04-11-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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AGENDA ITEM Prepared By: LLO Reviewed By: J. Barnhart Approved By 1. Purpose. The applicant is requesting to reconstruct the retaining walls in the 75’ lakeyard with expansion due to the change in building materials. 2. Background. The applicant is proposing to replace the concrete block retaining wall within the 75’ lakeyard setback. The applicant has stated the current wall is failing. They propose a wall which follows the footprint of the existing retaining wall, and will match the abutting neighbors to the north, which is a large boulder type wall. These walls will tie in together. The property abuts Lake Minnetonka with a large slope along the shoreline. The property is currently vacant. A variance is required because of the size of the building materials is larger than the existing materials The Council reviewed the application on the March 14, 2022 meeting and gave the applicant direction to follow the same footprint as the existing retaining walls and to work to bring the project closer to an in- kind replacement of the existing improvement. The applicant submitted an amended plan on April 5. While the existing walls is constructed of concrete block, the new walls are proposed to be constructed from boulders. By their nature, the boulders create a larger footprint then the existing concrete block creating a new expansion in the 75’ lakeyard. Per the Engineering submitted, in order to construct the walls at the appropriate height the boulders at the base of the wall would be a maximum of 42” in depth and taper off up to 12” in depth at the top of the wall. 3. Additional Research: There were several comments during the council’s review that suggested only in-kind replacement in the lake yard has been permitted in recent years. Retaining walls are often considered differently from buildings. A cursory review of the last three years’ land use applications shows the Council has been slightly more open to variances for retaining walls. Notable examples include 2710 Pence (new boulder wall associated with new stairs); 2605 North Shore Drive (A new house with reconstruction of existing retaining walls), 1905 Concordia (Subterranean walls were approved to be installed after a slope failure), 3315 Crystal Bay Road (new retaining walls associated with a new house), 2927 Casco Point Rd (new retaining walls associated with new stairs) The Council has allowed these improvements to stabilize sensitive slopes. 4. 15.99 Deadline. The applicant made a complete application on January 18, 2022. The original review period have been extended to May 18, 2022. 5. Public Comment One written comment was received in support of the project. The same neighbor, Melissa Santrach at 1700 Bohns Point Rd, attended the meeting and spoke in support of the project. 6. Staff Recommendation. Planning Staff recommends approval of the variance as revised. The retaining wall follows the path of the existing wall, and the variance is necessary only due to the change in size of the wall materials. Staff believes the replacement of a concrete block wall with a boulder wall more completely meet the goals of the ordinance, which in part, intended to preserve a natural shoreline. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Provide a motion to direct staff to draft a resolution Item No.: 14 Date: April 11, 2022 Item Description: LA21-000076, Yardscapes, Inc. - Lincoln Danforth, 1720 Bohns Point Road, Variances Presenter: Laura Oakden Planner Agenda Section: Planning Department Report