07/01/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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George Greer, 1342-1/2 North 66th Street, Springfield, indicated his appreci- . ation for the study and commended the efforts of those involved in its devel- opment. However, he believed that there were significant gaps in the study. He said that the deficiencies in the plan that left it a less-than-comprehen- sive document. Mr. Greer suggested that plan adoption be delayed until addi- tional inventory is done, or that the plan language be modified in a manner that guided planning decisions on uninventoried sites. He favored the latter course, and suggested that the opening policy statement be amended to recog- nize the inventory deficiency and by the addition of guidelines for those sites. Mr. Greer said that the inventory should be expanded as quickly as possible. Mr. Greer recommended the inclusion of a policy recognizing wildlife corri- dors and the interdependence of resource sites. While an individual location may be identified as important, preservation may be impossible without pres- ervation of the link to an adjacent site. Mr. Greer said pockets of habitat may not be capable of supporting wildlife without interconnectedness. He said such connections can be narrow, cross jurisdictional boundaries, are hard to recognize, and are fragile. Mr. Greer said that the importance of such connections should be recognized and policies added to the plan to pre- serve them. Mr. Greer suggested that policies, rather than recommended actions, should serve as the basis for future decisions. He said that the recommended ac- tions should be re-evaluated and considered as policy. Mr. Greer discussed the possible inclusion of the North 66th Street site. He . said he was a property owner on the island and consented to a natural re- source designation without knowing precisely what the zone entails. Mr. Greer said he hoped that property owners would have an opportunity to comment on the attributes of the zone prior to adoption. Mr. Greer addressed the remarks made by Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Fox and termed them inappropriate and prejudicial to the process. He noted that a separate quasi-judicial action was in process awaiting a decision that could come before the elected officials on appeal. Mr. Greer indicated his reluctance to address issues connected with that action due to his concerns of prohibit- ed ex parte contacts, but stressed the importance of understanding on the part of the elected officials. Mr. Greer said that the uses allowed for Mr. Fox's property would not change with inclusion of the property in the plan. Mr. Fox would be required to commission a groundwater review and restore the property after sand and gravel extraction. Mr. Greer added that no evidence has been introduced to demonstrate previ~us extraction activity on the site, maintaining that aerial photographs indicate no such activity and Mr. Fox has no valid permit for the site. He noted that the wetlands determination for the site was made by Dr. Thomas Pringle, a consultant for Delta Sand and Gravel. MINUTES--Joint Elected Officials July 1, 1992 Page 14 .