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Tuesday, 19 September 2006 16:56 |
By DAVID FORBES
Little League ballfields for North Asheville will not be built at Richmond Hill Park because of fear of further erosion and environmental damage ÇƒÓ and the city will pay $50,000 to clean up existing damage, Asheville City Council decided on Sept. 12.
The removal of the ballfields from the plans was approved 5-2, with councilmen Jan Davis and Carl Mumpower dissenting.
Councilwoman Robin Cape, who made the motion, expressed outrage at the damage and said she is convinced that the park is simply an inappropriate site for the ballfields.
"When
I came onto this council, I accepted what I was told by staff about the
way we were going to do this project," Cape said. "On June 1, I had
some concerns about what was going on with sediment control at this
site and was told it was taken care of. I feel that the trust that I
took from this staff ÇƒÓ the trust that I took to the community was false.
"Iëm up to my shins in areas that used to be solid ground," she added.
The controversy
over Richmond Hill Park, spanning 180 acres in West Asheville, arose
after the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources found
the projects in violation of environmental regulations on Aug. 23 due
to erosion, runoff and damage to the site caused by grading work.
The DENR gave the city 30 days to repair the damage.
The city gave
the site to the National Guard in 2004 to construct an armory on the
conditions that the unit would handle the grading and provide the
infrastructure needed for the ballfields.
On Aug. 21,
heavy rain caused the collapse of sediment traps in the area ÇƒÓ and
runoff dumped into Spring Creek and the French Broad River. A
subsequent investigation by the DENR also found that the approved plan
had not been followed and that measures to prevent further runoff had
not been taken.
While the budget
amendment was approved unanimously, Mumpower objected to Capeës move to
take the ballfields off the plans, noting that DENRës report had rated
the damage as "slight" and that the previous council had carefully
considered the project.
"I think weëre
making a mistake," Mumpower said. "A lot of thought, money, staff time
and careful consideration went into this plan. This is not about a
bunch of rich folks in North Asheville wanting ballfields. Itës
important to have these places to play and city staff has done the best
they can with existing resources. Weëre surrounded by forests. This is
a city and we have to maximize what we have."
He also asserted
that pictures showing damage to the area were taken during the worst of
the rain and "anyone developing land knows thatës the case."
The other dissenter, Davis, focused his objections on the need for the ballfields in the community.
"Right now we
canët just afford to build a ballfield in another area," Davis said. "I
donët want to see us just abandon this because weëve had some
difficulty and concerns from a very vocal part of the community."
However,
Councilman Bryan Freeborn agreed with Capeës point, noting that "to me,
putting something flat like a ballfield on the side of a hill just goes
against the grain of the land."
Later, Cape also added that sheëd "like if there was some way for the armory to accept some responsibility for this."
Earlier, Parks
and Recreation Director Irby Brinson apologized to council "for any
embarassment our department has caused for this particular incident.
Weëre here to accept responsibility."
In remarks prior
to the vote, citizens and enviromental activists, several of whom had
previously aired concerns about the dangers of the project, called for
council to preserve the park and halt construction.
"This is the
cityës largest forest," James Wood, an environmental activist, said.
"There has been habitat destruction and erosion here. Erosion remains a
serious concern and itës spilling into a nearby wetland area. If these
are not addressed, this habitat could be destroyed and the city could
face further fines."
Wood also exhibited a variety of pictures showing damage to the site from erosion and grading.
Meanwhile, Dee
Eggers, an assistant professor at UNC Asheville and a former DENR
regulator herself, warned of the damage that could occur if the parkës
erosion problems are not solved.
"Because of the
structure of the wetland located nearby, it canët empty itself out very
quickly," Eggers said. "What would happen over time is it would just
fill in, period and then someone will stand here and ask you for more
money to clean it out. Letës avoid that. This wetland is probably
eligible for some protection, but hasnët gotten it because itës been so
recently identified."
In separate
remarks, Julie Brandt, who owns property in Asheville, said she was
"personally appalled by whatës happening at Richmond Hill Park and by
this budget request for $50,000 of the taxpayersë money to repair
something weëve been warning the city about since the city got this
project."
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