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t <br /> 22 <br /> Aur,d 05, 1996 <br /> P'ar #2 <br /> • JJR consultants spoke proudly of preserving 6 hardwood areas comprising 125 acres. As <br /> we have repeatedly emphasized, small, fragmented areas of hardwoods are virtually <br /> meaningless from an environmental point of view. Once edge effects are accounted for, <br /> the area is often too small to sustain the animal life which requires large contiguous tracts <br /> of hardwoods. Environmentally productive hardwood areas are large contiguous tracts, <br /> not small separated fragments. <br /> • JJR mentioned surface parking throughout this site simply because the space exists. They <br /> have repeatedly said the site capacity at Horace Williams exceeds the road capacity. We <br /> would encourage a more thoughtful approach to parking to reduce the amount of <br /> impervious surface on the site. This would include parking ability underneath buildings <br /> as well as small decks. If surface parking is pursued, we encourage leaving large <br /> specimen trees throughout such parking areas. This has been successfully done in other <br /> areas of the country and provides aesthetic appeal in addition to pleasant shade. <br /> • This subcommittee wants to encourage a designation of passive recreation along the west <br /> part of the Bolin Creek corridor to the south of Homestead Road. Areas of active <br /> recreation are designated in other locations on this site plan. Passive recreation is often <br /> overlooked by recreation planners but deserves thoughtful consideration alongside active <br /> recreation sites. The two really should not be in conflict since most areas suitable for <br /> active recreation are open, clear flat areas as opposed to the more natural, wooded <br /> environment preferred for passive recreation. We are concerned that JJR has a park and <br /> stormwater detention ponds listed under their passive recreation definition. We need <br /> clarification of these terms. <br /> • We very much appreciate that roadways have not been designated to cross the Bolin <br /> Creek corridor. This will go a long way to protecting what remains of this fragile <br /> ecosystem. <br />