Letters: American River Parkway, anti-war protest in Berkeley, etc.

Re "Supervisors OK homes on bluff above parkway," Feb. 14: The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors' 4-1 vote Wednesday to allow building close to the edge of a bluff on the American River Parkway is a shame, and an ominous precedent.

Just as troubling is the lack of code enforcement that allows buildings to be painted pink there.

Here in Placer County, where the contractor is king, the aesthetics of land use are also under attack. Clover Valley and its oaks will soon fall to the bulldozers, to be replaced by lawns and concrete.

Landowners and contractors have long had their eyes on a real prize: building on the rim of our beautiful American River Canyon.

Elsewhere, land close to the Sutter Buttes region has been eyed for development. When will it end? Not soon in a country where people think they have rights to live wherever they want, drive whatever they want – the bigger the better, and damn the common good.

- Dan G. Tajbl, Auburn

A good plan can deal with this

The project on the bluff in Carmichael was correctly approved under the current regulations governing development adjacent to the American River Parkway; but we suggest the regulations could be changed to a more sanctuary-protecting position congruent with our guiding principle: If it can be seen from the parkway, it shouldn't be built along the parkway.

One of the reasons for litigious building regulations is that the 1985 Parkway Plan – the management guidance document ratified by local and state government – was not properly updated every five years as called for in the 1985 plan to keep up with changing development patterns along the parkway.

Consequently, the updating of building rules and regulations needed to help guide public leadership in the awarding of building permits was also not done every five years in tandem with the parkway plan update, helping create the current, litigious-generating confusion.

An update process was finally begun in 2004 (almost 20 years behind schedule) and is due for completion in 2008.

We hope this case will guide public leadership to ensure the new parkway plan update does include clear guidelines for protection of the public sanctuary as well as providing guidance for those private property owners adjacent to the parkway.

- David H. Lukenbill, Sacramento

Senior Policy Director,

American River Parkway Preservation Society

The parkway is for everyone

Every year I purchase a vehicle/watercraft annual pass for the American River Parkway. I bicycle, hike and kayak the parkway on a regular basis. It is truly a gem and is a tribute to those who worked so hard to make it a reality.

The beauty is marred by ostentatious homes, gunite, boat docks, decks hanging out over the bluff, nonnative plant life, dissonant landscaping, etc. It is only fair that the properties that existed prior to the formation of the parkway be allowed to remain.

However, new exceptions to parkway rules should not be allowed by our elected officials. The parkway should not be compromised so the wealthy can enjoy an unobstructed view.

Sacramento County supervisors want to implement a property tax surcharge for homeowners living within three miles of the parkway. I propose it would be fair to charge homeowners with a "bluff view" a $10,000 annual surcharge.

The parkway is for everyone, regardless of proximity, and all county and city residents should pay extra property tax and entry fees for the use of the parkway.

- Marvin Philo, Sacramento

Water on the brain?

Re "Berkeley rethinks Marine snub," Feb. 12: What is it with these Northern California politicians?

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, calls for a congressional timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, and makes a fool of herself in January 2007.

State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Alameda, calls for a state timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, and makes a fool of himself in July of last year.

Sacramento Democratic Supervisor Roger Dickinson calls for a county timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, and makes a fool of himself last month.