HomeMy Public PortalAboutCanyon Springs EIR Scoping - 44.pdfAlexander Heyman
15223 Chatham Reach
Truckee, CA 96161
heymana@sbcglobal.net
530 - 550 -7891
May 23, 2011
Attn: Denyelle Nishimori
Associate Planner
Truckee Community Development Dept.
10183 Truckee Airport Rd.
Truckee, CA 96161
Re: Canyon Springs proposed development project
Dear Ms. Nishimori,
I am a resident of Glenshire in the town of Truckee. I have very significant concerns
about the proposed Canyon Springs project, some of which I have listed here. As I know
many others share my concerns, I sincerely hope they will be addressed in detail.
Traffic:
One of my biggest concerns is the impact the project would have on traffic in the area.
The stretch of Glenshire Drive between Glenshire and Donner Pass Road is already at
or beyond maximum capacity for safety and a free flow of traffic without reaching Bay -
Area -like gridlock. I am a cyclist, but I will never ride along that stretch of road because
it is way too unsafe. Rerouting traffic to the section of Glenshire Drive that leads to
Hirschdale Road, and then to 1 -80, would just move the problem elsewhere. 1 do ride my
bicycle, as do many others, along that stretch of road. It is not necessarily unsafe yet,
but is in danger of becoming so due to traffic. Additional vehicles of the number
generated by the Canyon Springs project would make that road way too unsafe. How
would these traffic concerns be addressed?
Quality of life:
A major draw for many Glenshire residents is that they live at the edge of a wilderness
open space area that leads to a national forest, part of the reason for living in the
Truckee area in general. How will this development affect that quality of fife for so
many?
Sprawl:
Part of the draw of living in the Truckee area is that it is surrounded by a lot of
wilderness. Unfortunately the area is spreading out so much that we are starting to see
sprawl of the type seen in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas due to
irresponsible development. How will this project address concerns that it will simply add
to that sprawl? We are far better off focussing on redeveloping lands that have already
been developed than taking away precious open space.
Impact on the environment:
Development of a project this size in a wilderness area like the one where it would be
located could necessitate cutting down a large number of trees. At a time when we
know the benefit of trees to our health, the health of the environment around us, and the
ability to mitigate climate change, not to mention the quality of life they provide for the
people already living in the area, how can we cut down so many trees, when they are
such an easy and effective way to address these issues?
Additionally, the proposed site is in the middle of a natural migration corridor for deer
and numerous other wildlife. Scientists are just now starting to realize the extreme
importance of preserving corridors, not just isolated pockets, for the health of so many
species, and thus for the ecosystem overall. How could this issue possibly be
addressed?
Air quality:
How will the air quality be affected by this development, including emissions from all the
additional cars on the roads as well as the impact from the houses themselves, with
fireplace emissions and the like?
Impact on the neighborhood of Glenshire:
Currently Glenshire, being a bedroom community, is a relatively quiet neighborhood.
How would this development impact glenshire and the surrounding communities in
terms of noise pollution, excess light pollution at night, congestion, and the like?
Emergency services:
What about the impact on emergency services? How will the ability of the Truckee Fire
Protection District to offer timely and quality emergency services to the community be
impacted?
Aesthetics:
How will this development impact the views of people already living in the area? How
will their privacy be impacted?
Financial impact:
People who live and own homes adjacent to the proposed site would suffer a large loss
of value to their property as a result of this development. At a time when so many
people are in such dire financial straights as it is, how would this issue be addressed?
These are just a few of my very serious concerns about the project. There are many
more than 1 can articulate here, to the point that I am not at all convinced this project
should go forward. And I know I am far from alone in that belief. Thank you in advance
for taking the time to address my concerns.
Sincerely,
Alex Heyfian
In