09-16-2002 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4510 North Shore Drive 4500 North Shore Drive September 12, 2002 Page I of2 City of Orono 2750 Kelly Parkway, P.O. Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN To: Planning Commission City Council Wendy Bottenberg, Zoning Administrator/Planner '^ear Sir or Madam: Reference: #02-2827 &. 02-2828; Request for Variance 4515 North Shore Drive This is to inform you that we are adamantly opposed to the granting of the above referenced variances. The two parcels combined just barely exceed the area requirements for the current zoning. Furthermore, the total width of the two lots combined is only 120 ft, 20 feet shy of the ’ current zoning requirements for a single lot. Even combined, these two parcels create a non- conforming lot. The City of Orono has a responsibility to the community to uphold the planning and zoning laws, act to improve public safety and to be stewards of Lake Minnetonka. To allow the construction of two residences on what would be two lots that meet less than 50% of the current zoning requirements is unthinkable when run-off, safety and conservation issues are considered. Two residences will produce more runoff than a single residence and much of that runoff will come down those new driveways onto North Shore Drive to be carried on the road to the Forest Lake Channel. The existing homes that are located down hill fi-om 4515 have a long history of water i runoff issues. About 5 years ago, to help alleviate the water inundating our homes, the county modified North Shore Drive so that h would carry water past our homes and to the channel. There was concern expressed by the Hennepin Co Transportation Supervisor that in doing so, he was creating hazardous driving conditions and the potential for hydroplaning as people round the curve. If the runoff from 4515 increases, it will exacerbate this danger and we fear that the water running on the road will overwhelm it’s capacity, possibly coming down our driveways, again damaging our homes. Seven years ago, development of several individual lots (the majority with lot area variances granted) on Tonka View created huge amounts of nm off that inundated the down hill properties. During heavy rainfall, the Sawicki’s had water six inches deep sweeping down the driveway from North Shore Drive, sweeping across the front deck and beating against the front door. The Bessessen’s also had huge volumes of water cascading down their driveway, and flowing overbnd into basement windows causing extensive damage and rendering their well unsafe. Together we had uninsured damages in excess of $50,000. For two years we lobbied and battled with the chy and the county to alleviate the run off problems. Only after hiring a hydrologist to prove that the new development was the source of the water and hiring counsel to bring a law