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■i <br />4. Section 10.56, Subd. 16(J)(2); Topographic Alteration/Grading and Filling: Grading, filling <br />or excavating of more than 10 cubic yards is prohibited within 75'of the Ordinary High Water Level <br />of the public waters enumerated in Section 7 of this section. Grading, filling, or excavating of 10 <br />cubic yards or less shall require City staff review and permit and be subject to other pertinent <br />sections of the Zoning Code. <br />Application Summary: The applicant is requesting variances to tear down an existing residence <br />and build a new residence further back on the same lot. Also, the applicant is applying for a <br />conditional use permit to permit grading within 75' of the lakeshore. The scope of the project <br />involves moving the new residence back out of the 0-75' setback area and to be more in alignment <br />with adjacent properties. The conditional use permit is to remove a “bulge ” in the topography to <br />bring the lakeside of the lot more natural in flow with adjacent properties. <br />^tafl/Applicant Discussions: <br />Plan #1: The process began in April of 1999 when the applicant brought in the first set of house <br />plans. From the onset, the applicant wished to conform with zoning codes as best as possible. The <br />first set of plans had many difficult issues dealing with the lot, elevations, setbacks, and hardcover <br />coverage. The applicant decided to take the plans and redesign them. <br />Plan #2: In October of 1999, the applicant came forwara with a second set of house plans. This set <br />of house plans needed three variances (lot coverage, side yard setback and hardcover in 75-250' <br />setback area) and a CUP was needed. The applicant decided they could make some changes to <br />conform better w ’th Orono ’s zoning code. <br />Plan #3: In January of 2000, the applicant came forward with a third set of house plans. This third <br />set is the latest set of plans. The redesign eliminated the side yard setback, however, lot coverage, <br />and hardcover coverage variances in the 0-75' md 75-250' setback areas and a CUP are still needed. <br />The “bulge ” occurred in 1975 when the owner of 1270 Spruce Place was issued a permit to raise the <br />house and build a basement under the existing residence. The owners apparently were not asked to <br />regrade or replace any of the dirt removed, i.e. they were by default allowed to turn their lot into a <br />“walkout ” lot. Since then, the City has denied a number of requests for similar grading to create <br />walkout situations when they involved excavating in the 0-75' zone. Attached as Exhibit F is a <br />memo from 1975 discussing the situation. <br />Note: During the summer of 1999 while out on inspections for the neighboring property, Orono's <br />building official was asked his opinion on what should and could be done to eliminate the “bulge.” <br />He advised that one way to correct the “bad grading ” would be to remove the trees and level it out <br />to flow more with the other properties. However, this would be inconsistent with the zoning code <br />viewpoint on the matter and with the policies of the Comprehensive Plan. <br />i*2-i86 Elaine Erickson <br />I2~0 Spruce Place <br />Variance/Conditional Use Permit <br />2/14/00 <br />Page 2 <br />L_. _