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I'm somewhere in between your support of the center and the "no change" stance that the dissident Sierra members are taking.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to gain any political traction.  The direction it's taking, however, may not make this place any less exclusive than it is today.
The center is inaccessible because it's virtually invisible.  I found out about it by reading about it in some enviro brochure.  If that's how people are going to find out about it, then, people aren't going to find out about it, especially not people who aren't the typical enviro stereotype.
Making it exclusive, but large, may make people think it's some kind of "park" with a museum.  They may end up treating it as a recreational space or an office/conference space.  It'll just keep attracting the same people, and the same culture.
Also, with regard to enviro demograpnics....
This new nature center plan, as far as I have read, does not have anything in it about the community, its environmental needs, or outreach beyond the traditional enviro constituencies.  The board of the project appears to be mostly water district upper brass.  There is one environmental group represented.  The enviros are stuck in the Stakeholder's group (which has one rep on the board), and in there, there appear to be seven - a minority.
I take back what I said about "cathedral to environmentalism."  It might be a cathedral to the water district presidents.
If this project is a sacrificial lamb to get water district support for the rest of the Emerald Necklace plan, then maybe it's worth it.  It just feels bad.
I'm going to write in stating my issues, and Cc the County Supe office and some others.
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