11-16-1992 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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c.r.' c= ] Uli c-c^.c__, L= L; 'V-'' !-^ IU Amendment to -.. Variance Application #1775 fHnw' '% R G. Luesse - 3249 Casco Circle, Orono fWOV O I akpshore Zone 0 - 75* This lakefront has a very steep slope to the water's edge. Access to the lake requires a continuous stair to a landing at the water’s edge which serves as dock storage in winter. About one-fourth of the way down the hill (hidden from neighbors' houses and lake shore) we have an open deck that is our only usable lakefront. This deck and the stair are elevated enough to permit plant growth beneath. All construction is surface supported. This avoids disturbing the soil that might trigger erosion. The entire steep slope has been treated to prevent erosion. A series of timber and/or field stone retailing walls hold tb.i hill in place. I continue to experiment with plantings that will grow in the shade, have aggressive root systems and serve to slow down the runoff. Our efforts have been very effective. We liaven’t had any visible erosion in the 38 years we’ve lived here. Properties immediately adjacent on both sides have each had two major mud slides during that period where large segments of their hillside slid into the water. The next propertes adjacent to those have each had one mud slide in that period - washing out stairs and covering the beach area with mud. All of the properties along this frontage of the bay, except ours, have an eartli shelf at the lake shore, created by the material that was cleaned up from the beach following mud slides. Because we have protected against erosion we Iiave no usable yard area at the lake. As a result of this unusual circumstance we find that our structural solutions are essential for reasonable use of the lake shore. B.nMah1pZnne-75'to250’ The hard cover on this area is already substantial. This circumstance has been mitigated substantially by the way the property has been graded. Starting at the top of the steep slope near the lake, the lot continues to rise another 15 feet to the street (Casco Circle). Before we built this was a continuous slope toward the southeast. By judicious grading, I have estabUshed three separate and nearly flat plateaus which are mostly lawn and plantings. This retards the fast runoff tfiat would otherwise occur. In addition, I am a proponent of organic gardening. I haven't applied fertilizer or weed killer to my lawn and garden for years. Instead, I use composted yard and garden refuse and sphagnum peatmoss to condition the soil and hand labor to control the weeds. I do not use plastic