20061901 Ver 1_Public Comments_20070213

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North Carolina Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1650 "~
Attn: Ms. Cyndi Karoly ~"
I am writing in response to the public notice received from the Corps of ~
Engineers, Wilmington District, requesting that all comments related to the
application received by the COE district from the Versant Properties, LLC. ~
The application was seeking the Department of the Army authorization to '"'~
impact waters of the United States in order to facilitate the development of a
residential development on 397 acres located outside the town limits of
Woodfin, Buncombe County, North Carolina.
I have read the information pertaining to the proposed development and have
the following comments. The information received in the notice included the
proposed construction of several earthen dams and the impact to the natural
flow of the streams which .flow through the property. The information also
included the plans for construction of multiple family housing and single
family dwellings and commercial facilities which would support the
development. All of these things raise questions as to the total impact to the
environment and those endangered species of wildflowers and other flora
which exist on the property and those families living downstream. I am
requesting that a public hearing be held prior to the issue of any permits for
this development.
As the land was being procured from local residents the information given
was that this property would be used as a private residence. In this light
much of the land was given for a larger access to the property. Many of the
downstream residents have not been privy to the extent of development that
will impact the quality and volume of water flow in the streams that now
pass through their property.
I have been a resident in Bairds Cove since the 1930s and have seen many
significant rain events. These events could be similar to 100-500 year events
and the damage from the flows coming down these streams was significant.
This damage occurred before the heavy logging which occurred in the
following years and now that the mountain is being logged again to build the
structures being planned I expect that, should another such rain event take
place after the stripping of vegetation on the mountains more damage would
be expected. Not to mention the possibility of failure of the dams being
proposed. It is for these reasons that I am requesting a public hearing after a
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broad notice has been given to the public that would be potentially impacted
by this development and resulting environmental impact.
Thanks ~~~ _ :-~~ ~~ J~~
Juanita Wright '~
James A. Wright Jr. Q
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