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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Residents Sound Off |
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Friday, 29 May 2009 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — A government agency held a information session and public hearing regarding the development of wetlands in the area on Thursday night.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in regards to the 401 Water Quality Certification for Watercolor Estates (Southshore Acres Inc.), a single-family housing development that would be located on the south side of Grand Lake St. Marys.
Jeff Boyles, of the Division of Surface Water, said he was the application reviewer for the permit and gave a PowerPoint presentation to those gathered in the St. Marys City Council Chambers.
“The purpose of this hearing is to give an idea of the project and make sure every one is familiar with it,” Boyles said, adding that a 401 permit is required whenever the waters in the state will be impacted.
In the PowerPoint, Boyles noted there are a total of 5,133 acres of jurisdictional wetlands on the site, and the site consists of three parcels, totaling 48 acres.
“Wetlands are divided into three categories,” Boyles said, defining each of the categories, and adding that the surrounding wetlands include a category three, category one and two category two wetlands.
In its permit application that was completed Jan. 30, Southshore Acres Inc. developed three alternatives — preferred alternative, minimal degradation alternative and non-degradation alternative — in addition to mitigation techniques.
The proposed preferred alternative would construct a subdivision that would impact 1.92 acres of wetlands, 0.63 acres of lake and 0.7 acres of lake access channels; the proposed minimal degradation alternative would construct a subdivision that would impact 1.82 acres of wetlands, 0.29 acres of lake and 0.7 acres of lake access channels; the proposed non-degradation alternative would construct a subdivision resulting in no impacts to waters of the state.
Boyles noted Southshore Acres Inc.’s proposed mitigation would preserve the 3.22 acre wetland, 1.11 acres of wetland enhancement and 2.8 acres of wetland creation on an approximately 5-acre parcel on what is known as the Niekamp property.
Bill Ringo, president of the Lake Improvement Association, was the first to give his testimony during the public hearing.
“I’m proud to be here at this meeting because there are meetings going on all over this country,” he said, adding he was thankful for the hearing. “For more than 62 years, the LIA has been in support of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. We do support development — a recent press release by the OEPA indicates we should be prudent and proceed with caution before disrupting the wetlands.”
Tom Rampe, also with the LIA, also agreed that the mitigation should be completed before the development of the residential area, noting the recent toxin findings with the lake’s blue green algae.
“Further wetlands lost — will exacerbate the current problems in the lake,” he said. “The LIA’s position is that impacts to wetlands in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed should be avoided.”
Rampe also suggested finding a different site for development that would not impact the wetlands, suggesting the area between state route 219 and the lake.
“The economic benefit in no way justifies destroying of the wetlands,” he said.
Kevin Reichert, with CTL Engineering with Southshore Acres Inc. and Watercolor Estates, said that the category three wetlands will not be impacted.
“The others are modified category two wetlands — there’s not enough mature tree growth,” he said. “Hopefully, the goal, is to replace them with category two wetlands.”
Reichert also noted that the rip rap would be replaced, as well as the concrete seawalls, to help prevent shoreline erosion.
“We’ll also build additional channels and fill in shallow channels,” he said. “We believe the mitigated site — it’s going to collect agricultural land runoff, flood runoff, provide better sediment filters than those existing.”
Rick Swartz, the president of Southshore Acres Inc., was the next to give his testimony and noted that the company has been trying to begin the development for more than 10 years.
“Our last hearing was in 2006,” Swartz said, noting that the plan then wasn’t as good as it could or should be and they engaged real estate broker Veryl Cisco to help find an appropriate mitigation site. “We spent a lot of money doing this as part of our commitment. We are not doing this just for profit.”
Swartz said he and his wife are former Ohio residents and five generations of their family have visited the lake.
“My wife’s father bought this property in 1938 and we’ve been doing everything in our power to build a development and find a legacy to leave,” Swartz said. “Our heart is in this. Our goal is to do whatever it takes — to the fullest extent possible.”
Last to give testimony was current Southshore Acres resident Debby Gregory, noting that her biggest issue with the proposed site is the category two wetland on an island on the development site.
“It used to be a camping area and the remnants are still on the island,” she said. “It needs to be cleaned up. It’s a mess. The land’s going.
I have no issue with saving the wetlands, but I have an issue with the land going. Period.”
Gregory said she just wanted to see the land cleaned up.
“To me, wetlands are something that sustains nature, sustains aquatic life, sustains waterfowl,” she said. “There isn’t a duck or goose on this lake that can get into that land. It’s a stinking mess that needs cleaned up.”
Darla Peelle with the OEPA Public Interest Center said the agency will accept additional written comments through June 4 and anyone may submit written comments or request to be placed on a mailing list for information by writing to Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Attn: 401 Water Quality Certification Unit, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049.
Once all statements and information are reviewed, the OEPA will draft a Responsiveness Summary and make a decision regarding the permit.
, which will then be distributed to all involved parties. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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