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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence Miscellaneous 3/9/2006 . . , ! 1536 Vera Drive Springfield, OR 97477 March 9, 2006 RE(;1N"r\i /-"'.-, .... .. . ;.I'l-......' Jim Donovan City of Springfield. Urban Planning Division 225 5fh Street Springfield, Or 97477 MAR 0 9 2006 ,} BY: 1()-f3~ Re: Legacy Estates Applicant: David Corey--Corey Development, ILC Subdivion Tentative Plan Application Our comments concerning the Arlen and Marcell Kopperud private well and the extension of N. 16th St.. Dear Mr. Donovan: 1 am including the previous letter and history report of October 12, 2005, so that they may be included in the present consideration of questions pertaining to the use of our property. My husband, Gregory Combs, and 1, are concerned with the fact that according to the map the proposed subdivision still has an indication of intention to possibly use our private property to extend its plans for Vera Drive. That would never be acceptable to us. Like 1 asked before, How can Legacy Estates be approved with their plans if their plans destroy our LeQacufrom our parents or the leQacv of Arlen and Marcell Kopperud from their parents? 1 wish to address the Kopperud water well issue. To me this is very penonalandimportan~ Risto"' of the well: In 1938, myfather, Bill Zilkoskf, (also Marcell Kopperud'sfather) made a hand-dug well for drinking water. It was used for our family and farm animals, irrigation of lawns, fruit orchard, berry garden, grape arbor and vegetable gardens. The well has been in use since then. Our mother always encouraged us never to let the well go because it was vitaL She had been asked by Governor Mark Hatfteld to head up the original Water Resources Departmentfor the State of Oregon. He had read and agreed with her knowledgeable treatise on water resources in the State of Oregon. Needless to say, Mother Zilkoski was adamant about the need to preserve potable drinking water and safe, pesticide-free irrigation . . " , ~.. water. She knew that contaminated water, even if used for only irrigation, could poison the food supplies of the family. I am quite concerned about the fact that the Kopperudfamily well that our father dug is in Jeopardy by the following reasons: . It is too close to a proposed asphalt street which may pollute the water through leaching of the hydrocarbons into the soiL . The underground water supply runs from east to west (as does the McKenzie River just a long block away). Hence all pollution from the asphalt, lawn pesticides, oil spills from the 20 additional houses would go into the Kopperud's well water since the well would be west of the subdivision. . Any hand-dug well that is 68 years old could be easily compromised by passing heavy equipment over the areajust 1 foot away from its existence. After talking with Mr. Kris Byrd, Oregon State Water Resources, in Salem, I learned that all public drain and storm water lines must be setback 50ft. from a welL He said that included any street curbside gutters for water run-off. . I don't see that you have kept the proposed street plan within those state guidelines. The 50 ft. setback cannot include house guttering or the house footing. . Since the proposed subdivision would be supervised by Springfield Planning and would be using Springfield City sewer system, the drainage into that system would legally have to be considered part of a municipal drainage system even though the land has not been annexed into the city. . In talking with Karen Kelly, Ileamed that there is a real potential for polluting the well by street water that could flood and run into the casing of the welL You know how a solid deluge of rain can make water stand in the streets and overflow the street guttering systems as well as overflow the curbs. . There is the question of protection for the well's pump which is above ground and will be within afoot of the street's traffic. A vehicle hitting the pump could disrupt uiater flow permanently, not to mention the high cost of replacement. Who will be responsible for replacement of the pump and reo digging the well? The driver? The City? The developer? The home owner whose home is in front of the well? Certainly not the owner. . I've researched the well laws and conditions by talking to or reading information given by: Michael Mattick, Water Master for Springfield Karen Kelly in Springfield . . . . ". Kris Byrd of Oregon State Water Resources, Salem Tamara Wilhite-Springfield Sanatanan Ron Cook-Building Codes in Lane Cty. Gail Andrew9-...City private water use Univeristy of Oregon State-Drinking water Online resources as well From these sources I found that the well is vulnerable to being compromised and possibly contaminated which testing would verify. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO REAL CONSIDERATION. My views concerning the N. 16th Street extension into the proposed subdivision. . Without using a good portion of the yards owned by the families living presently on the eastside of the north end of the street, I don't see how you have enough room for the street. They have not been informed that you would confiscate their yards. That would be immoral if not illegaL . The street is oneway and a traffic problem for those who live there who would enter on N. 16th and have to leave out N. 17th or Grandview. Very awkward in deed with a possible temptation to go against the One Way and head out N. 16th. . There is no turn around. Without it, any traffic coming in looking for an address and not finding it would have to use a private driveway to turn around. In my opinion and that of my husband, building a street right next to the Kopperud property line would be hazardous to their water supply and health and would be impractical for the residents on the extension of N. 16th. dJ;:;;y;~rs, Gail Z. Combs (f)