HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/16/2023 Item 7d, Peterson
Shirley Peterson <
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Subject:Letter for City Council meeting 5-16-23 item 7.d
Attachments:Righetti Hill Trail 5-13-23.docx
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The attached letter is for the City Council members and inclusion in the agenda packet.
Thank you for your assistance.
1
May 13, 2023
To: San Luis Obispo City Council C/O emailcouncil@slocity.org
From: Shirley Peterson, resident of the City of San Luis Obispo
RE: Righe? Hill Trail; Agenda Item 7.d
City Council Mee?ng; Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Dear Council Members:
Having recently walked the new Righe? Hill Trail, I’d like to compliment the staff for
recommending the trail be reserved just for pedestrians. It offers beau?ful views and currently
has an amazing array of wildflowers. The trail feels like it’s a true a nature walk with views of
the surrounding valley and peaks, along with birds of prey flying overhead. We even
encountered a large gopher snake going about its business. It's unusual to feel so close to
nature on such a short trail.
The planners truly understand that the short length and narrow width of the trail does not make
it an ideal place to allow bicycles. There are very few opportuni?es for bicyclists to pass hikers
without the hikers needing to stand off the trail and on the vegeta?on. Needing to move off the
trail will reduce the abundance of wildflowers and may cause more erosion in the coming years.
Also, in years like this last one, the evenness and walkability of trail would be greatly
compromised by the ruts made by bicycle traffic during the rainy season. An even trail helps to
prevent injuries and reduces liability for the City.
If I understand the report correctly, there will be a perimeter trail at a lower level on Righe? Hill
that is considered usable for bicycle traffic. If true, then the hill does provide a trail op?on for
bicyclists.
Addi?onally, the new 50+ acre park that is currently being planned for the Righe? Hill
development includes a Bike Park. Looking at the comments and results of the community
survey for what this new park could include, there is great support for the proposed Bike Park
with more than ¾ of the respondents asking for a Bike Park that provides op?ons for kids and
bicyclists with beginning to advanced skills. By planning for this new Bike Park, along with the
very nice bike trail near the railroad tracks, and allowing perimeter riding on Righe? Hill, it
appears to me that the planners have taken extra steps to include bicycling op?ons in the area.
Based on the informa?on presented above, I ask that the staff recommenda?on be adopted
that the Righe? Hill trail to the peak be used only for pedestrian traffic.
Thanks for your considera?on of my input.