Meeting Time: April 03, 2024 at 1:00pm EDT
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Agenda Item

19.2. 24-216 Permitted Recreational Activities at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.

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    Blaine Loos 8 months ago

    Dear Board of Supervisors,

    I encourage you to fix the county code to allow mountain biking at Ragged Mountain. It seems that mountain biking has become an unintended victim of a jurisdictional battle. Well, now that that jurisdictional issue has been resolved, we can set things straight again. The only seemingly legitimate argument I've heard for prohibiting mountain biking is that some say that there is a concern over water quality. But the RWSA have stated many times that there is no impact to water quality from mountain biking. Well, then, great, that's settled! I hope you'll make the right choice and listen to the mountain biking community, who are responsible for much of the trail building and maintenance that occurs within the city and county. Mountain biking is a fantastic way to stay physically and mentally healthy, and it would be a real shame for us to lose such a great community resource.

    Best,

    Blaine Loos

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    Carlos Armengol 8 months ago

    I respectfully request that you change County codes to allow mountain biking and other recreational activities in park lands adjacent to public water supplies.

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    Kalyn Thompson 8 months ago

    I am a long-time resident of Albemarle County. The trail system at Ragged Mountain Reservoir is an incredibly special and unique resource, given its proximity to town and beginner-friendly options. My family has been biking, hiking, paddleboarding, and picnicking at Ragged for years - and it's one of our favorite places to bring family and friends when they come to town. I have always had polite and positive interactions with all trail users, whether I've been on bike or foot. CAMBC has put an incredible amount of work into designing and building trails that are both user- and environmentally-friendly. Thank you for reconsidering the code and I strongly urge you to open Ragged up to all trail users.

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    Sandra Holbrook 8 months ago

    As an Albemarle county resident I do not understand why there has been resistance to changing the ordinance to allow mountain biking at Ragged Mountain. The water authority has clearly stated that biking on the trails does not have a negative impact on the water quality. These trails should be inclusive and accessible to all.

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    Jason Poole 8 months ago

    I encourage the board of supervisors to allow biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir.

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    Andy Muir 8 months ago

    As a Charlottesville resident, I want to advocate for the continued access for healthy outdoor activities for all. I moved specifically to fry’s spring to have access to enjoy cycling and trail hikes with my young family. I have two children under 2 and the idea that I won’t be able to mountain bike at the reservoir with them makes me sad. We should encourage more opportunities and access not less!

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    Alisa Wilson 8 months ago

    Dear BoS, as leaders and representatives of our community, you are in a great position to protect our water supply AND provide access to outdoor spaces for hiking, biking and running. Fortunately, research shows that these recreational uses do not negatively impact our drinking water supply. Please fix the code to allow access to Ragged Mountain and other county reservoirs. Let's focus our watershed protection activities on the real threats to our water quality, such as better land use and stormwater management practices upstream. As a longtime resident of Albemarle County, I've enjoyed hiking and biking Ragged Mountain with my son. My hope is that our elected leaders will revisit the code to allow Ragged Mountain to be a gem of outdoor recreation for future generations. We can be great stewards and outdoor enthusiasts. Thank you!

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    Walter Rogers 8 months ago

    As a new resident, I have been impressed with the outdoor opportunities in this area. I have especially enjoyed mountain biking at the ragged mountain area. I hope you will continue to allow mountain biking and running in this area as it does not harm the water quality. As an older rider this area has been a good fit.

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    Tyler Ritchey 8 months ago

    Dear BOS, thank you for reconsidering the reservoir code. My family moved to Charlottesville in 2020 and the convenient access to a wide variety of outdoor spaces and trail networks is a significant factor in our decision to stay. We have frequently used the Ragged Mountain trails for both hiking and biking and it is one of our favorite areas for introducing our young children to the outdoors. With no evidence to support any negative impact of mountain biking on drinking water it would be a tragedy to see this resource be restricted. I urge to you amend the code and keep ragged mountain open to all trail users. Thank you, Tyler Ritchey

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    Stephanie Post 8 months ago

    I am honored to be momma to three very adventurous and spirited little humans. I also work full-time as a Nurse Practitioner, in a rather high-stress area of healthcare, caring for lots of folks in our community. Because of this, it is so very important for my family and my own mental health to have a place, close to home, where we can get outside and into nature. My family and I have spent many hours running, playing, and biking at Ragged Mountain. My husband and I trained with our oldest child for our first family adventure race at Ragged Mountain. We hope to teach our two younger children to trail run and mountain bike there also. There are few other places with trails appropriate to beginners in the area. Being able to move my body in nature allows me to continue to show up for my family and the people I care for in our community. Please support my family and other families like mine, in being able to access this local gem for all it has to offer!

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    Aaron Buchanan 8 months ago

    Please change the rules for Ragged Mountain to be inclusive of all outdoor activities (including running and biking) and only exclude activities proven to be detrimental to water quality. Ragged mountain is a wonderful location for families to get outdoors and has also been widely used to support youth cycling in the area. Thank you, Aaron Buchanan (15 year county resident, volunteer coach for the Albemarle High School Mountain Bike Team)

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    Paul Bower 8 months ago

    Reasons to allow mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir area:
    *Beginner friendly trail system that is close to town
    *Mountain bikers can easily ride to and from town
    *Great place for AARP/JABA eligible friends to meet and ride together
    *Having this beginner/intermediate loop available to children and older mountain bikers is very important to this community
    *According to a recent letter from Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir has no impact on water quality
    *Rerouting of 2 severe slopes by CAMBC reduced soil runoff, which is beneficial to water quality

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    Ryan Dorris 8 months ago

    Ragged is a fantastic, safe and accessible outdoor space for all forms of recreation including biking. People new to the area often make it their first stop due to the ease of navigation. I recently met a female cyclist on the Rivanna trail who spoke about how much safer she felt riding alone at ragged. This is a special place that offers so much to so many, restricting this outdoor space unnecessarily only offers our growing community less recreation.

    As we keep growing, we should offer as much outdoor recreation to as many trail users as possible. We want to be an open and outdoors community who can innovative and use public space for all, not restrict it. I worry about a lack of vision for our community if we do not take advantage of this moment to show we want our community outside.

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    Nolan LaVoie 8 months ago

    I strongly urge the county to allow recreational activities at Ragged Mtn Reservoir. As a county resident with two school-aged children and a lifelong educator, it is clear to me that we need more, not less, space for our children to be outside. If we learned one thing from the pandemic, it should be to prioritize relationships and community. Access to outdoor space does both.

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    Jeff Rominger 8 months ago

    Dear County Supervisors,
    I’d ask that you revisit the ordinance on what activities are permitted at Ragged Mountain, both due to the past several years demonstrating that multiple trail uses can coexist there without impacting water quality or the experience of others, but also because the current ordinance lacks clarity and is arbitrary in designating what activities are permitted. Currently hiking, picnicking, and bird watching are listed as ok. This leaves trail running in an ambiguous position. The distinction between hiking and trail running is somewhat arbitrary as many of my fellow trail runners know: steep hills and long runs often require a pace that is akin to hiking. Would slow jogging be banned, but fast hiking allowed? The current ordinance is unclear and arbitrary on this point, and we’d welcome it being revisited to being more inclusive of the healthy and popular activities that have flourished at Ragged Mountain in recent years.

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    Sarah Medley 8 months ago

    Dear Board of Supervisors -
    I would like to add my name to the 100+ comments here in support of allowing running and mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Reservoir. I am a city resident, environmental scientist, and mountain biker. I have spent countless hours hiking and biking at Ragged Mountain and feel that limiting use of this precious resource is not in the region's best interests. I understand that the reservoir is an important source of water for the city and county, but it is also necessary for residents to have clean and accessible areas for recreation. It is not only good for the health of individuals who use this space, it is one of the most centrally located outdoor recreation areas in the region. This allows for residents of the urban core to access without driving a long distance, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The science and voice of the people are unequivocal - allowing mountain biking and running at the reservoir is for the benefit of all

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    Jeremy Coerper 8 months ago

    Dear County Supervisors,
    Now that the County has jurisdictional authority over Ragged Mountain Reservoir, please take this opportunity and improve the language in County Code Sec 11 so that it continues to protect water quality but does not prevent healthy outdoors activities that do not threaten the water supply, including biking and hiking. I do not believe there is any evidence showing that biking or hiking around this or any reservoir contributes to measurable pollution in that reservoir. The RWSA itself has not indicated any concern. Additionally, the trail around this reservoir is not particularly steep, generally following the contours, which minimizes the amount of erosion from users of any kind. As you consider this issue, please take into account scientific evidence and the desires of this outdoor-loving community.
    In appreciation, Jeremy Coerper

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    Dustin Elliott 8 months ago

    Dear BOS,

    I write in support of allowing mountain biking at Ragged Mountain Natural Area (RMNA). The RMNA trail system is a critical component of the larger trail system across the Charlottesville area, and the mountain biking community is a key steward in the protection, maintenance and vitality of that trail system. Excluding this community from the RMNA will undermine the medium and long term viability of the RMNA, which is to no one's benefit.

    As an avid hiker, trail runner, and mountain biker, I am convinced that the mountain biking community in central Virginia has done more for trail protection and maintenance than any other outdoor enthusiasts across the region. Keeping RMNA within the fold of this community is in the best interest of the trail system at large, regardless of which outdoor recreation group you fall into.

    Thanks for your consideration.

    Best,
    Dustin Elliott

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    Michael Schirmann 8 months ago

    All of us who live in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville are supremely lucky to have a resource as beautiful and accessible as the Ragged Mountain Natural Area located so near our homes. It would be a shame to restrict a significant number of recreational and trail activities, to include hiking, dog walking, bird watching, biking, etc., when the experts tasked with managing our potable water supply have reiterated their professional assessment that these activities pose no adverse effects. Our community has a significant track record of protecting our trails and other recreational areas, in part due to the tireless work of volunteers and donations stewarded by a number of recreational interest clubs and community groups. I strongly implore the supervisors to adjust the code to allow any and all activities at Ragged Mountain, limiting only those activities deemed by the experts at RWSA to pose a risk to the reservoir. Thank you.

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    Joe Donahue 8 months ago

    I have personally spent hundreds of hours at Ragged Mountain Reservoir, and have seen no evidence of environmental degradation from runners or bikers. It is dishonest to frame policy around this assertion.