HomeMy Public PortalAboutCanyon Springs EIR Scoping - 37.pdf
May 23, 2011
Denyelle Nishimori
Associate Planner
Truckee Community Development Department
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee CA 96161
Dear Denyelle:
Re: Comments/Questions for Canyon Springs Environmental Impact Report
The following topics reflect comments and questions for the environmental impact study
process for the proposed Canyon Spring development:
Traffic
Given the increase in traffic from the proposed development, both during construction
and upon build-out, how will safety and the flow of traffic be addressed at the Martis
Peak Road, Whitehorse Road and Glenshire Drive intersection?
How will the flow of traffic be maintained with the “slow-moving” construction vehicles
on Glenshire Drive, a two-lane road? How will an increase in heavy construction affect
the structural integrity of the roads in the Glenshire Subdivision including the portion of
Glenshire Drive to I-80? How will the road quality (and any degradation thereof) be
addressed before, during and after construction, and will the developer be required to take
financial responsibility for any damages and any road modifications? In addition, how
will safety be addressed with the increase in heavy equipment driving on our roads?
Assuming a study would take in account the construction traffic on Glenshire Drive,
consideration should reflect the limitation of ALL construction and contractor (including
subs) vehicles to the portion of Glenshire Drive between I-80 and the Martis Peak and
Whitehorse intersection. It should reflect the above-stated impacts and concerns. If this
was a proposed mitigation measure, how would it be enforced? Also, more residential
traffic would most likely take Glenshire Drive west to get back to Town versus the hassle
of dealing with the construction vehicles travelling east towards I-80, and this should be
taken in account.
The proposed development is suggesting that residents utilize Glenshire Drive to I-80.
When I-80 is closed due to accidents or snow storms, how will residents be able to get to
their destination? If Glenshire Drive to Donner Pass Road is an alternate route in one of
these scenarios, will the flow of traffic be studied? It should include any traffic that
would normally stay on I-80 but due to closure, ends up utilizing the Hirschdale exit to
Glenshire Drive. This includes large transport trucks.
While the developers indicate that the use of Glenshire Drive to I-80 will be promoted,
there will be an increase of traffic towards Donner Pass Road. How will homeowners
along Glenshire Drive be able to exit/enter their driveways safely?
Density
From a layperson’s standpoint, it appears that the proposed density (regardless of the
“clustering” concept) is extreme and that in large part this will influence how harsh the
development is on the adjacent community members and wildlife. I would be interested
in an alternative proposal with the density reduced to less than 25%, thereby eliminating
required infrastructure crossing the wetlands and maintaining open land for the continued
wildlife migration. Any studies (e.g., traffic) should take in account full build-out with
the inclusion of a significant number of second units, i.e., 50% not 20%.
Drainage
It’s my understanding that it is common for domestic water and sewage line leakage over
time. How will this be prevented so that leaks or backflow will not end up in the
wetlands and watershed, including nearby waterways such as Juniper Creek, the Truckee
River and Glenshire Lake. How will residents residing downhill from the proposed
development be protected from mold or other damages caused by potential sewage leaks
and other flooding due to this development? How would residents incurring any such
damages recover monetarily? How would any contaminated runoff or erosion be
minimized from entering the various waterways? How would any digging under riparian
habitat be mitigated?
Wildlife Migration
There are frequent deer and other wildlife crossing Glenshire Drive and Hirschdale
from/to The Meadows and Teel properties. With increase of traffic on Glenshire Drive to
I-80, how will the increase potential of wildlife and vehicular collisions be mitigated?
How would the existing and well-known deer migration corridor over the project site and
adjacent areas be protected? How would dogs be prevented from harassing deer and
other wildlife?
Night Skies
Given the proposed density of the development, naturally there will be an increase of
lighting. How much more lighting from both residents and any potentially required
traffic lights will occur? How will this be kept to a minimum to keep our Truckee night
skies protected?
Overflight and Annoyance
Given the proximity of the airport, there may aircraft flying overhead (i.e., emergency
aircraft, aircraft arriving/departing Rwy19-1, IFR flight into Rwy 19 and tow plane
activity). It is my understanding that the airport district encourages the use of Rwy 19-1
during calm winds. What resident disclosures and building mitigation would occur to
deter complaints from new residents of the proposed development?
Phasing and Mitigation Measures
What guarantees will be in place to ensure construction of the infrastructure of the
various phases of the subdivision in a timely manner? The last thing Truckee needs is
another unfinished subdivision. What entity will be responsible for maintenance of the
infrastructure (streets, utilities, drainage, revegetation, etc.) before the improvements are
accepted by the local agencies? Will there be the ability to modify the conditions of
approval if the mitigation measures proposed in the EIR are found to be ineffective?
Jobs
The developers are indicating that there will be job opportunities. This is a short-term
benefit compared to the long-term impacts and degradation to the surrounding
environment, and should be taken into consideration. In addition, observing current local
jobs sites, there are numerous out-of-state license plates on the various construction
vehicles. How would these proposed jobs be maintained locally?
Health and Wellbeing
It is no secret that numerous community members have been and continue to be
distressed and stressed by the proposed development. It is my understanding that the
development is to be phased in over a twenty year period. How will the adverse impacts
and annoyance from the proposed development be minimized on the adjacent-residing
community members during this extended period of time? Will this take in account
future development on the adjacent Teel property? How can the project timeframe be
accelerated to reduce the various adverse impacts and stress on both residents and
wildlife? How can the initial infrastructure construction time period be minimized (to
one year), to help mitigate the long term adverse impacts and stress on both residents and
wildlife?
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the process.
Sandy Korth
17164 Valley View Road
Truckee CA 96161