08-12-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, July 15, 2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. 5. LA19-000051 DALE GUSTAFSON, 1905 CONCORDIA STREET, VARIANCE AND INTERIM USE PERMIT, 7:28 P.M. — 7:56 P.M. Dale Gustafson, Applicant, was present. Curtis stated the applicant is requesting approval of a lake setback variance and interim use permit to repair a slope failure. During the process of building a new home, foundation work was underway and there were several consecutive rain events. This resulted in the failure of the lower portion of the lake slope on the property. Similar failures have occurred on the property over the years and the previous owners had worked to incrementally repair those failures as they occurred. The applicant is proposing to install a subterranean timber retaining wall grid system to stabilize and repair the slope. Because the walls are not permitted within the lake yard, a 75 -foot lake setback variance is required. The grid layout will create boxes to be filled with soil to recreate the slope. Plantings with deep roots are proposed to be installed on the slope. The applicant's plan has been certified by a professional engineer. Retaining walls are not permitted within the lake yard. However, the hardcover associated with the walls is excluded from the site hardcover totals. Hardcover on the site, with the proposed improvements, will be below 25 percent. No public comments have been received in response to this application. Staff finds practical difficulty in the lake yard slope failure to allow the subterranean retaining wall system to be installed. The retaining wall grid system has been signed by a professional engineer. Planning Staff recommends approval of the variance permitting the subterranean retaining wall grid system to repair and restore the lake side slope conditioned upon implementation of a landscape plan which creates a natural vegetated slope over the walls. The applicant has proposed a landscape plan with three varieties of plants. The City Engineer is requesting some additional certification and more plan details. Ressler asked if the further detail can be provided prior to the City Council meeting. Curtis stated that can be included in the Planning Commission recommendation. The City Engineer would require that as a part of any building permit. Ressler asked if there is a survey that speaks to any grading changes. Curtis stated at the time of the survey, the slope had not yet failed, and that there is a general indication of the area on the survey. Some further detail and clarification is what the City Engineer is looking for as it relates to the grid system and its location to the adjacent property. The survey says existing boulder walls in this area and then it says proposed buried retaining walls and refers to the landscaping details. The City Engineer was unclear as to where the start and stop of the failure was and that the City Engineer has an expectation the applicant will be able to put together the detail he is asking for. McCutcheon asked if there were steps in the area where it failed.