The Marin County Board of Supervisors should DENY any proposal to give up public access to the Sacramento Ave. Trail.
The Sacramento Ave. Trail in San Anselmo, California has been open to the public for almost 100 years. It is a gently sloping trail that runs across an undeveloped hillside, with spectacular views of surrounding open space and Mt. Tam.
The Trail is frequently used by hikers, runners, dog walkers and bikers to get to Sorich Ranch Park from one end, and the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide on the other. These are crown jewels in Marin's amazing open space areas.
Someday, if trail easements can be obtained from adjoining property owners, the Sacramento Ave. Trail could be part of a much larger open space hiking loop.
A developer is trying build two huge homes which would block the historic public access trail. He has applied to have the Marin County Board of Supervisors give up the right of the public to access the Trail, with no input from the voters.
The Board of Supervisors should not give up this valuable public asset. Once public access to the Sacramento Ave. Trail is lost, it will never be regained.
Also, the only person that benefits from the giveaway is the private developer, who plans to make a huge profit on these homes. Once public rights to use the Trail are abandoned, the developer will the build 2 large homes where the Trail used to be, taking for themselves the advantage of the same access and views that the public used to enjoy. Public assets should not be given away solely to enrich a private developer.
To Marin County Board of Supervisors:
We urge you to DENY any proposal to give up the public's right to access to the Sacramento Ave. Trail in San Anselmo.
The Trail is a valuable public asset, and once it is given away, it will never be regained.
The only one who benefits from abandonment of the public right of way is a private developer, who will be able to build where the Trail is now. He will make a huge profit on this development, which would not be possible if the public access is preserved. Public assets should not be given away solely to benefit a private party.
