20071194 Ver 1_Public Comments_20071101

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October 27, 2007
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
401 /Wetlands Certification
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Re: Proposed Wildcat Cliffs Country Club Inc. roads, culverts, bridges, condominiums and residences in the
headwaters of the Cullasaja River above Lake Ravenel
Dear Ms. Karoly:
We axe homeowners on Lake Villas Way in the Cullasaja Club, Highlands, North Carolina. We believe that in
the near future you will, if you have not already, be asked to approve plans for new roads through low lands
in the headwaters of the Cullasaja River, and possibly other structures as well. If you are not asked to approve
these plans, based on what we have been able to learn about them, we believe that you should be.
It is our understanding that the Cullasaja River is classified WS-III and that, in 2007, the section from Lake
Ravenel to Mirror Lake appears on the 303(d) impaired waters list. As such, we believe that any disturbance
of, or construction through, these headwater lands should be subject to the greatest protections the law
provides. We are concerned that short cuts and mitigations might be readily approved because those in
authority and in decision making positions might not realize that there are concerns about these proposals by
many of us who live in the area and along the Cullasaja River below us.
These new roads are not necessary.
In fact, Macon County Deed R10-237 is an agreement between Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, Inc. and the
then owners of our Cullasaja Club property signed back in September of 1975. This agreement voids and
nullifies an earlier agreement (Macon County Deed Z7-93 dated July 26, 1968) between the two parties
concerning rights of ingress and egress along the roads in the area, quite a few of which are old logging
roads. This 1975 agreement provides for access to the parcel whose development is being proposed along a
route (Magnolia Drive) that does not require the construction of new roads which you will, or should be,
asked to approve.
The fact that these new roads are unnecessary implies to us that those who are charged with overseeing their
plans and their construction, if approval is given at all, should insist on best practice procedures and
safeguards throughout.
Please keep us informed about any opportunities we may have to provide additional information about our
concerns or make comments about any proposals or plans or mitigations that you have been or will be asked
to approve concerning this ill advised disturbance of the Cullasaja River headwaters.
Sincerely,
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Ray & Pam Joelson
599 Lake Villas Way #132
Highlands, NC 28741
Ka~~ri_~ 86243(cl,~aol.com
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