10-20-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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H- CITY OF CRONO RO^B 1 , ROBERT L. BIRKELAND MARTT S. BIRKELAND 1298 WILDHURST TRAIL MOUND, MN 55364 OCT 1 5 1997 TO: MR. MICHAEL GAFFRON - PLANNING COMMISSION P.O. BOX 66, CRYSTAL BAY. MN. 55323 SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET. WE HAVE LIVED AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS FOR THIRTY PLUS YEARS. AND HAVE ENJOYED A GOOD QUALITY FAMILY LIFESTYLE ON FOREST LAKE BAY OF LAKE MINNETONKA. THE LAST FEW YEARS THIS LIFESTYLE HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT. WHERE AT TIMES. IT IS ALMOST UNINHABITABLE, BECAUSE OF NOISE FROM HUGE TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY 19, DUE TO THE OPENING OF HIGHWAY 6. ANT) INCREASED TRAFFIC ON WILDHURST TRAIL, A DEAD END ROAD. FROM THE LAKE COMES A HOWLING CRESCENDO OF NOISE FROM PERSONAL WATERCRAFT. NOISE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE APPLIED TO A HUMAN BEING. NOW COMES ANOTHER PHYSICAL THREAT OF FORCE DOWN ON OUR HEADS FROM SAGA HILL. BECAUSE OF NEW HOUSES. AND DEVELOPMENTS, (WITH RESULTING HARDCOVER). WHICH WILL CAUSE CASCADES OF RAINWATER TO INNUNDATE OUR HOMES AT THE BOTTOM OF SAGA HILL. MY HOME. UP TO NOW. HAS R\D MY DRIVEWAYS WASH OUT. AND MY CONTIGOUS BARN LOT HAD A RIVER 50 FEET WIDE, RUSHING WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE, CARRYING DIRT, DEBRI, AND ALGAE PRODUCING CHEMICALS DOWN TO THE LAKE CHANNEL IN BACK OF MY HOME. THE 12" RAIN HAD WATER ON WILDHURST TRAIL ABOVE THE KNEES OF LARGE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE ROAD. SINCE THAT 12 ” RAIN. ASPHALT BERMS HAVE BEEN BUILT TO CONTAIN THE WATER ON WILDHURST TRAILS. TO ADD ANOTHER DIMENSION TO THIS. A HOUSE I BUILT FOR MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND ON HIGHWAY 19 (4500 NORTH SHORE DRIVE) IN 1978, WAS INNUNDATED ON ITS LOWER LEVELS (ALSO HER NEIGHBORS HOUSE) LAST YEAR DURING A HEAVY STORM, RESULTING IN MUCH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DAMAGE. MOUNTING TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS WAS DUE TO HARDCOVER FROM NEW HOUSES ON TONKA VIEW ROAD GOING UP SAGA HILLS’ SOUTH SIDE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OF WATER DRAINAGE WHERE I BUILT THE HOUSE. NOW MANY YEARS LATER. ORONO HAS BEEN FORCED TO BUY PROPERTY. AND INSTALL A STORM SEWER INTO WEST ARM COSTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND LAWSUITS PERHAPS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. HISTORICAL SAGA HILL. SHOULD BE SAVED FOR POSTERITY, AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY VALVE, TO PREVENT POLLUTION OF LAKE MINNETONKA, AND THE LAKESHORE SURROUNDING THE LAKE. PLEASE TAKE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PRESSURES OFF THE NEARBY RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS OF NOISE. TRUCK TRAFFIC. DANGEROUS BOATS. AND THE PHYSICAL FORCE OF FLOODING WATERS. PLEASE..., YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SINCERELY. MR. & MRS. ROBERT L. BIRKELAN’D