public commentIPM.Note
public comment
Grant Beck
Wine and Wisdom
Grant Beck
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public comment
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Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:34:04 -0700
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Wine and Wisdom
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Thurston Highlands
public comment
Dear Mr. Beck:
A tsunami is striking the shore of the west end of Yelm in the guise of
Thurston Highlands; a development of close to 1,000,000 square feet of
retail and commercial space in addition to 5,000 new homes. At this
time, a draft of an Environmental Impact Statement is available and I am
adding to the public comment on all issues surrounding this reckless,
unmanaged growth. This wave is a danger to Yelm on many fronts.
Their site waxes about how they are fully aware of the Yelm community
and have made every effort to belong by implementing characteristics the
citizens of Yelm would like to see in their community. They are
minimizing impacts to environmentally sensitive tracts of land and
preserving natural areas for public enjoyment. They are participants in
providing for efficient growth in public services and utilities required
to serve phased development of the Master Planned Community.
I was in the Yelm Council chambers when the point was being made by the
developers that Thurston Highlands property was “primarily” for the
enjoyment of those property owners.
- What impact will this behemoth have on the existing downtown core of
Yelm that is supposed to represent the community as a whole as stated in
the Yelm Comprehensive Plan? Is this document supposed to be a living,
breathing paper that changes as money is exchanged?
- What of the retailers who exist here dependent on that traffic to stay
in business? Do they double-team their efforts with a second location a
few miles down the road to survive even in the face of existing and
potential big box stores? What kind of playing field is this?
- Where is the water coming from to support Thurston Highlands? Yelm is
facing a court date because it has used up its own water supply and is
now, essentially usurping it from the county. Does Thurston Highlands
own water rights that can serve such a humongous development?
- The pictures of the horrific flooding along Thompson Creek as provided
by you to the Chamber of Commerce audience of January 2006 is still
clear in my mind. Can every drop of groundwater be expected to be
captured when such flooding repeats, this time mixed with pavement and
poisonous runoff?
- Air pollution from standing cars already permeates the city residences
and businesses.
- Light pollution and noise pollution are already a detriment to the
neighbors both city and county who were expecting to live in quietude
before Yelm started eating up territory.
- In order to accommodate the new population on the road in the near
future, local businesses and residences were forced to pay “their”
portion of the roadway changes. These funds were in my opinion, for the
benefit of developments in the southwest area of Yelm that
overwhelming abide Thurston Highlands. No design implemented has clearly
benefited the citizenry or increased road capacity.
Traffic has been somewhat assuaged by the mini bypass of backstreets but
with the onslaught of Thurston Highlands our population will TRIPLE. If
you think the Yelm Bypass will redeem this situation think again! No
additional funds have been added to that pot nor are they foreseen for
many years... just ask Gov. Christine Gregoire who struck the monies.
The present funding was retained only by the actions of our state
representatives.
The bloated Thurston Highlands Draft EIS which by its publication, broke
the rules of how such a document was to be presented to the public for
comment has been accepted by you. Clearly, you did not ask them to
revise it because the present deadline for public comment of July 28
still stands. Why not?
Boots on the ground tell a true tale. Today… drive a car, operate a
business… get a latte, get to school or work and allowances for traffic
always has to be taken into consideration. Run errands from the Post
Office, the doctor, the ballgame and you experience delays. Traffic, gas
and energy steal time better spent in personal ways.
Having been down this road before with Yelm on other projects,
undoubtedly the city has prepared its rulebook to allow such a
catastrophe to happen to our city. Just look around.
I say… this Thurston Highlands Draft Environmental Impact Statement
should be seen with clarity, illuminated with the truth and eliminated
from our future.
Sincerely,
Jean Handley
POB 1657, Yelm, WA 98597
894-8193
<4884C88C.8070707@ywave.com>
Grant Beck
Thurston Highlands
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