HomeMy Public PortalAboutCanyon Springs EIR Scoping - 40.pdfFrom:Ronnie Colby
To:Denyelle Nishimori
Subject:Canyon Springs, EIR Scoping Comments
Date:Monday, May 23, 2011 11:50:12 PM
Hi Denyelle,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on Canyon Springs (CS).
CS is a questionable development from a number of aspects - increased vehicle
traffic, all varieties of pollution, a housing glut in Truckee, home values that will
purportedly decline for at least another year, road maintenance, utilities installation,
fire suppression, open space, a deer herd, archaeological sites, and (initially) cavalier
developers for starters. This EIR needs to be exhaustive. The prospects of shortterm jobs (from which my employer and I would actually likely benefit) is the singlebiggest reason anyone locally supports the project, but that's not what it takes topass muster, last I checked with the General Plan. CS doesn't really fit with it either.
Sure, CS is technically within town limits, but it's at the far edge. It's sprawl. Itextends east beyond all but a handful of houses. Sure, there will be short term
construction work, but the subsequent, even larger housing glut will additionally
diminish existing home values (I live in Tahoe Donner and recognize this as an
outsider).
In fact, the Town should take the CS proposal as an opportunity to co/conduct anupdated economic study of the housing market here (and not just rely on ordinaryresidents' "opinions" on CS's and similar developments' effects on home values, orsay, dollars spent per student upon the project's buildout). Why not include, as partof, or in addition to the EIR, the project applicants' financial claims? New
construction is not inexpensive.
I understand (perhaps incorrectly) that there is an ongoing study of the resident
deer herd. I would encourage the EIR to be deemed incomplete without the resultsof that study.
Glenshire is full of families, and the construction-related air and groundwaterpollution will be significant. Emissions must be addressed in the EIR - Glenshire is farfrom town. Vehicle traffic is already ridiculous. What will these vehicle emissions
mean for the Truckee river? How about a traffic study done a several times
throughout the year instead of all at once? An average seems a better number to
base things on.
Will there be trails accessible when folks start moving in? Year round?
How many bridges will need to be built? How what kinds of impacts will bridgeshave on water quality?
Please hold such a questionable project to the highest standard. Consider the will of
Truckee residents and neighbors. Ask the project applicants to at least begin
designing appropriate, stout homes - places with passive solar, for example as it's an
alpen environment here. Employ the sun! Consider the environmental impacts ofinappropriately designed homes that fail to utilize the sun to minimize heating costsand improve a home's livability throughout the year.
Perhaps most importantly, however - expand the scope of the EIR to include adetailed new study of the housing market in Truckee to prove that this will not be aproject that devalues neighboring home markets.
A sincere thanks for your time and consideration,
Ronnie Colby
Truckee, CA