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5 Mr. Robert Stroh, 1412 Kenwood Lane, co-Chair of the Downtown Business Association, said the Association stands strongly behind the parkway. Mr. Tim Hulbert, 2246 Brandywine Drive, President of the Chamber of Commerce, said that transit is part of a multi-modal system, and he congratulated the City on its innovation. He said that goes along with the parkway. He said the parkway will provide a parkway through the park, will make the park accessible, and will provide a gateway into a vibrant downtown. He said access to downtown is essential. He said the Chamber supports the project and it is its highest priority. He asked Council to move forward. Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, said he opposes even having the parkway item on the agenda. He said VDOT has a clear delineation between the phases and that was not done with the preliminary engineering phase. He said no other VDOT project has been done with a construction easement. He questioned whether it meets the purpose and need for the money spent. He asked Council to reconsider and look at the details and come back when the time is right. Mr. Stephen Bach, 1208 Meriwether Street, said that Council’s January 2006 letter requires a firm commitment to the eastern connector and a funding commitment to the southern connector by 2008, and he asked where are those conditions. He said he does not think they have been met. He said the eastern connector is a fantasy as is the southern connector. He said it looks like there are negotiations going on that are not transparent, and he opposes granting the easement. Mr. Jay Jessup, resident of Albemarle County and owner of two businesses in the City, said he thinks we can all agree that the 250 Bypass has served the City well. He said the time has come to move forward on the Meadowcreek Parkway. He said he thinks the majority of people will be served by the road. Mr. Bob Hodous, 13098 Lester Drive, said that the Meadowcreek Parkway will be a much better entry into the City and it is time to move forward. He said problems with waiting are that there will be a loss of some historical perspective and a constant increase in the cost of the project. He said it is a mistake to continue to find reasons to put it off. Mr. Downing Smith, 810 Locust Avenue, asked if the easement is irrevocable, and Mr. Brown, City Attorney, said that it expires once the road is complete. Mr. Smith said the City is giving up its leverage if the easement is granted now. He said it is premature to grand the easement until we find the extra money for the interchange. Mr. Mark Kavit, 400 Altamont Street, asked what happens if the easement is not granted. He said he agrees with Mr. Kleeman that we will lose our bargaining power. Ms. Morgan Perkins, owner of Sage Moon Gallery at 420 E. Main Street, encouraged Council to move forward with the project. She said it will only cost more later. Mr. Ernie Reed, 610 Farish, said that students from the Living Center for Ecology and the Arts have been following the process and they have the following concerns before the easement is granted: the stormwater plan is not finalized; there is no buffer protection for Schenk’s Branch; the bike and pedestrian bridge has been deleted from the interchange plan; and there is no sufficient and appropriate parkland replacement. He said there is also a question about the quality of the replacement parkland. He asked Council to table the easement. Mr. Jim Kennon, a resident of Albemarle County, said traffic is increasingly congested and dangerous, and he urged Council to approve the easement.