09-21-1998 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 18, 1998 Ke\in and Pat Kennefick 3241 Casco Circle Wa>T3ta, MN 55369 Cit>- of Orono Planning Commission/ City Council Dear Sir or Madam: Background My wife and I are seeking variances to complete a large renovation project already well underway. Our property at 3241 Casco Circle includes a 105-year-old home that was in need of major upgrading. The majority' of the work was reconstruction on the inside of the home. We stayed within the original footprint to ensure we would remain inside any hardcover restrictions relative to the home itself. Our contractor applied for all required permits and the work has progressed to near completion. The outside of the home also required substantial change. The front of the home was landscaped with a series of terraced walls made from now deteriorating railroad ties. These timbers contained creosote and included sheets of plastic between the terraces to prevent weed growth. The back of the home included the same type of timbers as well as a cement wall that was crumbling and leaning severely towards the house. We had not intended to replace the deck on the lakeside of the house at this time, but found it necessary as the construction progressed. We were removing stucco siding from the house. A portion of the stucco was behind the ledger board that supported the deck. We tried to temporarily remove the ledger board; unfortimately, we found it rotten and unsafe to support the deck. At that point, we made the decision to replace the deck in basically the same configuration it was before. We also made the decision to landscape a hill that leads to the lake in a way that would provide natural beauty and comply with we believed to be the restriction regarding hardcover in the 0-75 foot range. The hill to the lake caused a significant safety hazard when attempting to mow the grass. It was also deteriorating with large washout gullies forming when there was heavy rain. I was unable to hire anyone to mow it because of steepness and the inability of the equipment to stay on the hill. I had to wear golf shoes to stay on the hill and on more than one occasion had the lawnmower roll over on top of me. Fortunately. 1 made it through last summer without being injured. (A prior owner told me he had to tie himself to . tree to prevent falling down the hill). Something needed to be done. LCJ).• ,7 V^ Cl v.»1j.