Committee weighs how to identify potential preserve parcels without alarming neighbors

Staff displayed parcel maps around the Howard Preserve and described specific parcels that could be valuable for future inclusion. The staff presenter noted the value of contiguous parcels but urged cautious wording so property owners are not surprised.

"This is a part of the Howard Preserve surrounding it. I think this would be a reasonable parcel to at least have intention of at some point acquiring," the staff presenter said while showing the map, and committee members recommended changing the phrasing to show conditional intent rather than a firm pursuit. Members favored phrasing such as "open to acquisition if parcels become available" and agreed to include parcel identifiers in a conditional list rather than shading parcels on a public map that could alarm neighbors.

Committee members also discussed permanent easements and noted that some parcels are largely in the floodway and therefore unbuildable; they asked staff to annotate the plan with that context to reduce misunderstanding. The committee agreed to retain the map as an internal planning aid with careful wording in public-facing sections.