20071560 Ver 1_USACE Correspondence_20071019 (2)

o~ - ~ S.t° o RECEIVED
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RIVER FOREST OCT 1.5 2007
PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
P. O. BOX 693
LITTLETON, N. C. 27850 RALEIGH REGULATORY FIELD OFFICE
October 11 , 2007 ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~
Mr. Eric Alsmeyer n ~ T I ~ 2007
Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers DElJR - VVAT±;'R QUALI"t1'
Corps Action ID #: 2007-3014 w~t~w~sA~"lDSTOftp,1~!~A~FRBRIWCN
Dear Mr. Aismeyer,
Thank you for the Public Notice and the opportunity to respond to the application from Redtail-
.Gaston, LLC pertaining to the Eaton's Crossing development at Lake Gaston. As you know, the
property owners of River Forest Subdivision previously objected to the scope of this project, but are
anxious to express our concerns further. The following paragraphs explain the overall concerns of
the River Forest Property Owners Association, neighbors of the future Eaton's Crossing residents.
1. Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake Construction and Use Procedures define Special
Management Areas. The area to be developed by Redtail-Gaston, LLC has been identified as
a Special Management Area. The red sign, indicating a Sensitive Area, is clearly visible from
the main lake. See also FERC Project Number 2009, Section 5 which specifies this area as a
Special Management Area. It is our belief that this development should be controlled by the
restrictions required for a Special Management, Sensitive Area. The Use Procedures
published by Do~iiriion Power will be of no value if this development is allowed to proceed
as described in the Redtail-Gaston application. The 120 boat docks and the expanded boat
ramp far exceed u~iat~is reasonable, prudent and authorized by the Dominion Power Use
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Procedures.
2. Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake Construction and Use Procedures, Appendix C,
Paragraph 3.2 states that community docks rather than individual docks are preferable in a
Special Management Area. It further states that the number of boat docks "cannot exceed the
number of waterfront lots". The Environmental Assessment performed for Eaton's Crossing
stated that the developer could define approximately 50 waterfront lots, far less than the 120
boat docks they plan to build. It is our belief that Dominion Power has already given
tentative approval for the 120 boat docks described in the Redtail-Gaston application and will
give final approval unless your office intervenes. We need your help.
3. Two people have been killed in this immediate azea within the last two years. The Sheriff s
Department and the Coast Guard now patrol this area regularly, especially on busy weekends.
Eaton's Crossing has had no residents or boat launches during the last two years. The
addition of over 100 boaters from Eaton's Crossing plus 74 more from the HQ Development
just a half mile west will add a tremendous amount of boats to this azea. Considering that two
deaths have occurred without these new developments, we are very concerned about the
increased risk of accidents on the water.- Some reasonable control is warranted and it must be
adherence to existing regulations which restrict the number of boat docks to the number of
t t.~

~ waterfront lots in any development. Additionally, some rational evaluation of all new
developments and potential developments should be considered, rather than a single
development at a time.
4. Directly adjacent to the Eaton's Crossing development is the Eaton's Ferry Marina. This is
the lazgest boat storage/launch site on the lake. Included at the Marina are a restaurant and
on-water fuel facilities which generate significant boat traffic. If you refer to a map of this
area you will see that Eaton's Ferry Marina is located on the east side of Eaton's Crossing,
River Forest is located on the west side. The HQ development, mentioned above, is just west
of River Forest. Therefore, it should be clear that the increase of approximately 200 boats in
our immediate area will create a serious problem.
The property owners of River Forest appreciate your attention to this issue and are hopeful that
you can effect a reasonable solution. Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
~~
Don Vandegri
President
Cc:
Mr. Harry Miller, Dominion Power
Ms. Isia Johnson, FERC +~
Warren County Planning Commission
Ron Skow, RFPOA Treasurer }
Bill Walsh, RFPOA Housing & Environmental Cmte !
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