From: Mary Gourley
To: Mary Gourley
Cc: Oriana Hart; Erik Billing; Torran Korman; John Jay; Jane Riley; Victoria Henkel Subject: FW: Apple Blossom Trail via Burbank Heights & Orchards Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 10:13:52 PM
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Mary Gourley
City Manager
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From: Julie Peterson < >
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 9:48 PM
To: Mary Gourley <[email protected]>
Cc: Susanne Wilson < >
Subject: Apple Blossom Trail via Burbank Heights & Orchards Dear Ms. Gourley and City Council:
I am a resident of Burbank Heights & Orchards and have been a resident of Sebastopol for over 50 years. While I appreciate the iconcepts of a bike-friendly community, I have great concerns about its implementation and safety.
It is my feeling that Sebastopol, an already overly accommodating small town, is simply not conducive to handling the increased tourism and overrun this proposed Apple Blossom Trail would bring. While it appears some property owners have given their consent, I don't think they've been given the entire picture of what this plan would bring with the intent being not only for our community, but for tourism.
In an article by Sebastopol Trailmakers, it states " Tourists love bike trails as a way to see a community. Bike enthusiasts contribute economic value to the County, but Sebastopol is seeing very little of that. These trails would change that." While there has been some focus to change the minds of the senior residents of Burbank Heights & Orchards who previously opposed the trail, there does seem to be an awareness by the Sebastopol Trailmakers that our disapproval could be detrimental to implementing the trail. The article further states, " The opportunity to have these trails will end. 'These trails cross a series of connecting properties and losing any link will break the chain needed for a trail.' Unfortunately, there is no "eminent domain for trails."
While CalTrans has recently completed a months' long project of a bike path along Bodega Avenue, at the cost of over 2.5+m, with the City paying $77k, it seems feasible to use this route rather than steering the trail over a deer path, through a senior residential community, its Farm, and then through a 167-year old cemetary. The residents in these areas, some of whom have family members who have passed on and are in the cemetery, feel deeply trespassed against. Many of us work hard, volunteer, and collaborate to create the community we have built.
Some residents have raised concerns about safety, traffic congestion, and the increased capacity overloading our small community. The proposed path goes directly up a hill which often has residents walking alongside it - some with walkers or canes. This is already precarious with necessary vehicles and visitors.
These walkable areas in our community simply cannot accommodate the influx of bicyclists you are proposing. Quite simply, it would overrun it and our residents would lose the quiet enjoyment and walkability of the property Luther and Elizabeth Burbank intended for its seniors.
I would like to recommend that the traffic on Bodega Avenue be far better controlled with stoplights, reduced speed, and radar enforcement. As was recently on the City Agenda, Burbank Heights & Orchards requested the city implement a Traffic Impact Study to reduce the speed and noise from the traffic that greatly impacts the health of the sixty or so residents that reside near the non-stop noise emanating from Bodega Avenue.
If this stretch of road were not only less noisy, but could be used as the bike route it was intended to be, it would eliminate the risks to both the residents and bicyclists by slowing traffic to a far more manageable rate, be conducive to the seniors' peaceful living and quiet enjoyment of their homes, as well as, provide a far safer bike route.
Two years ago, we responded to this inquiry with a resounding "No!" This is still our stance. This is our home, perhaps the final home of some of Sebastopol's senior most residents. There are already several bike paths in place in town, as well as, throughout the County. Please don't place revenue above the peaceful community we have built and thrive in. Many of us have contributed so much to Sebastopol over the years. We, and those interred at the cemetery, are deserving of consideration and respect.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Julie Peterson
BHO Resident Forum Coordinator