06-27-2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 27, 2005 . 7:00 o'clock p.m. 6. #05 -3100 Larry and Sheryl Palm, 1146 Wildhurst Trail - Variance — Resolution No. 5341 Gundlach explained that the applicant requested lot area and lot width, and a conditional use permit to construct a new residence on an existing lot and allow the retaining walls and grading within 5' of a lot line. She noted that staff concurs with the Planning Commission recommendation for approval as long as the grading plan meets the 4 conditions as laid out by the Planning Commission. Though he noted the structure meets hardcover and structural cover requirements, White commented that the drainage and wall systems leap out at him. Gundlach stated that the applicant has verified that the amount of drainage can be handled by this design. Vang approached the Council and explained that, though it is not a great amount of water but the speed at which it moves that is of concern and being addressed by this drainage plan. He maintained that slowing the water before it hits the lowest flat area at the water's edge is of greatest concern. In an effort to catch and direct the water down toward the bottom of a funnel swale system instead of the neighbor's property, Vang felt this to be an effective system. . Murphy stated that he had never seen a wall which goes across property lines even with a letter of agreement between two neighbors. Vang noted that this perpendicular wall crossing both properties would benefit both home • P owners. McMillan asked if Vang's earlier concerns regarding drainage had been addressed by this design. Vang stated that this particular house design was driving the need for the walls to handle the drainage. White complimented the applicant on a nice set of plans for the Council to view and suggested that landscaping be used to screen the walls. Palm stated that, since the grade falls off quickly, and the need to direct drainage requires walls, they used two different materials to break up the concrete expanse. He noted that he would be putting together a landscape plan to screen the walls. White stated that if he were the neighbor, he too, would want the walls to help direct runoff. The neighbors stood and stated that they did want the retaining wall system as proposed. Mayor Peterson stated that she would have preferred the home be scaled back to accommodate the runoff rather than creating a dramatic runoff system to handle the flow. Vang explained that runoff has been a problem, due to the topography of the neighborhood, not just this proposed new construction. Vang pointed out that, in fact, under the proposed grading plan the construction will help out the neighbors runoff problem and not increase it in any way. • Palm pointed out that all of the water to the north of their properties runs down their lots. Page 8 of 12