11-15-2004 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINI TES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday. October 18, 2004 6:00 o'clock p.m. («04-3042 Pillar Homes, Continued) ihe-fact conditional use pcnnii to seek approv-ai if the excess fill was nut going to be removed. The home w as issued a temporary certificate of iKcupancy w iih the removal or approval of the fill as the only outstanding issue Staff IS requesting that any approval be contingent upon implementation of the City Engineer's recommendations, which includes repair of the swales along the north and south property lines. Staff IS also requesting the Planning Commission discuss whether the additional fill creates a negative visual situation for the directly impacted neighbors to the north and south and also on the neighborhiKHl as a w hole. Gundlach noted the City Engineer ts available tonight to answer any questions Shermack. Pillar Homes, stated he oversaw this (^oject from start to finisti. Shemuck indicated he was not informed of the need for a conditional use permit in the fall when he applied for the grading permit. Shermack acknowledged that the amount of fill brought onto this lot is over the limit allowed by the City w ithout a conditional use permit. Shennack stated his mam concern at the time of construction was the water level of Lake Minnetonka and that all of the fill was brought to the off- lakeside and has nothing to do with the east side, the west side, and the lakeside. Subsequently the home was consuxteted. with e.xtra caulion being taken to ensure that the home was being conslnictcd above the high water level of Lake Minnetonka Shermack stated in his view the important factor m constructing this home was the lakeside portion of the residence and not the front of the residence. Shemuck stated the fill was prinurily brought in for the driveway. Shermack indicated the home was constructed according to the survey, with periodic ins|Kctions Knng j>crfomicd by (.'ity Staff on dilTcrent aspects of the house. Shemuck indicated the homeowner over the winter requested to meet with a land.<cape architect and specified certain landscaping features be constructed as part of this project. Follow ing that meeting w ith the landscape architect, additional fill was brought in Shemuck pointed out this property is a large parcel and there is plenty of room to grade the extra fill in Shemuck stated the fill w as brought m to help achieve access wnh Bohn’s Point Road in accordance w uh the property owner s wishes. Shermack stated during the off-season the homeowner also requested some very key trees be removed because of dead growth towards the bottom of the trees. The removal of the trees afTccted the original grading plan. In addition, the property owner asked that ihc grade be raised and that new pmc trees be planted. Shermack stated the fill w as also requested by the homeowner in an effort to make the driveway more acceptable in their opinion. As the end of the project neared, the landscaping plan was submitted to the City. Shennack noted there was no attempt to dcceiv-e the neighbors dunng this project or the City. A number of open houses and socul funcuons were held at Urn residence, wnh the neighbors being kepi appnsed of the project. Shermack stated the one resident that has complained is a fairly new resident to the neighborhood with the home being purchased m Apiil. Shemuck noted this particular resident has not yet moved into the property at the present tune. RAGES