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Dave and Pat Spilseth <br />3233 Casco Circle <br />Wayzata, MN 55391 <br />612 471 7152 <br />September 8, 1997 <br />Ms. Janice Berg <br />2655 Lydiard Avenue <br />Excelsior, MN 55331 <br />Dear Ms. Berg, <br />This letter is regarding our opposition to Item #7 (#2290) of the September 15 <br />planning commission agenda. We wish to oppose the variance request of Steve and <br />Elaine Silas (3235 Casco Circle) to move an 80’ long , 4’ high retaining wall 5’ which <br />would put it up to our property line. Our reasons for opposition are as follows: <br />** Moving the wall will add at least 175 square feet and possibly up to 400 <br />square feet of hardcover. Elaine Silas has indicated to me that they are already <br />at the edge of the hardcover limitation. She said excess hardcover is the reason that <br />the shared fence a.xi the shared driveway that we have used for the last 17 years had <br />to come out, which we allowed with no compensation offered or given to us. <br />** The Silas house Is quite large for the lot size, with the roof line well above the <br />adjoining homes. With the now 4’ elevated driveway our house looks very <br />crowded in. Moving the retaining wall even closer would accentuate that effect even <br />more. <br />** Rain run off and the mud,sand and salt that comes with it would go on <br />our property as it has during the construction. <br />Snow removal would be difficult to do without pushing the snow off the retaining <br />wall onto our property. <br />** Eventually the wall will need maintenance. This could necessitate bringing a fork <br />lift or other equipment in on our lawn. <br />*• If a vehicle or person falls off the wall Into our property, would we be liable? <br />** Orono has not normally allowed “90 degree turn in" garage in our area. A “straight <br />drive in ” garage would be more consistent with the Orono and the <br />neighborhood. <br />** We appreciate the Silas access problem; however, we feel that an experienced <br />builder should have known the driveway was much too narrow before building it <br />not after building it and then trying to place the burden on the neighbors. <br />We commend you for volunteering your time for the benefit and betterment of Orono. <br />Thank you for you * attention In this manner and we look forward to meeting you at the <br />planning comrr.issicn meeting on Monday night. <br />L <br />Sincerely,