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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
Februaruy 9, 2003 Sprawl too high a cost to pay for development
Letter to the Editor BylineReporter Editor: We are committed to the preservation of Lagoon Valley in a natural state
by preserving and protecting existing open spaces, wetlands and park areas. Lagoon Valley is widely recognized as open space of regional significance.
Its value as a community buffer is extremely high, as it is the last remaining
undeveloped valley south of the freeway between the cities of Fairfield
and Vacaville. In addition to its beauty and tranquility, the valley's open space holds
high natural habitat value, watershed value and recreational value. Moreover,
the valley is geographically separated from the existing city. Development
would require costly infrastructure and city services, and residents and
workers would need to use the freeway to access the rest of the city. Furthermore, developing in lower Lagoon Valley could easily assist development
in the rest of the valley along Pleasants Valley Road. Sprawling land-use patterns such as this come at a high price. As homes,
jobs, and stores spread further and further away from the town center,
buffers between cities diminish and traffic congestion increases since
people are left with little choice but to drive to meet every need. Rather than developing Lagoon Valley, Vacaville should focus on the policies
and incentives needed to promote development investments within the city,
where urban infrastructure already exists. Revitalizing and developing underutilized areas within the city will
enhance our community vitality, use land efficiently, and avoid the high
costs of sprawl. ### |
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