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June 17, 2005 <br />To: Orono Planning Commission <br />Re: 1146 Wildhurst <br />File #3100 <br />Tom Kellogg and I inspected this site and proposed some concepts that would lessen the <br />impacts of the proposed house on the neighborhood and on Lake Minnetonka. <br />1. If the wal! allowed at the property line it should be extended slightly onto the <br />neighbors lot and an easement should be granted making the builder responsible for the 5 feet <br />that should be on his lot and for the plantings to screen the wail <br />2. Something, periiaps a water garden, should be built at the base of the hill to dissipate <br />the energy from the run-ofif. <br />None of these ideas have been included in the most recent design, which is probably the <br />worst attempt so fiv. <br />The wall: <br />I know of no instance where the City has allowed a wall parallel to the lot line to be so <br />close to the lot line. This wall is as much as 10 feet tall and adjacent to the line. A fence could <br />only be 6 feet tall at this location. <br />At 3235 Casco Circle a 4 foot wall to make a garage usable was allowed three feet from <br />the property line only with special drainage and plantings at the base of the wall. If this wall is <br />allowed adjacent to the line there will be no place for plantings to screen it. Should this neighbor <br />be respoiisible for planting and taking care of plants on their property? <br />At 4753 North Shore Dr a wall to create a wider landing by a front door was not allowed <br />fewer than 5 feet from the line. <br />This large retaining wall is only necessary because the house is proposed with a walkout <br />elevation approximately 8 feet higher than the existing house and with a terraced yard outside the <br />walkout wUch is also 8 feet higher than existing yard. Why would a design featiuc justify a wall <br />setback variance. <br />Drainage: <br />A lot of water ends up at the bottom of this hill in a heavy rain. How will the energy <br />from this water be dealt with to prevent serious erosion at the Lake. The drainage on this <br />difficult lot was previously maintained only with constant attention by the home owner. Lack of <br />maintenance together with clearcutting of slopes has already worsened drainage problems. This <br />yard will only be successful with careful attention to details. <br />Bruce Vuig <br />cu^ <br />Building Inspector <br />■iK • <br />akrrtv jmatia