THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND

After having attended many of the various meetings held so far with all concerned over the fate of the Summit, here are what my wife Jeanne and I would like to see happen with regards to further development...nothing.  Of course, this is an unrealistic desire, but maybe something close to that is feasible.  Read on.

We don't much like change.  We mourn the loss of favorite places, whether they're undeveloped areas or special restaurants, beloved landscapes or convenient small businesses that serve our needs.  Having been part of The Summit in varying degrees since 1962, we especially want this lovely area to remain isolated from the rampant development that is threatening the entire Sierra range.  Selfish?  I suppose so.  But for those of us who have hiked, skied, biked, fished, or just generally enjoyed the relative solitude found at The Summit, most notably in the off-seasons, the feeling of needing to be a steward of the land is certainly valid.  We relish our time here...

Is it OK to suggest that, instead of proposing development that would bring us right to the brink of the resources of the area, and most likely beyond that fragile point, we propose what would be a more economically successful and appropriately-sized project?  The following suggestions include all of Soda Springs, not just the Foster/Syme land. 

Simply put, we suggest that it would be logical and correct to:  

1. Infill the business district with viable commerce that would add to the resources that both full- and part-time residents would use and enjoy all year.  Don't duplicate what's already here.  Don't crowd the land.  Think clearly about what we truly need, and don't insult the area's residents by not asking us what we'd like to see in terms of useful businesses.
2. Pay attention to the results of the recent survey that show what the vast majority of the folks up here want.  Put those opinions at the forefront of all discussions about how the community would grow.
3. Include all undeveloped lots in the entire Donner Summit Area in any calculations for resource use, including the approximately 200 undeveloped lots in Serene Lakes.  Use common sense in any plans, and remember that conserving natural resources, especially in a time of changing weather patterns, is paramount to any discussion of future growth.  Don't push for maximum build-out if it would inevitably tax resources.  That's a dangerous road to travel.
4. Finally, if development is going to happen, and it will, use the correct economy of scale in deciding what needs to go where.  In other words, don't stuff the maximum amount of stuff in the minimum amount of space, and don't incorrectly label the spaces that you're working with.

Since it's unfortunately quite unrealistic to expect no growth at all, we'd love to see a true conservation development unfold here at The Summit.  The opportunity exists for a developer, possibly Foster/Syme, to create a model for other communities in the Sierra Nevada mountains to copy, a model that has the characteristics to truly fit the area in which it's proposed.  Imagine Donner Summit and the surrounding environs as the prime example of how the Sierra can accommodate modest growth while maintaining both its identity and integrity.  What a wonderful ending to what could be a successful and non-confrontational growth process. 

Tom and Jeanne Appelbaum