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Vineyards, agriculture not the ways to preserve ‘natural resources’ Dear Editor, Recent columns by Gary Moffat and Kevin Hanley (Sentinel, Nov.2, 2007 edition) are quick to favor large scale agricultural uses, such as vineyards – as opposed to residential development – as the best means of “preserving” our rural lands and natural resources. Maybe this position needs a bit more thought. I recently witnessed the “construction” of 40 acres of new vineyard. The land was totally cleared and scraped to bare dirt. All vegetation and topsoil were removed into huge piles. Natural habitat components such as fallen trees, old stumps, rodent burrows and nests and every blade of grass was removed to create a barren clean slate on which to plant the new vines that will form this forever-manicured vineyard. It’s also worth noting that this very devastating “construction project” did not require any environmental reviews. Were this same natural land developed for residential use, the result would likely be much less devastating and would actually preserve more of our flora and fauna.
Here’s why. The rural zoning codes would likely dictate at least a
4.6 acre parcel size, and it’s likely that the altered area of most
parcels would only end up being about 25% of the parcel, with most of
the parcel remaining in a somewhat natural condition, not “clear
scraped” as with the vineyard (or many other agricultural uses).
Another plus is that this residential development, unlike the vineyard
construction, would be subject to all the usual environmental reviews. Although
the current hot agricultural topic is wine tasting and selling, I
believe the bigger issue is the amount of natural acreage we want to
allow to disappear as it’s converted to vineyard developments and other
crops. If Placer County wants to retain its unique rural character and
natural resources, agricultural development is probably not the best
way to do it. We need sensible policies that balance agricultural
promotion with the true preservation of natural areas, and the diverse
flora and fauna they support. Roger Smith, Loomis Asking correct questions?
Dear Editor, I’m sure that Leslie Janusz’s plaintive
thoughts were heartfelt and sincere in her letter to the editor
(Sentinel, Nov. 2, 2007 edition). And while I don’t claim to have all
the answers, I do have some questions of my own. What will you
tell your children when the world is overrun by jihadists hell-bent on
annihilating everyone they consider an infidel? What will you tell them
when terrorists have nuclear weapons? What will you tell them when they
ask why you didn’t do something to support those willing to make the
hard decisions and bear the sacrifices necessary to stop it before it
was all too late? What will your children say because you asked the
wrong questions?
Fritz Wideman, Meadow Vista YOUR VIEWS – The SENTINEL encourages the free distribution of ideas and information regarding our community. We strive to be a neutral forum for the discussion of issues of public interest. Letters are due Monday at noon for the following Friday's edition and are limited to 300 words or less. Please include your name, address and phone number. All letters to the editor become the property of Sentinel Communications, Inc., and we reserve the right to print them in condensed form and to edit them for libel and factual error. They may be sent via e-mail to
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