in awe as a community grows
and thrives in the riches these wonders provide.

Today, I am asking everyone not to lose hope.  Please
do not walk away.  It appears that the People are once
again being called upon to Save The American River
Parkway.  Let us find the strength to carry on,
inspired by the extraordinary example of those early
visionaries who made this Parkway possible.

Right NOW, we need EVERYONE who is reading this email
to write a letter to the Editor of the Sacramento Bee
regarding the Supervisors' actions on 8/31 regarding
the Markis/Lien proposal.  All of us who love the
Parkway must take the time NOW to raise an outcry, the
likes of which has never been heard in this County.

Please do not discount the power of the press.  The
Bee has been very supportive of our fight to preserve
the Parkway.  They need to hear from us in tremendous
numbers in order to continue that support.  In our
letters, we can also support the County Planning
Department.  Mr. Rob Sherry, the Director of County
Planning, stepped in and helped to craft a compromise
plan that really is okay.  County staff is trying very
hard to protect the Parkway AND help people get their
homes built.  We need to publicly support their
efforts.  They need to hear from us in order for them
to continue pressing for adherence to the Parkway
Corridor Combining Zone (PCCZ) and the American River
Parkway Plan.

The message is so simple:  Please use
the American River Parkway Plan and the Parkway
Corridor Combining Zone as THE guides when making land
use decisions adjacent to or in the Parkway.  The
overarching goal, always, is to protect the natural
world of the river for the benefit and enjoyment of
everyone.

At the same time, write and express your opinions to
the Supervisors.  Commend Supervisors Don Nottoli and
Illa Collin for their actions.  Supervisor Nottoli
said he would be willing to approve a 50' setback for
two houses.  Supervisor Collin still believes a 70'
setback is "prudent" but would be willing to accept
the 50' compromise setback.  Tell Supervisors Roger
Niello and Muriel Johnson (firmly but respectfully)
how you feel about their actions supporting the 20'
setback requested by the applicants at the expense of
the Parkway now and in the future.  Mr. Niello
proposed a 28' setback after asking the applicants
what they could live with.  Urge Supervisor Roger
Dickinson to stop trying to appease the applicants
with a setback of 35' and maybe even the 28' setback
proposed by Mr. Niello and supported by Mrs. Johnson.
Urge him, if he believes the 70' setback is not
necessary, to support the Planning Staff's compromise
recommendation of a 50' setback.

Save The American River Association (SARA) will
support a 50' setback if all of the other planning
staff's recommendations are required.

So, RIGHT NOW, email the Sacramento Bee at
opinion [at] sacbee.com.  Letters are limited to 200 words.

Send emails to EACH Supervisor.  Collective emails may
or may not be distributed.  Go to http://www.saccounty.net
for addresses.

DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME with questions or
for help as you sit down to write your letters.  Our
voices will be heard if we remember to focus on the
issue.  What should come across, first and foremost,
is our firm resolve to preserve the Parkway as it was
originally intended.

The time is NOW to really stun The Bee and our
Supervisors with our overwhelming concern for the
future of an old and dear friend, the American River
Parkway.

Thank you,

Betsy Weiland
488-3894