06-27-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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HARDcuIp This piece of property has been owned by my family since December 1955. In 1967, I began developing plans to build my retirement home on this property. In 1970, part of the property was declared wetlands and in Octol:er 19FO, my mother, Amy Edwards, transferred this property to me. The hardships that will be encountered without a 50' set back are as follows: A water pipe will have to he moved. . A mature pine tree and a large willow tree will have to be moved. Over the years, trees have been planted based on a 50' set back. The trees will screen the house and provide for a more natural setting. . I recently inve ted over $11,000 to have a sewer line brought to the property. . The neighbors on both sides of the property want my home to be at the same sot bacl• line as their homes. My brother, Richard Edwards, is 43' back from the edge of the lake and Mr. Ed Lehman is 56' back. Having my house in line with their houses, provides for more privacy. . I have a very unique view across the lake which is enhanced bv_ the 50' set back. If the set back had to be 75', existing evergreens would block the view. DESCRIPTION OF UNUSUAL PROPERTY CO\'DI7I0IS The back portion of this property, irynediately south of the lagoon, is mostly peat, going down approximately 19 feet. This was discovered when the sewer pipe was laid in 1985. (An old creek bed is said to be in this same area.) The cost of iaying the sewer 'line was increased considerably because of the unstable soil conditions. The back portion of the property, before the lagoon, is the lowest part of the property (932.3'). In addition to the peat problem in this area, water al•c drains to and collects here. The highest point o.` the property (936') is where the best soil conditions are found. If the 75' set back prevails, I would not be able to see the lake from the IDund floor windows unless I re-oved a considerable amount of earth. The driveways on this property are net hardtop, they are mostly dirt with some gravel. I will not be putting is hardtop driveways. This piece of property on which my house is to be located is a very unique piece of land. It has water on both sides -in Front, Like Minnetonka; in the rear, the lagoon. Because of the view, the existing mature trees, and the soil and drainage problems on the back part of the property. it seems logical that the house be constructed in line with the existing hooves. It will also, with the 50' set back, fit in more naturally with the existing terrain.