20210224 Ver 1_Public Notice Comments_20211028 (100)

Public Notice Comment Form
ID#*
20210224
Project Name*
Westpoint
First Name
Aaron
Affiliation (if applicable)
Phone Number
3364696695
Version*
1
Number only.
Last Name
Email *
[e-mail]
***The intent for collecting an email address is to allow us send you a receipt for submittal of this comment.
Please pick the response below that represents your stance on the above mentioned project? *
Yes - I agree with the project. No - I do not agree with the project.

Comment
I am opposed to the Westpoint development and their permit application. The developer has already broken
regulations and will likely continue to do so. This project has significant public impact and needs the higher level
of review deserved by such a vital area.
The proposed development and assessments do not accurately reflect the true impacts of the project with
regards to 401 Individual Clean Water Act Permit disturbances. There are other issues with the developer that
have already erroded any trust in their ability to follow laws and regulations. Such as clearing over 70,000 sq. ft.
of trees in August without permits and without any protection for the runoff from that work. The permit area is full
of wildlife including endangered species.
Living adjacent to the permit area and spending a fair amount of time in the Westpoint on the Eno city park, I
have first hand experience of the area and issues with the proposed development. I see the primary issue as the
plan for construction and runoff. In an area that drains directly into the Eno River and has experienced numerous
floods in just the last 5 years, the removal of the Westpoint land from natural drainage and absorption to the over
61 acres of 70% impervious surface that will drastically change the water quality of the river and increase
flooding at the park and downstream. The Eno River is home to a number of endangered species that would be
significantly impacted by the development. The streams on the property also likely include these species. There
should be more research into the critical wildlife habitat that is being disturbed by the development. The permit
asks for a number of wetland buffer exceptions that shouldn't be granted. Wetland buffers are critical to
maintaining high water quality in the Eno River and exceptions should not be made for a new development. In
addition to the wildlife impact, the water quality for people will be impacted. The city of Durham is in phase 1 of
building a new water intake just downstream from the permit area and the Westpoint development is within the
critical area of protection for this intake. This permit is using a timing loophole to ignore the water intake that is
being constructed. By the time any permit work is done, the intake will be completed and should be considered
as such for the permitting process.
The permit omits a number of negative impacts to historic sites. Westpoint on the Eno is a historic site, with a
unique mill. The increased flooding from the development will directly impact the mill and would contribute to it
being destroyed or deemed uninhabitable from a future flood. The above mentioned illegal clearing on the site is
said to have unearthed a number of unmarked (or poorly marked) graves that are linked to the cemetery that
borders the property. The graveyard is of historical importance and if part of that graveyard is on the permit
property, this historic site needs more attention.
The Westpoint permit application needs a higher level of review and to take into account a number of omitted
issues.
Best,
Aaron Poteate
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