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<br />-----Original Message----- <br />From: charles biggs [mailto:charles biggs@hotmail.com] <br />Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 4:42 PM <br />To: *Eugene Mayor and City Council <br />Cc: BJORKLUND Neil H <br />Subject: Goal 5 Testimony <br /> <br />Goal 5 Testimony <br />Charles Biggs <br />October 3, 2005 <br /> <br />Hearing official and / or Eugene City Council, <br /> <br />I would like to request that the "Scenic Sites Working Paper of April 12, <br />1978" and "The Quest for Scenic Quality" be included in the record for the <br />proposed amendments to Eugene's Goal 5 Natural Resource adoption. These <br />scenic areas are an important part of not only the Metro Plan, but of <br />Eugene's livability and character. How can we claim to be the "World's <br />Greatest Place for the Arts and Outdoors" if we let our visual integrity <br />become degraded by our desire to surrender to all special interest groups. <br /> <br />Vegetation and natural features are assumed to be components of the Metro <br />Area visual landscape which most residents value for their attractiveness <br />These sites provide an element of visual diversity to the Metro Area that <br />are valued for their appeal to viewers (residents and tourists) . <br /> <br />Standards for identifying scenic site back then should still apply today. Eight <br />specific scenic standards were used to identify scenic sites. They <br />are: <br />Highest Scenic Value <br />1. Natural sites of visual prominence <br />2. Vistas <br />3. Presence of water <br />4. Drainageways / Swales <br />5. Park lands <br /> <br />Less <br />6. <br />7. <br />8. <br /> <br />Scenic Value: <br />Presence of Prominent and Plentiful Vegetation <br />Golf Courses <br />Cemeteries <br /> <br />I hope this history lesson of our civic pioneer's works can be retained by <br />our current generation's effort to improve Eugene's standard of livability <br />by finally adopting Natural Resource Standard for State Planning Goal 5. <br /> <br />We now know these areas have more values other than visual pleasure and <br />tourism marketability, and benefit the wildlife, air, soil, water, wind, <br />plants. They may even lessen the natural disasters of landsides by <br />maintaining soil stability due to earthquakes, water saturation and <br />wind-throw. Even the effects of wildfire may be lessened by maintaining a <br />scenic crown of Eugene's finest natural character. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />Charles Biggs <br />