20180582 Ver 2_Written Comments Received_20190905 (2)

Thank you. I am Ann Self, ED TVG, Cashiers 13 acre privately conserved
public park for the people. We are a neighboring property owner to
Cashiers Lake.
I am here to voice my support to the application to conduct maintenance
and make improvements to Cashiers Lake. This is an important project to
improve the lake, returning it to clean condition, and thereby protecting
and maintaining the lake as well as conserving and caring for our
community watershed.
have had numerous conversations with diverse expert perspectives who
have extensive knowledge of watershed/wetlands conservation and
erosion control regarding the condition of Cashiers Lake, in particular with
regard to the negative impacts The Village Green experiences as a result of
the sediment accumulation as well as other associated natural remains
and detritus in the lake.
Cashiers Creek flows through the park, and one of the features of The
Village Green is a boardwalk over these protected wetlands. This is
employed not only for II �r vraM in�g�b t so cwservation education
purposes, for examplA � L - -- ` am. The creek exits
The Village Green via a double culvert under Frank Allen Road into
Cashiers Lake. However, because of the current condition of Cashiers
Lake during heavy rains and the rainy season of our temperate rainforest
climate, the excessive water is not able to flow through the culvert into the
lake. The creek backs up and floods not only the wetlands boardwalk but
also other areas of the park including the woodland glades that abut the
wetlands. Conditions have so deteriorated in the past few years that the
creek has moved the boardwalk off of its footings and contributed to
sludge and mire developing in the woodlands. I have also observed that
the water fowl that used to make the wetlands/creek area their home have
disappeared. Flooding often encroaches on our lawn areas as well.
Two years ago we purchased the contiguous property to our Commons
event area on Frank Allen Road. Prior to developing this property for event
and community parking, it would frequently flood the parcel (photo). The
Village Green installed a retention basin as part of the project to mitigate
the flooding, however during flooding rain, the basin fills to capacity. We
have concerns that if the lake sedimentation is not addressed, it will
further negatively impact storm water management along FAR.

Because of the water cannot adequately move through the culverts, they
fill to the top rim and also flood the wetlands ditch near the road fronting
our parking lot, the water moving toward the low point of FAR, ponding at
the point. What's more, this ponding is a public safety hazard for
motorists who may be exceeding the speed limit creating the potential for
hydroplaning. This winter, we experienced black ice on FAR that in one
case caused a vehicle to crash into our property.
These are the noticeable negative impacts of the current condition of
Cashiers Lake from our perspective.
We view this proposed project as both positive and promising not only to
restoring the lake toward eliminating these impacts but also toward
enhancing recreational activity for the community and preserving the
natural beauty and associated aquatic resources of this lake amenity in the
center of Cashiers. In closing, we view Cashiers Canoe Club Development
LLC's application as an effort to steward and conserve a significant natural
asset that will benefit other related, neighboring area natural resources for
all who live and visit here.