RICHLAND - Getting bigger means getting rid of green space. You've got to decide what moves in and what stays au natural.

Donna Lucas is fighting to save this spot. This is zoned as commercial space, but Lucas says that would be a waste. She wants to keep it open, maybe an eduction center, botanical garden, but mostly she wants to keep these trails and wildlife the way it is.

"It's been a passion my whole life, I think we need to protect what god put here for us," said Lucas.

The 10 acres overlooks the Yakima River, it's known as the Yakima Bluffs.

Lucas is joining up with other groups like the native plant society and autobahn groups to ask the city to keep hold off on plans for housing up here. There's a regional study ongoing to pinpoint priority open space around the Tri-Cities. They want the city to wait for that study to come back before giving the go-ahead.

It's a debate going on around the region. Little Badger, Southridge, Road 68. The argument is growth is good because of more tax base, but how much is too much?

Lucas says it's not either or, you can have development and open space.

The city will be taking up the issue at a workshop meeting Tuesday.