20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080805

Additional comments- Cliffs at High Carolina
Subject: Additional comments- Cliffs at High Carolina
From: Rebecca Williams <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 13:19:01 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
To: Cyndi Karoly <cyndi. karoly@ncmail. net>, [e-mail]
CC: francois manavit <[e-mail]>, "Gracia O'Neill" <[e-mail]>,
Ryan Griffith <[e-mail]>, Monroe Gilmour <[e-mail]>,
"allenhope@bellsouth. net" <[e-mail]>
Dear Ms. Karoly,
I received a copy of this letter from a realtor in the Swannanoa Valley, Dawn
Wilson, who had told me of sedimentation and erosion problems that she had seen in
a creek that runs off of the Cliffs property at High Carolina. This creek runs
through the Beacon Mill Village, which is a densely populated residential
neighborhood in Swannanoa, situated directly beneath the Cliffs. Ms. Wilson sent a
letter to the USAGE but did not copy one to your office. I wanted to make sure you
received it. Her letter is attached.
Although I have already submitted a letter to your office on behalf of the
Swannanoa Pride Community Coalition, Ms. Wilson's letter reminded me of additional
concerns that I have in connection with the NCDWQ application from the Cliffs at
High Carolina. We have been in a serious drought since the Cliffs began
construction on High Carolina nearly two years ago. As someone who witnessed the
devastating flooding of the Swannanoa River in 2004 caused by heavy rains, I am
very concerned with the potential run off, sedimentation, and erosion problems
associated with a development of this size and at this elevation. What impact will
disturbing over 6000 feet of streams have when it rains? What impact will there be
from the runoff from all of the impervious surfaces for the planned roads, parking
lots and hundreds of buildings? Has there been an analysis of this? As you know,
storm water issues in the mountains are very different than the issues facing the
rest of the state. For those of us who live beneath the Cliffs properties and in
proximity to the Swannanoa River, the issue of erosion control and adequate storm
water retention is not only one of water quality but also an issue of public
safety.
This summer, Buncombe County has been in a state of record-breaking exceptional
drought. We had an overnight rain on July 28th, 2008. It was not a particularly
heavy one as I recall. on the morning of July 29th I received an email from a
resident of Alpine Mountain (a residential community adjacent to the Cliffs)
wanting to know if I could give them a contact number for a Cliffs representative
because of an erosion problem associated with the development site, caused by the
previous night's rain. The run off from the Cliffs site stopped up one of the
Alpine Mountain culverts and was causing problems on their road.
If there are erosion problems caused by a moderate rain, I am truly concerned about
the potential damage that could result from a more serious storm. I question
whether the Cliffs have an adequate storm water plan in place. I hope that your
office will keep these issues in mind as you examine their application for 401
Water Quality Certification.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Williams
215 Wilson Ave.
Swannanoa, NC 28778
828-686-3922
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1 of 1 8/6/2008 9:15 AM
200 Woodland Court
Black Mountain, NC 28711
[e-mail]
[phone]
30 July 2008
USACE
Lori Beckwith
51 Patton Ave., Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Dear Lori,
I was prompted to write when I saw the request for comments in the Asheville Citizen
Times yesterday, July 291".
I am a Realtor and show property in the Swannanoa area quite often. In June I visited a
property in Beacon Village many times and observed something unusual. The property's
Western boundary is a bold creek and I noticed the neighborhood children playing in it
one day. I chatted with them (their names were Amber and Ashley) and asked what they
were looking for. Crayfish or crawdads, I can't remember which, was the answer. They
seemed happy with their catch and had a happy time giggling over the critters. On this
day the creek had at least six inches of water and was very clear. I walked the length of
that boundary, along the creek, a few days later during a steady rain. This time the creek
was much deeper and was completely opaque, thick with silt and clay, and was the color
of dark espresso with a bit of cream. I believe, from the lay of the land, that this creek
drains from The Cliffs at High Carolina. I walked the entire (nearly) two acres and
observed the adjoining land, all thick woods, and saw no disturbance to the land nearby,
so the silt must have been coming from higher up, where I was unable to see.
The Pin Number for this parcel is, 9698.05-29-4095. I am referring to the creek that runs
through the property and along the West boundary. The address is 145 Central Ave.,
Swannanoa.
My concern is that The Cliffs at High Carolina was causing this silt in the creek, even
now, when they are just beginning the project. If they plan to disturb 6,149 feet of stream
channel and 0.2 acres of wetlands they will have to do a major overhaul of their storm
water run off retention systems because what they are doing now is not working.
If it is true that this creek drains The Cliffs at High Carolina property, I hope you will be
able to convince this developer that they must do a better job of keeping the creeks clear
and require much stricter measures if they are allowed to further disturb the land and
streams.
Thank you,
Dawn M. Wilson, Broker
Investec Realty and Business Solutions, LLC