11-17-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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r 3229-B Casco Circle Wayzata, MN 55391 City of Orono Planning Commission October 21,1997 Dear Commissioners, Thank you for your notification of tonight’s consideration of the instruction at the Silus residence at 3235 Casco Circle. Like many other residents around Casco Circle - some nearer the construction, some farther away from it, we feel that it presents some thorny problems. That the garage entr>' was designed with its opening the wrong way for the width of the lot, and that the deliberately raised elevation of the land has an impact on both the water run-off and local esthetics are both known facts. This is why the construction is on your agenda this evening. As a lifelong resident of Casco Point, I Ipow that . treat neighbors with respect and affection. It makes ^int unique, ^d * j*®^!8** place to live and raise families. We therefore give the Silus the benefit of the doubt, and choose to blame the Bruce Bren Construction Company for haying: a.) created these problems through poor design, OR b.) hidden from the neighbors wientiora to rmsc the level of the lot above the level of the pre-existing home, OR c.) construrted the stmeture on a foundation which was not excavated and poured as per the plans, (OR a combinaUon of these possibilities.) There is also a question of culpability in the office of the Orono Building Inspector, as construction has neither halted nor slowed as these problems appeared and took permanent shape. The question now is what can be done to correct the problems and to protect the long-time next door residents in the impacted property at #3233, Dave and Pat Spijsem. As an enthusiastic sidewalk superintendent I can draw several solutions -fewer^no doubt, than could be created by a professional on the Bren design staff or the Orono Building Inspection Office. They require a spirit of consideration, a wiUingness to correct mistakes, teamwork, and. unfortunately, probably more than a little cash. What >s clear, however, is that the Spilseths and other nearby residents should not be made to pay for me misUkes ot their neighbors. Neither in damage to their lawns, gardens, driveway usability, views, nor expenses. We will all be very interested in your resolution of this situation. Thank you, Susan Smith Swanson