20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080807 (7)

High Carolina Development Public Hearing
Subject: High Carolina Development Public Hearing
From: "Will Weatherford" <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 23:07:04 -0400
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Ms. Beckwith,
This letter is my request for a public hearing for the Cliffs High Carolina Community Development.
The reason for my special concern is that three of my family members currently live on a 180 acre tract
that is contiguous to the Cliffs development on the North side. Three generations of Weatherfords
have lived, vacationed, married and died on this property, "Far Horizons", from 1900 to the present
and we draw our water from one well and two springs. We have lived in multiple states, but we
always return her each year. This is home. My grandfather noticed the beauty of this piece of land,
but before he even thought about buying it, he knew he had to determine that it had good water. It did,
and does. Visitors often take jugs of water when the leave this property. I am greatly concerned that
this could change because of the impact the Cliffs development will have. In general I am concerned
about the potential negative impact on the health, safety and welfare of the community.
These are the concerns of my family of five, resident of Richmond, Kentucky, who often visit Far
Horizons.
The residents of Cliffs of High Carolina could equal or out-number the population of the nearby town
of Black Mountain, with associated urban and ecological pressures. 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 topography 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 in and leading to the development. The
chemical run off and increased water utilization by the Cliffs could adversely affect the quality 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. I am sure that you know that golf courses are the second
largest contributors to non-point source pollution, only behind Agriculture, in our country.
Of equal concern is the water that will be used to keep up the golf course and lawns of the proposed
surrounding homes. I understand that the development plans to get its drinking water from Asheville
and water for the golf course from lakes. However, we are, and have been in a drought. We have no
guarantee that multiple wells, and wells that could tap our ground water sources, will not be drilled. A
geologist has told me that our water quantity and quality could be affected but this large development
and it could take a few years for the evidence to show up. To determine that water quality and
quantity have not declined, an independent geologist needs to begin testing now to establish a baseline
and then test periodically in the future. It is plain to me that our multi-million dollar new neighbor
should pay for such tests to prove his commitment to being an environmentally responsible neighbor.
Without paying for such testing, his commitment is meaningless.
I of 2 8/8/2008 12:05 PM
High Carolina Development Public Hearing
If our water is harmed, Cliffs High Carolina should pay to replace our water, not with Asheville
quality, but with Far Horizon's quality water. Cliffs High Carolina should sign a legally binding
document not to damage the water quantity and quality, as determined by the tests, and to restore our
water if he does cause damage.
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, ridiculous, 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.
The Cliffs 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.
Sincerely,
Will Weatherford
2 of 2 8/8/2008 12:05 PM