Due to explosive growth and urban sprawl, green space in and around Springfield Illinois is quickly disappearing. The importance of these spaces cannot be overstated, nor should they be taken for granted. These places not only provide a much needed home for wildlife, they add to the asthectic appeal of a neighborhood and a community as a whole. In short, these remaining pockets of woods (20 acres in this case) can greatly improve the quality of life in any city. They can accomplish this by absorbing carbon, giving off oxygen, helping to control storm water runoff, and minimizing the impact of heat from roads and surrounding parking lots. These woods are special, because they contain century old trees that are beneficial to the surrounding area and the health and well being of the overall environment. This proposed grocery store is directly across the street from a County Markert store and only 3 miles down the road from an existing Schnucks which is located in Montvale plaza. Nobody is questioning Schnucks right to build another store, (they are also proposing one for Dirksen) most communities would welcome the growth. The problem is the location, there are plenty of places on the west side to build this store without destroying 20 acres of beautiful woods. We the undersigned are not anti growth or anti Schnucks, we are simply asking the Schnucks company to find a more suitable location for their store.