RZ21-00002_Mining_Rezone_NOA_Comments_CombinedAllJodi Urich Sayad
David Sayad
133 Griffis Rd
Onalaska WA 98570
Mindy Brooks, Senior Long Range Planner
Lewis County Community Development
2025 NE Kresky Ave
Chehalis WA 98532
February 20, 2022
We are writing this letter in opposition to the rezoning application located at 0 Spencer Rd, permit #
RZ21-0002 and SEP21-0039 from Agriculture resource to Mineral resource lands.
I own the two parcels which the easement is adjacent to off Griffis Rd including parcel # 028025002000
and 028024022003. I initially reached out to Lewis County Community Development, William Teitzel,
Brian at Wa Department of Ecology and Zach Meyer with Wetlands. Case # ERTS 675901 during the
summer and fall of 2018 regarding the easement. I was concerned at the time due to the fact the
easement had been rebuilt with a new bridge over Blue Creek and new culverts in other streams that
travel through my property. Since this time my creeks have been drying up much sooner. I used to have
a month or two without water flowing and now go up to six months a year without water flowing. This
has environmentally impacted my property in a negative way not only for my cattle but to all the wildlife
that visit my property. Mr. Teitzel stated he was unable to access the property due to “no trespassing
signs” and would try again another day.
I have grave concerns regarding the environmental impact a rock quarry would have on a small,
protected stream with salmon spawning like Blue Creek which runs through the back of my property.
We often see numerous waterfowl, birds, deer, elk, bald eagles, coyotes, bear and bobcats in our field
and can’t imaging the impact mining the 440+ acres adjacent to us would have environmentally on all of
the wildlife, devastating their safe and fragile habitat. Since 2004 I have watched a herd of over 40 elk
that used to wander through my field, spending much of their time on the property requesting rezoning,
dwindle to 12-15 because of hoof rot. An environmental change of this magnitude would be devastating
and detrimental to this small herd that has been fighting and struggling to survive already.
Besides the constant air and noise pollution that would be introduced into this peaceful, quiet farming
community, would be the dust continually blowing onto my entire North and East property lines. I would
propose the easement would need to be paved. Also, our little county Griffis road is not wide enough
and would not hold up to constant large equipment and dump truck traffic. Along with the concerns of
many small children often playing along our Brim Road and crossing back & forth between the many
family dairies.
I have considered selling my second parcel due to recent financial hardships to a family member. My
parcel is a valuable, beautiful, view property. Rezoning to Mineral resource land would financially
devastate the value of my back parcel as it is bordered both on the North and East property lines.
Besides the constant noise and air pollution my property would lose a beautiful view as would all the
neighbors along it who primarily purchased their properties for this reason.
I was born and raised on this property and able to buy it back in 2004, after losing two brothers, 20
years after my parents lost it. MY dad built the barn in 1962. I am sentimentally attached to my
property for many of these reasons and plan on staying here on the front parcel for the rest of my life
and passing it on to my children. It would be emotionally devastating and heart breaking to me for this
rezoning to be approved. My neighbors and I all chose to live here for many reasons including view,
clean air, peaceful and quiet country setting which would all be adversely affected. The property in
question, along with all the surrounding properties has been zoned for agriculture for years and my
request is that it continue to be used agriculturally like it has in the past and not turned into a large
environmentally unfriendly industrial site.
Thank you for reconsidering.
Jodi Urich Sayad
David Sayad