The Nature of fragile places

The Nature of fragile places can be developed to look pretty, and maybe made comfortable, but it can not be made forgivable. The foothills to the east of Chico are as fragile as coral reefs around islands, or Mangrove trees swamps around the Florida panhandle. Their highest value lies in the environmental dividend these delicate lands already contribute. These foothill areas are best left untouched, except by control burns, wildlife and grazers. Development on those fragile lands robs us. It dirties the air, flushes away the water greening our valley and recharging the aquifers. It exposes our town to greater risks. It places those who would build, sell, or live there, literally above the rest of us. It makes the heart of Chico the bottom floor of a pit toilet. What to do instead? Get an aerial map and pencil. Draw a line along those points where the toe of the foothills touch the alluvial soils of the valley floor. Draw north and south. Draw a parallel line at a distance downhill of 50 to 300 feet. This will be a greenway buffer which may then include future pedestrian bicycles and eMobility vehicle paths. Get the best and latest flood maps. Those higher elevation areas west of those lines is where any future compact developments should occur. Those soil that make those areas prime agricultural land also make it able to absorb development impacts. Zone it to make it so. Annex it as appropriate. Most everybody will be happier.