02-21-2023 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION February 21,2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. the claim that this is an imminent need for the bluff, it should have been built.Again,this is the first time I've heard about the sixth wall just coming up a little bit. I don't know if that's going to keep the neighbor's property from falling because they have built this round and curve tiering effect. I know there is a concern about hardcover. But that hardcover came in less than the previous old wall. So there needs to be some scrutiny here. I don't think we should tear down this wall. I am an engineer. I'm data driven. I'm detail-oriented. You guys need to see what this looked like. You need to see the photos of how this was constructed. I saw the construction. I'm there every day. The contractor did a good job. I think he really reacted to what he saw. And he's trying to do a good job. I just want to make sure that whatever is approved in the end,this bluff isn't going to fail,I'm not going to be affected. It's nobody's fault that the bluff burned,but we've got to deal with it. McCutcheon said seeing the pictures he would be concerned as well but he is also looking at the challenges that the contractor had. I appreciate all the feedback because it's a drastic change to what the neighborhood has had. He asked if we are seeing a lot of erosion because the disadvantages of this with the fire? So you have no root system to establish that integrity and so they're kind of in a bad spot?He noted people driving by in boats would see nice trees and then nothing but a huge retaining wall system that doesn't fit the character of the neighborhood. Yet the neighbors think it should be bigger because they are really concerned about it. Ms. Price reiterated that she does not have enough information to make a decision at this point. This is too much of a surprise to me. There is a bluff line there and the neighbors are on the bluff line. The sloping does vary as you're going from west to east. The actual slope of the whole land of that Peninsula is flowing downward. The slopes on this end,they're steep. And as you as that landmass gets lower,those slopes are more gentle. But this particular build did scoop out a hole in that natural line of the bluff. And part of that scoop out is it's affecting the neighbors. The contractor was stopped before the seventh wall was almost finished, so that dirt is loose,there's nothing to hold it. I don't think making the sixth wall a foot taller compensates for what's there now. I'd like to see some plans. Bollis said he thinks on the engineering report for that additional height on that wall, it shows that the grade's going to be improved to the top of that wall. So what we're looking at right there, that's the sixth wall. That would be 1.7 feet higher. And this bowl, I'm assuming would be cut and filled to the top of that. Ms. Price said she hasn't seen any of the new updates and would not be in favor of seeing it approved without the seventh wall. I have no data to make an evaluation. I would just like the board to look at the data. It looks massive. It's not in character for the rest of the neighbors or Casco Point or the bluffs. When you backfill those walls, it's back filled and compacted with dirt and stone. How do you get something to grow in there?You don't,you might get small plants and things,but there won't ever be a tree back there again, so you've changed it forever. Charles Price, 2813 Casco Point Road,noted all the pictures have been from the water. The engineer who designed the walls made it crystal clear,you can't let any water infiltrate these walls up on the top side. I've never heard a plan for how the water is going to get around this wall,the water that runs across the lot. That needs to be clarified somewhere. Price also said the exhibits don't correctly represent the old Page 6 of 19