05-15-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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City of Orono MN 2750 Kelley Parkway Orono, MN 55356 Melanie Curtis Planner Ref: LA23-000021 2691 Ethel Avenue PID: 2011723240046 Dear Melanie, Thank you for your email of May 4, 2023 and the property plan information files and narrative document for the proposed property variance referenced above. Please find below our formal comments to be included in the public packet. I am also planning to attend the meeting at this time. We are land and lake (Carman Bay) neighbors to the north of the 2691 Ethel Property and have an address of 2684 Casco Point Road. We have owned our property with its Lakeshore since 1981. Before our arrival, Dorothy Kerns was the owner as I recall at the 2691 Ethel Ave property and lived in a one story - less than approx. 1000 sq -ft structure - about 90 feet to the west from the current structure. The Kerns home was demolished and a city variance passed to allow M. Revier to build the existing structure about 90 feet closer to the lake on the very pointed five -sided property (2011723240046) around 1993. In the LA23-000021 variance application narrative, the Cadle's indicate that they looked for the "right property" for some time and are planning to 'enjoy lake life' after the proposed renovation is completed. As we viewed the proposed LA23-000021 packet, we find that they will be improving the structure and exterior appearance of the existing house to a great extent. We welcome them to the neighborhood. Of slight concern to the property is the eventual landscaping plan and implementation which is not necessary for us to review as it should be of superior quality as are the building plans. We would however like them to consider maximizing mutual privacy and minimize runoff as standard practice which we believe they would. Saving as many trees as possible would also be important. Of more concern for us and most likely the three other affected Carman Bay lakeshore neighbors, is that the future Cadle Lakeshore dock and watercraft usage plans -if any, comply with the existing LMCD variance order for the 2011723240046 property. A brief historical review: After construction of the new Revier house in 1993, the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District rendered a shared single dock / length / watercraft number /beam and dock location variance order on January 26, 1994 for shared rights to the use of Lake Minnetonka which include eight specific conditions (see LMCD order) related to these lakeshore neighbor PID's: Page 1 of 2