Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,July 15,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Dale Gustafson,Applicant,stated this is a complex piece of property and that it is clear that boulders on <br /> the steep slope are generally not going to stay there. The slope has failed twice. This system of <br /> subterranean grid creates a network under the soil that will hold the slope from top to bottom. On the <br /> cross-section at the top,there are timbers going down that help stabilize against the slide and there are <br /> also timbers that go across in rows. <br /> The difficulty with this type of project is that they cannot work on it at one time. The contractor has to <br /> start at the bottom and dig down, put the first crib in, and then each of the subsequent cribs are connected <br /> together by the longer timbers that go through it. Right behind the wall there is a section of drainage <br /> rock. The moisture that gets in the ground will come down through the clay, encounter the rock, and <br /> instead of just collecting there and creating this mass that has freeze/thaw problems,the water will come <br /> up to the wall and rock,then go down to the next level and then the next level, and slowly make its way to <br /> the bottom level. That will greatly reduce the rate of the runoff,and over time that will help stabilize the <br /> slope. <br /> Gustafson noted the contractor has been doing this for 30 years and has not experienced a failure yet. <br /> When you look at the details on the survey,the surveyor must provide a one-foot contour of the area next <br /> to the lake. When you see lines that are parallel to each other, it will tell you that that section was not <br /> surveyed. It was marked on the top and the bottom and then the computer determines the difference. <br /> When someone tries to build it,those numbers will not match. As they go through this process,the <br /> contractor will accommodate the existing grade as they build it. Gustafson stated they are not able to <br /> specify exactly where each crib will be. <br /> McCutcheon asked if it will be 60 feet long. <br /> Curtis indicated it will be in the bottom half or bottom third of the slope. <br /> Gustafson stated the boulder walls that remain will be taken out. <br /> McCutcheon suggested the applicant provide as much detail as possible to help ensure this will hold, and <br /> that if he was the engineer reviewing this, he would look for rise over run, drain tile, and the amount of <br /> gravel. <br /> Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 7:42 p.m. <br /> Eric Thompson, 1940 Concordia Street, stated he has lived across the street for the past 20 years and that <br /> Dale has a particularly difficult task on hand. If you visit the property,the slope is extremely steep and <br /> the dirt is soft. The previous property owner built a dock there and some stairs a few years ago, which <br /> collapsed some months later. Thompson indicated he also owns property on the Mississippi River and the <br /> whole entire embankment collapsed and it looks very similar to this. <br /> Thompson stated as he was listening to the Planning Commission and how the applicant really does not <br /> have a plan, he understands because he has been down that road before and that it is very hard to figure <br /> out what to do in a situation like this. There needs to be roots in the soil, and if they are going to start <br /> pounding footings in,the City will need a more detailed plan. Right now the slope is very unstable <br /> ground. <br /> Page 11 of 17 <br />