Ridgetop development our mountain regions are unique and beautiful places. we must preserve them for future generations. one of the most serious threats to our mountains is ridgetop development. large housing developments built on steep slopes and along mountain ridges are unsightly. and they adversely affect the scenic views that draw tourists to our region each year. who wants to drive to the mountains to see not the lovely tree-covered outline of the gently sloping mountain ridges against the sky, but rows of houses jutting from the ridges and slopes with little or no tree cover between them? with tourism as the biggest industry in our area, maintaining our scenic ridgelines is crucial to continued economic success here. ridgetop development not only detracts from scenic mountain views and threatens our area’s top industry, it also harms the environment. stripping large areas to create multiple building sites removes the trees and other plants. these resources provide natural erosion barriers on steep slopes. large housing developments on ridges often increase erosion and runoff into streams and rivers. the resulting influx of silt and pollutants degrades the waters. this degradation, in turn, harms the habitats of many native species of insects, fish, and other water animals. habitat loss occurs on the slopes, too, as lawns replace native plants. and nonnative species are introduced for landscaping large areas of previously undisturbed land. ridgetop development poses a potential threat to people living downslope as well as to people living in the developments themselves. the grading and ground removal necessary in any steep-slope building project can seriously undermine the integrity of the slope, increasing the possibility for catastrophic landslides. particularly in stormy conditions, the weakened slopes can collapse, causing damage to property, danger to humans, and potentially severe environmental problems. the stunning views and tree-covered slopes that characterize our mountain region are not just a pleasure to experience. they are an economic necessity. permanent damage is being done to the very mountains that provide quality of life for our citizens and the economic means to maintain that life. ridgetop development must be stopped while thoughtful, effective measures are put in place to restrict future development. concerned citizens must take a stand and urge our city council to impose a ban followed by much stricter limits on ridgetop development. what appeal is the author making in this editorial? a. development should be banned because it is causing permanent damage to the mountains and the people living there. b. development should be stopped temporarily while restrictions are put in place for future housing developments. c. the city council should allow development in the mountains only where it will cause no major environmental damage. d. citizens should encourage the city council to take effective measures to speed up construction.