20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080807 (3)

Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 200701619
Subject: Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 200701619
From: Susan Weatherford <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 08:21:04 -0400
To: Loretta. A. [e-mail]. army.mi, [e-mail]
Subject : Request for a Public Hearing
Cliffs of High Carolina Community Development
Buncombe County, North Carolina
Corps Action ID # 200701619
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Karoly,
Please accept this letter as my "Request for a Public Hearing" for the subject
project. I am a resident of a family farm that is contiguous to the property on
which the development is proposed. I am greatly concerned over the potential
negative impact on the health, safety and welfare of the community.
These are the concerns of Susan Parker Weatherford, resident of Black Mountain, in
Buncombe County, North Carolina.
The Cliffs of High Carolina represent a potential census that is equal to or greater
than the population of the nearby town of Black Mountain, with associated urban and
ecological difficulties. How can this action and application for a Section 404
Permit and a 401 Water Quality Permit be reviewed and granted without public input?
Due to the topographic aspect of the development (a plateau), I am very concerned
about the chemicals that will be used 1) on the golf course and 2) to winterize the
roads leading to the development. The chemical run off and increased water
utilization by the Cliffs will adversely affect the quality and quantity of our
water flow from our well and springs situated on the slope next to the
development. The potential for contamination due to point source pollution during
construction and contamination due to non point source pollution after construction
is high. of equal concern is the water that will be used to keep up the golf course
and lawns of the proposed surrounding homes. If wells are drilled by The Cliffs of
the High Carolina development the quantity of water available to already existing
wells will be greatly decreased. We would like assurances that our water resources
will not be reduced in volume or quality. If our water supplies are reduced (dried
up springs or wells) or their quality is negatively impacted, will the Cliffs
supply the surrounding communities with a water system?
This community is home to many beautiful mountain streams that are classified as
"Trout Waters." I am concerned that the lack of protection from chemical runoff,
silt runoff in the streams, and other developmental hazards could destroy or
adversely affect this delicate ecosystem.
I am also concerned about the added traffic to US 70. There is a high probability
that this will become a primary access road and will bear the load of much more
traffic than that for which it was built. Many years of additional construction
projects will also increase heavy truck traffic on this road.
In reading the application for a 404 Permit (and the corresponding 401 Permit) I
have noticed a policy that bothers me: the mitigation plan the Cliffs is proposing
for the negative impact it will have on 6,149 linear feet of stream (including 22
stream road crossings), 0.219 acres of wetland, and 0.0.3 acres of open water. The
idea that a mitigation plan proposed includes an "in lieu" payment to be performed
outside Buncombe County is simply inadequate, and should be revised. Whatever is
destroyed in Buncombe County should not be paid back to Hendersonville County, but
instead should be paid back to Buncombe County. I feel that the Cliff's
application does not demonstrate a thorough enough effort of avoiding negative
impact on road, stream, wetland, open water, and water resources. Therefore I
request a Public Hearing before any Permits are granted.
Sincerely,
I of 2 8/8/2008 12:02 PM
Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 200701619
Susan P. Weatherford
Resident and Concerned Citizen
Black Mountain, Buncombe County, North Carolina
2 of 2 8/8/2008 12:02 PM