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ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, May 15,2000 <br />r <br />Andrew and Tracy Rascher, Applicants, were present. <br />Bottenberg stated the Applicants are requesting a conditional use permit to replace an existing <br />retaining wall and install two additional retaining walls within the 0-75 foot setback. Since retaining <br />walls are considered hardcover, a variance is needed for hardcover in the 0-75 foot setback area. <br />Bottenberg indicated the proposal would be Inconsistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan, with <br />the City Engineer recommending that no new retaining walls be constructed on the site between <br />the home and the lake. It is the City Engineer's opinion that the retaining walls can be repaired <br />and restored with minimal disturbance to the existing slope. <br />City Staff is recommending approval of the variances and conditional use permit for repair of the <br />existing retaining walls in the 0-75 foot setback area, but denial of the proposed new retaining <br />walls based on the goals and policies cited In the City of Orono's Community Management Plan. <br />Jeremy Bakken, Builder, stated due to the slope of the back yard all the way down to the lake <br />and the old deteriorating condition of the existing walls, in his ooinior. it would be more cost <br />effective to build new walls rather than repair the existing walls. Bakken stated the amount of <br />grading involved in the repair is equal to that which would occur with construction of the new walls. <br />Bakken stated the existing walls are not controlling the drainage and are unsafe. <br />Rascher commented they would like to replace the existing walls due to the fact they are very <br />unstable and do not do the job they were initially constructed to do. Rascher stated they would like <br />to build some retaining walls which are more stable. <br />Smith inquired whether they have had a chance to look at the letter from the City Engineer. <br />Bakken stated they are not proposing to change the existing grade until they get closer to the lake. <br />Bakken stated he would not recommend limestone walls since they need to be replaced periodically <br />and tend to be unstable over time. <br />Mrs. Rascher stated they are attempting to reduce the amount of erosion into the lake, noting that <br />currently nothing Is being filtered at this point. Rascher commented the current condition of the <br />steps are unsafe due to the nails which are exposed in the timbers and the unstableness of the <br />Page 26