Cumberland Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited
Letort Spring Under Threat By Home Depot -- January 23, 2000
On January 7, 2000 Olympic Reality of New York City filed a development plan for nineteen acres located along the historic section just
opposite Vince's Meadow of the Letort Spring Run. There are important spawning beds just down stream. This is in the middle of the stretch designated as Heritage Wild Trout water, as Exceptional Value, and as a Wild and Scenic River. There is an abundance of wild live deer, fox, muskrat, beaver, pheasant and a great diversity of bird life songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, and game birds present in the natural areas. A nature trail used by naturalists, joggers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts runs parallel to the Letort. More
importantly, this is that part of the Letort that served as a laboratory for Charlie Fox, Vince Marinaro and others who made significant
contributions to the development of fly-fishing in America. The main tenant of the site will be Home Depot along with two other buildings of a yet to be determined commercial use.
Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has retained an attorney, Greg Knight, and two technical experts, Jim Casselberry and Joe Gallagher. A citizens group the Letort Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, with the Mission Statement that states it's purpose as "To protect the Letort and it's neighborhoods from excessive commercial development and urban sprawl" has been formed and incorporated and retained additional technical support. Additionally, the Letort Regional Authority has met with Olympic and expressed concerns of their own. After our initial evaluation of the property, we have had two meetings with Olympic and their technical people to discuss our concerns. In these discussions we indicated that preliminary plans indicated a lack of understanding of conditions that we observed and that additional data should be gathered and testing done before the project design could be completed. We have subsequently met with their engineers on site to discuss our findings in detail. Following that meeting, we submitted a memo to the developer outlining ten points that need to be addressed. To date, there has been no response.
CVTU has serious concerns with the plan as currently presented as we feel that it ignores environmental concerns and poses a definite
detrimental threat to the Letort. Our areas of concern are the design of the storm water management plan that seems to be "text-book" designed rather that designed to meet the environmental needs of the property and the Letort, the loss of an important re-charge area that will become eighty percent impervious surface, and the location of an old city dump whose position has not been totally and completely designated and that contains mostly hazardous material that definitely would negatively impact the Letort if disturbed.
This is a valuable piece of real estate and at some point in time will be developed. Ideally, we would like to see it become a park. But
that will not happen the land is too valuable. We continue to work with the Borough Council to see that whatever development takes place here is done correctly to give maximum protection to the Letort. However, we cannot do this alone.
How can you help? In several ways. First, by writing letters to the appropriate people expressing your concern: Borough Council, Olympic Reality, Home Depot and our local newspapers. Secondly, spread theword. Tell your neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. about your concerns. Get other interested organizations involved. We hope to build a coalition of ourselves, the LNPA, the Letort regional Authority, the Carlisle Fish and Game, the Mechanicsburg Sportsman's Club, the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, the Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association and others to work together in our efforts. Lastly, we can
use your financial support. We expect this to be a difficult struggle.The current issue of Forbes Magazine (January 24) carries a cover story on Home Depot that gives a good indication of the nature of theorganization we are dealing with. The CVTU Board of Directors has given individual commitments totaling in excess of $600. The contributions from you or your organization no matter how great or how modest --will assist us greatly in our efforts. We do know that many individuals and organizations from across the country including National TU are ready to help, but your help is most important. You can help the Letort retain its current natural characteristics. If you do write letters, please copy CVTU. Send your tax-deductible contribution to CVTU, payable to the CVTU Home Depot Fund.
Thanks in advance for your support and help. Please contact CVTU for further information or if you have other ideas.
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:
David J. Schwartz, President The Sentinel
Olympic Reality, Inc 457 East North St.
415 East 52nd Street Carlisle, PA 17013
17th Floor, Suite AC (717) 243-2611
New York, NY 10022
(212) 753-9333
Robert Nardelli, President Kirk Wilson, Mayor
Home Depot. Inc Borough Council
2455 Paces Ferry Road 53 W. South Street
Atlanta, GA 30339 Carlisle, PA 17013
(770) 433-8211 (717) 249-4422
Fred Bohls, Conservation Chairman
Cumberland Valley TU
P. O. Box 520
Carlisle, Pa 17013
(717) 258-3579
e-mail: fcfp@ix.netcom.com
www.homestead.com/cvtu
Please also send copies of your correspondence to CVTU. Donations to support our efforts will also be accepted. Thanks for your concern and support.
Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited
P. O. Box 520
Carlisle, PA 17055
Cumberland Valley Trout Unlimited
P.O. Box 520
Carlisle, PA 17013
