HomeMy WebLinkAboutComments Miscellaneous 5/9/2006
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lVIICHAEL P. TOMCAL
CECILIA K. TOMCAL
. 7217'HOLL Y S~l'~~liJji;T
SPHIN01"I1~LD, Ol~ 07478-74G7 .
<H71) 22:-3-20tiO -l\lONAl~CI-I2001@C()1\JCAf~{1'.NgrJ:1
City of Springfield, Oregon _
Development S~rvic.es Department
255 Fifth Street'
Springfield, 9R 974.77
At~n:}iri1-Donovan
In Referynce to; Date of Notice: April 24, 2006
'_ ' Case Number: DRC2006-00042
, Applicant: Hugh Gray
'Nature of Application: Timber harvest/thinning
Location: 7606 McKenz'i~ Highway, Springfield
Assessor's Map No, i7-02-35-00, Tax Lot(s)'
3500; 36043no Assessor;s'Map No, ]8-02-02-
" '00, Tax L~t(s) 100,
Dear Cilyuf Spr~ngfieiCiPlanning Department:
This is to notify you of our o_bj~ctions and' concerns for this-application;
writtencoffiIllcnt pfo,:,ided within the time allowed. .
Please corisider this'letter our
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first, the City,of Springfield 'must show and'demonstrate that they are taking a proact,ive starice in providing
'protection to other property owners in the area, Past history has shown that development 6n this hillside has
many potential dangers.. These dangers include, but a;enot limited to, soil erosion, mudc.slides, and failure of
the terrain. We take this position from our own-past'experience. We. developed only two homes on 5 acres in
the adjacent area. In the exercise.of due diligence, we co~sultedarb6rists, conducted soil samplings, and
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employed a certified, licensed geologist. Despite our many efforts,to provide for a stable building area we
.encountered several serious problems; problems the City of Springfield never considered or ,monitored while
following the usual, minimum standard procedures: '
Beforc'~9~i~ional thinning is approved, the city needstorequire a complete,thorougn:soil ana(ysis.o!,the area
affecte~. This would inclu.dedeepsoil borings throughout the entire'area. Past evidence clearly shows that
this would; be-a reasonable exercise of due diligence; We areproof~haHerrain failure-,is'nota'spurious claim
,as our 'ow-n property had' such a failure.' Despite what "experts" cO_flsidered a thorough soil testiI:J,g, a se.cti~m
o.f l~Ir<;tin began to slid~ two years.after completion of the project.' In rectifying the. situation, evideflce of a
slide happening'at least 100 years ago was uncovered. The terrain that sunk would be considered the same as
filland'thorqughly'un.stable. Normal soil borings did ~ot ,uncover this'_potential'probleril.
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Lastly, the Cily of Springfield needs to ~losely monitor the thinning of trees on the proposed application,
This means si2"nificantlv more'revulatorv oversivht than the- minimum standard procedures. The City should
nOlo ~ake a passiv~ r91e in the -tl}inning due to'the.pqtenlia] danger_s. Ifth:: permit'isnot proactively ,monitored
hy'lh'ecity, the risk of the applicant takin'g down,more trees than allowed would be a real'threat to the '
'adjacent property owners, Negligence in the'enforcement of this permit could result in potentialliahility to
the applicant and the City of Springfield should harm be done, Possible harm includes soil erosion, mud
slides,orterrai'n Failure. .'
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We ~elic:ethese issues are critical to t~is ~ppFcation. We will monitor the City'sresponse.to our concerns.
Michael P'Toincal
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CC: George'Burgott, Luvaas 'Cobb, Attorneys
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Michael p, Tomcal
,7217 Holly Street
Springtield, OR 97478-7467
City ot Springfield, Oregon
Attn: Jim Donovan
Development Services Department
255 Fifth Street
Springfield, OR 97477
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