05-14-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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kr^ 4119 Oak Street Orono, Minnesota 55356 February 5,1990 City of Orono 1335 Brown Road □rono, Minnesota 55356 Attn: City Council Members We have received your letter advising us that Chuck and Ann Hommeyer of 4125 Oak Street are seeking an after-the-fact variance for a stairway, a small deck and a retaining wall that were constructed between their house and the shoreline of Lake Minnetonka. We understand that at the Planning Commission meeting at which this matter was addressed and a recommendation to approve was made for your consideration, the neighbors residing on the second lot north of the Hommeyers were present and since they raised certain issues they felt were of concern, a question was raised as to what opinions were held by the neighbors to the south, namely ourselves and, we suppose, the Smiths who, while nearly 200 feet away and around a corner from the stairway in question, reside on the second lot south of the Hommeyers. We note for your consideration that the owner of the lot immediately to the north of the Hommeyers is apparently indifferent in this matter, since we are unaware of any opinions being expressed by them in this matter. □ur feelings are that due to the extreme slope of the hill and the width of the Hommeyer lot, safe access to the lakeshore would be impossible without a stairway of some sort. The stairs follow the contour of the hill, which probably necessitated the “deck" (which in reality is no more than 0' • 10'). The incline also seems also to necessitate a retaining wall to prevent erosion (although, to be honest, prior to your letter we were unaware that a retaining wall existed in that area). In fajt, neither the stairs nor the deck are readily visible from our house or our deck, which are built at an angle that permits a clear view of the area in question. I can assure you that the Smiths cannot even see the area, much less the stairs etc. since from two lots away the trees are nearly impassible to see through, even in winter. We certainly have no objection to the Hommeyers request; it puzzles us that any neighbor would object to a property owner gaining safe and secure access to the lakeshore. We urge you approve the variance as requested. Respectfully, Karen S. Holland 1I