HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080812 (9)[Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 2007016191
Subject: [Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 2007016191
From: Coleen Sullins <Coleen.Sullins@ncmail.net>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:54:29 -0400
To: Cyndi Karoly <cyndi.karoly@ncmail.net>
CC: Matt Matthews <Matt. Matthews@ncmail. net>, Paul Rawls <Paul.Rawls@ncmail.net>
Subject: Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 200701619
From: Susan Weatherford <spweatherford@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:31:14 -0400
To: coleen.sullins@ncmail.net
Subject: Request for a Public Hearing
Cliffs of High Carolina Community Development
Buncombe County, North Carolina
Corps Action ID # 200701619
Dear Ms. Sullins,
Please accept this letter as my "Request for a Public Hearing" for the Cliffs of High
Carolina Community Development permit application. 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
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[Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 2007016191
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,
Susan P. Weatherford
Resident and Concerned Citizen
Black Mountain, Buncombe County, North Carolina
Request for a Public Hearing - Corps Action ID # 200701619.emi
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