20080880 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080812 (10)

[Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing Cliffs of High Carolina Communi...
Subject: [Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing Cliffs of High Carolina Community Development]
From: Coleen Sullins <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:13:08 -0400
To: Cyndi Karoly <[e-mail]>
Subject: Request for a Public Hearing Cliffs of High Carolina Community Development
From: Julia Weatherford <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:44:07 -0400
To: [e-mail]
Coleen Sullins
Division of Water Quality Administration
Dear Ms. Sullins,
As a family member of a property that borders the the proposed Cliffs development I am writing to strongly voice my concerns
about the mountain top development and golf course. My family has relied on gravity fed spring water since 1916 on this
property. It has always been plentiful and pristine, but until this proposal there has never been a development above us that will
potentially equal the entire population of Black Mountain. The proposed plan threatens to endanger our family water supply.
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 morning's news tells us that the French Broad water flow is the lowest it has been in over a hundred years (since they
started keeping records of it). This just points to the region's "extreme drought" (the worst descriptor the officials give a region
in drought... which Buncombe County has been classified as for some time now). All this WITHOUT the CLIFFS (yet) pulling
water from the region to water their golf course, their residential lawns,or provide water for residents.
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. The 70, 140 interchange at Swannanoa, which will be used by the Cliffs as
the primary Swannanoa Valley entrance was recently identified by the DOT funded US70 Corridor Study as the most over used,
underbuilt congestion point in the scope of their study (Ridgecrest to Oteen). Many years of additional construction projects will
also increase heavy truck traffic on this road and lead to delays, congestion and
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 Cliffs application does not demonstrate a thorough enough effort of avoiding negative impact on road, stream,
wetland, open water, and water resources. How can this action and application for a Section 404 Permit and a 401 Water Quality
Permit be reviewed and granted without public input?
Please accept this letter as my "Request for a Public Hearing" for the Cliffs of High Carolina project.
Sincerely,
1 of 2 8/18/2008 10:56 AM
[Fwd: Request for a Public Hearing Cliffs of High Carolina Communi...
Julia McCrory Weatherford
landowner
Julia Weatherford
15 Briar Branch Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
[e-mail]
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