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From:Drew Torrence <br />To:Hans Frees; Melanie Curtis; Paul Scott <br />Cc:Mark Gronberg; Adam Edwards; Amy Hendel; Andrea Scott; Bri Schumacher; Denny Walsh; Fritz Westphal; Laura Oakden; Rick Hendel; Roland Nasset; Jackie Larson; Andy Birrenkott <br />Subject:RE: 975 Long Bridge Ln / RPS22-000095 / As-Built Survey Review - Denied/Additional Comment <br />Date:Monday, March 18, 2024 10:23:41 AM <br />Attachments:image002.png <br />image001.png <br />Good Morning Melanie, <br />Below is our narrative regarding the stone wall that encroaches the drainage and utility easement. Please let me know if there is anything additional information that you need <br />from us. We will pay the associated fee today. <br />Dear City Council Members, <br />I am requesting the councils approval for an encroachment agreement. As a landscape designer on behalf of Outdoor Excapes and our clients, Paul and Andrea Scott, who <br />recently built their home in Orono. We were contracted by Paul and Andrea to complete the landscaping portion of their new construction project and we recently became <br />aware that one of the stone retaining walls we installed encroaches the drainage and utility easement on their property. While we understand and respect the guidelines <br />established by the city, we seek your understanding and cooperation in allowing the stone wall to remain in place to avoid further disruption to the property. <br />We truly are committed to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the city, which is why we were excited about the opportunity to work with Paul and Andrea on their project. Please know that <br />throughout the planning and execution phases, we worked hard to adhere to all zoning regulations and city ordinances, ensuring that every aspect of the project was in compliance with the stipulated <br />guidelines. However, I must acknowledge that the stone landscape wall in question was a late addition to the project. It was introduced during the latter stages of construction, inadvertently encroaching <br />upon the drainage and utility easement. I want to emphasize that there was absolutely no ill intent behind this oversight. Rather, our intent was to stay out of the easement but during layout and construction <br />under wet and muddy weather conditions, our install crew simply mismeasured and mis-understood the setback line we had staked for being the easement line instead of the interior corner of the future <br />vegetable garden. <br />Allow me to provide some context regarding the significance of the stone landscape wall. Its purpose extends beyond just aesthetics as it serves to provide a level platform for Paul and Andrea to plant a <br />vegetable garden on a slope that was previously too steep. Our goal was to fit the walls for the vegetable gardens into the existing landscape in a way that honored the natural surroundings. While this <br />particular feature introduced some hard surfaces to the project, our larger vision for the project was to enhance the native ecosystem and, as a result, we re-established native plant species in large areas <br />around the property that were disturbed from the construction process. <br />Although technically, the stone wall does encroach the easement, it is worth noting that the impact is minimal with only a small percentage of the wall structure encroaching by 2’. Additionally, once the <br />wall was completed, large trees were spaded into place in an effort to quickly restore the property to a more natural setting. Any efforts to move the wall will cause considerable disruption to the property <br />and could jeopardize the health of the newly planted trees as large excavating equipment will be needed for the task. <br />I assure you that we take full responsibility for this issue and our team is fully committed to resolving this matter as the city council sees fit. We are prepared to work closely with city staff to address their <br />concerns and will follow through with the decision of the council. However, please seriously consider our request to leave the stone landscape wall in place. As you examine the impact of the small portion <br />of stone wall located within the easement, please also be mindful of the impact from moving the wall which will cause disruption to the property, possible damage to the newly planted trees, and impact <br />Paul and Andrea’s ability to enjoy their vegetable garden area. <br />Thank you for your consideration, <br />Drew Torrence <br />Drew Torrence <br />Designer |Outdoor Excapes <br />o. 952.926.6899 |m. 612.599.5403 <br />e. dtorrence@outdoorexcapes.com |w. outdoorexcapes.com <br />a. 2345 Daniels Street, Long Lake, MN 55356 <br />174