03-28-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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Mr. Michael Gaffron March 2, 1988 Re: John and Lynn Waldron Property page 4 1951 Concordia Street cribwall system would involve excavation much closer to the lace since the work would have to start right at or below the lakes',iore level in order to ensure a proper system. By contrast, we :ire removing only three feet of soil at the top of the slope and, with proper bales and other barriers in place during construction, no further silt should reach the lake. With the other two propos-ls for stabilization fa.iric or cribwall, degradation of the lake during construction would be unavoidable. Further, the City Engineer has admitted that the stabilization fabric method has not been time -proven and that cribwalls are subject to rot over time. This, neither of these methods can claim to be as permanent as the excavation we propose. Of course, a series of retaining walls would not have this disadvantage although they would present a less aesthetically pleasing view from the lake. Surely, a series of retaining walls is much less in conformity with the neighborhood than the ground excavation which we are proposing. Our measurements indicate that the Ragatz property is approximately 29 inches lower than the lakeside portion of our property. As the enclosed photographs indicate, the general slope of the land on the lakeshore outside of the homes in our neighborhood reaches a low just north of the Ragatz property and climbs gradually to a high point at the Gempler property. The photographs show, to the left of the stairs, a black line and, to the right of the stairs, a black plastic sheet, both of which depict the area of earth which would be removed. To the right of the black sheet is a yardstick which was inserted for measurement and reference purposes. Thus, if our proposed excavation is view d from the lake, one can see *)y comparing it with the land immediately to the north of our existing deck and the land immediately tc the south thereof, that it will merely appear to be a continuation of the gradual upward slope of the land from the Ragatz prooerty to the Gempler property. Thus, our excavation would still keep our property in character and conformit} with the neighboring residences. The fact that earth will be removed rather than regraded under our proposal should not be objectionable. If the proposal does not harm the lake or lakeshore and creates an aesthetically pleasing result, it is difficult to see % t rational objection there could be. Again, the City has alloyed much more significant removal of earth in the 0-75' area with the James Hoff property in 1985. In allowing that regrading, the City notes it has allowed regrading of lakeshore lots because of serious erosion problems. Such is exactly the situation here. Furt:er, our proposed excavation, would be in cumplete accordance with the goals set forth in Orono's Community Management Plan. Specifically, our proposal would retain natural