New Trail Opportunity needs your support!!

[chris_s]

Tonight!

[Henry]

Chris:

Is there a proposal on the table, or is this just the start of the discussion? Also, did Alcova Heights take a formal position as a civic association?
Henry

[chris_s]

@Henry 172612 wrote:

Is there a proposal on the table, or is this just the start of the discussion? Also, did Alcova Heights take a formal position as a civic association?

I thought we were talking about 3rd St S >> Quincy @ 6th St S (Trail 2 in the below graphic) but it sounds like what’s being discussed is 3rd St S >> Oakland at 6th St S (Trail 1 in the blow graphic). Looking forward to learning more tonight.

Alcova Heights Meeting report out (from the AHCA pres):

We had a very well attended (and long) meeting Thursday evening. We spent about 2 1/2 hours on the Foreign Affairs Training Center. County staff updated us on their plans to get GSA to extend their existing agreement allowing the West Parcel (the area on the other side of George Mason) to continue to be used as a park. Having a long term agreement will allow the County to invest in upgrading the facilities there. We also discussed GSA’s plans to move the security fence around the State child care center. Their proposed fence will cut through the sledding hill. We’ve known this for some time and we’ve repeatedly asked GSA not to cut off the sledding hilll – to no avail. We asked the County again Thursday night to help us save the hill.

Most of the discussion revolved around the easement that the County is pursuing so that it could build a trail at some point in time to connect 3rd Street with 6th Street at Oakland Street. After a lengthy question and answer session with County staff and a discussion period after County staff left, a motion was made that Alcova Heights oppose obtaining an easement that would allow a path to be built. The motion (below) passed with 31 in favor and 16 opposed. I will be drafting an email to send to the County Board and will share what I send.

MOTION: To express the views of the Alcova Heights Citizens’ Association that we are opposed to any property easements or eminent domain to establish a path or road connecting 3th and 6th Streets via private or federal property.

[consularrider]

@chris_s 172498 wrote:

…We have seen the effects of numerous bike-ped closures on federal facilities – Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, and the NFATC and have asked those federal facilities to help Arlington put in trails around the perimeter of those facilities to mitigate the effects of those closures. Arlington and the GSA are opening talks to do JUST THAT, but your voice MUST be heard. The NIMBYs have already jumped into action – the Alcova Heights Civic Association had a meeting last week about the trail and voted to OPPOSE it because certain property owners are concerned about a trail behind their backyard.

This despite research that indicates that trails increase property values and do not attract crime. Additionally we have a very similar trail nearby, that runs through Fillmore Park near Long Branch Elementary which adjacent homeowners love and see as a valued amenity…

To be fair, the Alcova Heights “stated” opposition is to the taking of private land via easement and or eminent domain which would be needed for a trail to connect sections of S Oakland St. From the map it does not appear that would be necessary to follow the GSA Option 1 along the NFATC boundry line.

[chris_s]

@consularrider 172727 wrote:

To be fair, the Alcova Heights “stated” opposition is to the taking of private land via easement and or eminent domain which would be needed for a trail to connect sections of S Oakland St. From the map it does not appear that would be necessary to follow the GSA Option 1 along the NFATC boundry line.

“via private or federal property.”

They’re against all of the options, especially Option 1 because those 6th Street homeowners have co-opted federal property and built gardens and sheds and stuff beyond their own property line.

The neighbors turned out to their meeting. Bike & walk folks didn’t turn out to ours. This is likely a dead issue.

[Author]

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