Another Night of Schöne Ansicht Erosion: Fresh Gravel Erodes Just Like Old Silt Does

Last night's storm produced another erosion event at the controversial Schoene Ansicht development, because owners Steve Yokley and Taurus McCain continue to refuse to maintain silt fence or some other containment system during storms. In fact, the belated silt fence they recently put up after being cited by Metro is now gone, leaving nothing between piles of dirt, layers of gravel and the downhill slope to 5th and Hume intersection. And most of the debris laying at the intersection was not originally on the property, as the gravel had been trucked in to build a sidewalk in front. So, not only are we getting original Schoene Ansicht material dumped on our neighborhood; UP, LLC is also trucking in debris to dump on us.

The eroded gravel and silt choked the intersection this morning. Passing vehicles skittered gravel at me as I took pictures. Back on the property, hay bales, which could contain some of the run-off, serve no containment purpose perched on top of a wall. Thank you for your on-going care for our neighborhood, UP, LLC. Keep telling us how you won't make our run-off problems worse. If you cannot construct a working containment system above ground, how can we trust that your wonderous underground containment system will work, also?

Schöne Ansicht Investors Cited by Metro Stormwater for Run-off Violations

This afternoon Enclave obtained a copy of the $200 Metro citation (pictured above) that was served earlier today by Water Services to Schoene Ansicht investors for allowing sediment to run off their property and cover the 5th Avenue and Hume Street intersection. Investors are required by Metro to:

• Stop illicit discharge immediately
• Remove discharged sediment from street
• Install and maintain erosion controls by March 8

I spoke by phone with inspector Phil Saad this afternoon after I received the citation copy. Mr. Saad told me that he discovered the violation this morning on his regular rounds. He also said that Metro does not specify the exact erosion control to be used by the violators.

Some Things Change; Others, Not So Much

One of the interesting parts about being on vacation for about ten days is coming back and seeing the changes around the neighborhood: greener grass, emerging flowers, budding trees. But some things don't change. Take, for instance, a certain 6th Avenue development, previously cited for soil erosion, which put up silt fence before we left. We've returned to find that part of the fence is down, a fresh new bank of dirt is waiting, unobstructed, for the next rainstorm, and a new layer of silt occupies the curb run-off at 5th and Hume from last week's rain. Some things don't change.

But some do. We also got back to find a notice of Public Hearing in the mail sent to us from the Planning Department. That notice says that the owners of Salem Gardens (corner of Garfield Street and 6th and co-owned by Schoene Ansicht owners) are requesting a zone change from the last year's zone change for which they got our neighborhood association's support. I remember watching the Metro Council Public Hearing on last year's zone change request during which a Salem Gardens co-owner told the Council that they had received the support of Salemtown Neighbors.

Yet, the owners have not come back to us and asked for our support on this zone change, and I have to wonder why. What is it about this zone change that makes Salem Gardens partners think that we won't support it? I've taken that question and several others to the Planning Department and I'll keep you posted, because the Planning Commission's Public Hearing is this Thursday, March 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Howard Office Building on 2nd Avenue.

Neighbor Says That Schöne Ansicht Erosion Debris Nearly Caused Her to Wreck

Enclave commenter HangingUpsideDown reports that the unevenly accumulated 5th and Hume gravel pit resulting when debris was allowed to erode from the Schoene Ansicht construction site during the last storm caused her nearly to lose control of her car and end up in a neighbor's yard. UP, LLC owners left the debris at the intersection for several days after that rainy day, so it made for some hazardous driving conditions for a while.