HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter - Hamilton County Surveyor's OfficeSvR VEYO R'S OF
January 10, 2011
Surveyor of Namilton County
'Phone (317) 776 -8495
Tax (317) 776 -9628
City of Carmel Plan Commission
Department of Community Services
ATTN: Mike Hollibaugh
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
RE: Legacy PUD Turkey Hill Minit Market
Dear Mr. Hollibaugh:
Suite 188
One Namitton County Square
.Noblesville, Indiana 46o6o -2230
I am writing regarding the proposed Turkey Hill Minit Market Gas Station within the Legacy
Development at the southwest corner of 146 and River Road.
This proposed gas station, with underground storage tanks, falls in the 1 year time of travel of
the City of Carmel wellheads, the 1 year time of travel of an Indianapolis Department, of
Water Works wellhead, and falls in 3 different 3,000 foot buffer zones for 3 public water
supply wells for Graylan Place and Hamilton Estates trailer parks. In addition to being
proposed in an area with very porous soils, underlain by sand and gravel, the area also has a
very high seasonable ground water elevation. In research completed by my staff, based on
information from the United States Geological Survey Monitoring Well just west of this site,
the highest ground water elevation on record for that area is approximately 746.35 feet above
MSL. This means the ground water elevation may be only 10 to 12 feet below the surface at
the proposed gas station and the underground storage tanks may, at certain times, be in direct
contact with the seasonally high ground water elevation.
While I know that Indiana Department of Environmental Management made a recent change
to allow underground storage tanks with certain standards in wellhead protection areas, I do
not believe the rule change contemplated situations like the case presented with this project.
Also, please consider the very real possibility of contamination due to surface spills. The spill
from an unattended hose by someone filling a vehicle could enter the aquifer quickly. Much
worse would be a spill from a tanker truck filling the underground storage tanks.
Xenton C. Vard, C'"FF,7Vt
This proposed project has the potential to contaminate a valuable resource in Hamilton
County and could taint a water supply that serves people well beyond the constituents of the
City of Carmel. Please consider the possible environmental liabilities this proposed project
creates by allowing this land use in the wellhead protection area at the proposed location.
Because of these concerns, I recommend against the approval of this project.
Should you have any questions, I can be reached at 317 -776 -8495.
Sincerely
K nton C. ard, CFM
Hamilton ounty Surveyor
KCW /grh
CC: Hamilton County Drainage Board
Hamilton County Commissioners
Mayor Cook City of Westfield
Kurt Wanninger Westfield Department of Public Works
Matt Klein Indianapolis Water Company
Tom Edens Enterprises LLC Graylan Place
Lawrence Weeks Hamilton Estates