01-11-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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To: Mayor Grabek & Orono Council Members City Administrator Bcrnhardson From: Michael P. Gaffron, Asst Planning & Zoning Administrator Date: December 9, 1987 Subject: #1223 John B. Waldron, 1951 Concordia Street - Conditional Use Permit & Variance ..,�Vlication - Request to grade in lakeshore yard to create walkout. Zoning District - LR-lC List of Exhibits Exhibit A - Planning Commission Minutes of 11/16/87 Exhibit B - Planning Commission Action Notice Dated 11/25/87 Exhibit C - James Piegat Letter Dated 11/16/87 Exhibit D - Small Business Administration Loan Worksheet Submitted 11/16/87 Ex'iinit E - Applicant's Proposed Hardcover Removal Worksheet Submitted 11/16/87 '9xhibit F - Memo & Exhibits of 11/11/87 Discussion - Please carefully review the memo and exhibits of November 11, 1987 and the letter from James Piegat of the Hennepin Conservation District dated November 16, 1987. Applicant proposes to reg.rade his lakeshore yard and create a walkout basement where no walkout now exists. Applicant believes, with the support of the Hennepin Conservation District, that his proposal is a sound and reasonable method to approach the necessary repairs to his s`oreiine which was damaged during the summer storms of 1987. City Engineer Glenn Cook has visited the site. and reviewed the proposed project with the applicant and staff. Glenn feels that from an engineering standpoint the project as proposed will create infiltration and runoff characteristics that arguably are no better and no worse than the pre-existing condition. Cook feels that there are other feasible methods to repair the storm damage that do not result in the creation of a walkout. The walkout cut and bank restoration method proposed is merely one of a number of possible restoration methods with relatively equivalent stabilization results. Aesthetically, the walkout cut is arguably no worse than a system of retaining walls along the entire bank slope. Piegat's letter suggests that retaining walls do not solve slope problems that rare caused by ground water conditions similar to those encountered here, an6 that retaining walls are a solution to landscaping problems, not drainage problems. Glenn Cook has discussed with the applicant a number of alternative methods for bark stabilization that would not require the use of major retaining walls. These include the use of stabilization fabric, cribbing, or a partial retaining wall system in conjunction with lowering the percentage of slope. None of these methods require that the walkout cut be created. Piegat suggests that the damage done to the lake by this summer's arosion of this slope is of a much greate- concern than the effects of 20 or more years of normal run-off conditions. There is no question that the slope must be stabilized and restored as soon as possible.