To the editor:
Many thanks to Mr. Sherman and the Sierra Club for raising awareness of the illegal alterations of the large tracts of land near Willow Creek. In this era of “move first” and “move fast” to thwart the rule of law, citizen awareness and advocacy is critical. The illegal Willow Creek project exemplifies the all too common and disturbing strategy of racing to get “the first mover advantage” to bypass permitting and review.
The intentional strategy is to first bully and bulldoze ahead with some illegal action. While the lawsuits and complaints swirl around the legal and regulatory systems, the project steamrolls ahead. When the illegal action finally has its day in court, it’s too late to unwind whatever has been already done.
The grading and clearcutting that has occurred on the Willow Creek parcels is immense and has consequences that extend well beyond an individual parcel – including impacts on drainage, erosion, water quality, neighboring properties, wildlife habitat and public safety. When substantial work like this is undertaken without the required permits or approvals, it can undermine both the integrity of our local regulations and the trust we place in public agencies to enforce them fairly and consistently.
Our mountain communities are especially vulnerable to the consequences of poorly planned or unauthorized alterations to land. Once natural drainage patterns, slopes, vegetation or waterways are disturbed, the resulting damage can be difficult – or impossible – to reverse. Our community cannot allow this kind of intentional “move first” and “move fast” strategy to become precedent.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Mullendore
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