20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080806 (4)

Comments on Cliffs permit - Corp Action ID # 200701619
Subject: Comments on Cliffs permit - Corp Action ID # 200701619
From: "Gracia O'Neill" <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 18:29:30 -0400
To: <Loretta. A. B eckwith@saw02. usace. army.mil>, <[e-mail]>
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Karoly,
Thank you for your phone calls over the past week. Clean Water for NC's comments on the Cliffs at High
Carolina permit are below and attached.
Thank you for your consideration,
Gracia O'Neill
Clean Water for North Carolina
29 '/z Page Ave Asheville, NC 28801

August 6, 2008
USACE
Attn: Lori Beckwith
151 Patton Ave. Rm 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Cyndi Karoly
NC DWQ
Crabrtree Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604-2260
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Karoly:
We are writing to submit comments on the proposed USACE permit for the Cliffs Communities
planned development (High Carolina) in the Fairview/Swannanoa area of Buncombe County (Corp
Action ID # 200701619). We believe that the high degree of public concern over this project,
combined with our own concerns about the application, warrant the need for a public hearing.
We are specifically concerned that the applicant is counting the mandatory 30ft buffer, which they are
required by various local and state laws to protect, as "preservation." Counting this area as mitigation
against their many impact is insufficient and should not be allowed. Furthermore, any restoration
work done as part of the mitigation plan should, at the least, focus on an area within the same County
as the disturbance. Restoration of the Shoals Falls Farm Site in Henderson Co. (Shoals and Crab
Creeks) does little for the people of the Swannanoa and Fairview areas who will likely be affected
greatly by this enormous development. Finally, the applicant has yet to acquire an approved 401
1 of 2 8/8/2008 12:01 PM
Comments on Cliffs permit - Corp Action ID # 200701619
Water Quality Certification from the NC. Division of Water Quality. This application should be
denied until such time as the applicant has successfully obtained this required Certification.
Clean Water for NC formally requests a public hearing be held, in relation to both the 401 Water
Quality Certification and the USACE 404 permit, to give the public an opportunity to better
understand the scope of the work proposed, as well as to give those who have not had the chance
comment the opportunity to do so.
Thank you for your consideration,
-Gracia O'Neill
Gracia O'Neill
Assistant Director
Clean Water for North Carolina
29 1 /2 Page Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
[phone]
www.cwfnc.org
CWFNC Comments on Draft USACE permit.doc
Content-Type: application/msword
Content-Encoding: base64
2of2
8/8/2008 12:01 PM
Clean Water for North Carolina
29 '/z Page Ave Asheville, NC 28801
USACE
Attn: Lori Beckwith
151 Patton Ave. Rm 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Cyndi Karoly
NC DWQ
Crabrtree Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604-2260
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Karoly:
August 6, 2008
We are writing to submit comments on the proposed USACE permit for the Cliffs
Communities planned development (High Carolina) in the Fairview/Swannanoa area of
Buncombe County (Corp Action ID # 200701619). We believe that the high degree of
public concern over this project, combined with our own concerns about the application,
warrant the need for a public hearing.
We are specifically concerned that the applicant is counting the mandatory 30ft buffer,
which they are required by various local and state laws to protect, as "preservation."
Counting this area as mitigation against their many impact is insufficient and should not
be allowed. Furthermore, any restoration work done as part of the mitigation plan
should, at the least, focus on an area within the same County as the disturbance.
Restoration of the Shoals Falls Farm Site in Henderson Co. (Shoals and Crab Creeks)
does little for the people of the Swannanoa and Fairview areas who will likely be affected
greatly by this enormous development. Finally, the applicant has yet to acquire an
approved 401 Water Quality Certification from the NC. Division of Water Quality. This
application should be denied until such time as the applicant has successfully obtained
this required Certification.
Clean Water for NC formally requests a public hearing be held, in relation to both the
401 Water Quality Certification and the USACE 404 permit, to give the public an
opportunity to better understand the scope of the work proposed, as well as to give those
who have not had the chance comment the opportunity to do so.
Thank you for your consideration,
-Gracia O'Neill
---------------------
Gracia O'Neill
Assistant Director
Clean Water for North Carolina
29 1 /2 Page Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
[phone]
www.cwfnc.orf,