02-21-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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From: Penny Saiki To: Jim+Sherry White Cc: Melanie Curtis Subject: Minnehaha Water District Date: Friday, December 30, 2022 3:11:18 PM Hi, Sherry and Jim - The contractor who had a permit to replace stairs and a deck that burned plowed about a 12ft wide road from the backyard directly down to the lakeshore. He and the owner then decided to put in stepped log retaining walls the full width of the lot. They removed all the plants and trees and left each of the bordering properties with cliffs to the water. The inspector put on a stop order. Then the Council gave them permission to build another tier to stabilize their hill for the winter, but it was no guarantee that they would not have to replace the terrain to what it was with landscaping to stabilize the grade. Planning was in favor of hill restoration in the past. Now they are coming back for "variances after the fact" to keep the full hill retaining walls. They took out truckloads of earth to place the tiers, and the adjacent properties have cuts to their tree roots and the earth is disturbed. I was hoping that the watershed district could weigh in at the Planning Meeting on Jan 17 at 6. When I saw the road to the lake, I wrote the LMCD right away, and they immediately escalated it to Minnehaha Watershed. It is such an arrogant approach to correct their error to the detriment of the land and water quality. To "forgive" the error and arrogance weakens our (Orono's) ability to enforce the ordinances and more importantly the protection of the lake and other natural resources. The city offices are closed for the New Year, so I didn't get to find out from Melanie Curtis what the city Planning position is, but earlier they had recommended restoration of the hill.