Here are some points you can make:
From the Revised MND:
Alignment B. This alignment has been designed to minimize encroachment into the Modoc Preserve and to be consistent with the provisions of the conservation easement held by The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. The multi-use path would also be constructed with pervious materials over a clean aggregate base. It would not conflict with preserving in perpetuity the Preserve’s natural, open space, scenic, wetlands, ecological and wildlife habitat attributes. The proposed land use (multi-use trail) would not conflict with the allowed uses under the conservation easement, and would not generate significant noise, traffic, dust, artificial lighting or crowds that could impair the attributes of the Preserve.
This paragraph is on page 4 of the Revised MND. Every one of the statements in it is false. Alignment B is NOT consistent with the Conservation Easement for these reasons:
1. Building the Path, whether it is made of pervious or impervious asphalt, is still a road building project. It would entail taking out 3,800 cubic yards of soil and replacing it with 1,152 cubic yards of fill, with 2,648 cubic yards removed entirely. Then, 1,133 tons of asphalt and concrete plus 903 cubic yards of road base (aggregate) would be brought in with heavy-duty trucks and equipment, causing the soil to compact. None of this is allowed in a preserve. All of it would conflict with the natural, open space, scenic, wetlands, ecological and wildlife habitat attributes.
2. Alignment B includes two retaining walls, one 1,200 feet long and up to 4 feet tall and another 700 feet long and up to two feet tall. Retaining walls are structures in the eyes of any reasonable person, and structures are not allowed in a preserve.
3. The project would generate significant noise, traffic and light that would certainly impair the attributes of the preserve, and the neighborhoods in general. Surrounding streets already experience cars that take up parking to use the Obern trail. There will be an increase of out of the area people who will park and then ride or walk or stroll on the new path. More than half of all bikes are now e-bikes, and their share is growing. Many e-bikes have very fat tires that do generate noise, and they have very bright headlights. They can also go up to 25mph – speeds comparable to a car. The noise in this area carries, we hear construction projects from all around us. This project will increase the noise from the construction and for the life of this path.
4. The Project does conflict with allowed uses which are named in the Easement - walkers and equestrians. Walkers are threatened by fast moving bikes, particularly e-bikes, whereas now, they are at ease. Equestrians would have a separate trail, but at the eastern end, it is adjacent to the bike path – close enough for horses to be spooked by fast moving bikes, strollers, etc.
5. 21 trees would be removed for Alignment B and 48 for Alignment A. Removing any trees in or near a Preserve is NOT consistent with the Conservation Easement.
6. The closing paragraph of the “Project Characteristics” chapter (p.6) talks a great deal about the beneficial effect of compost. There is compost now in the project area from years of naturally decomposing organic material, that would all be destroyed and replaced by asphalt. Let’s keep it in place!
7. A drainage swale would be moved to make room for the path - in violation of the Conservation Easement which does NOT allow for changes in topography.
8. The Project would damage the habitat of 71 bird species, butterflies including monarchs, mammals including foxes and coyotes and rare plants such as Centromadia parryi ssp. australis (1B.1) grows in the preserve, which may be affected in "Alignment B". Cucurbita foetidissima (Buffalo gourd) also grows in the preserve, which would be destroyed from "Alignment A". Although Buffalo gourd is not considered rare, this plant is locally rare, being the only observation of this plant in SB. This plant is also a culturally significant plant among the Chumash, and it is likely that their distribution has been largely influenced by the Chumash and other neighboring tribes. The Chumash and other Southern California tribes use these plants in the present, as the dried gourds are hugely important for making traditional rattles.