02-23-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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/ 15-3707 February 19,2015 Page 2 On February 9 Council reviewed the information provided and considered a number of factors related to the impacts of retaining walls along or near lot boundaries. A number of specific concerns were discussed: - Property owners should have the ability to construct low planter beds near a lot line without having to get a land alteration permit. - The City should set some thresholds for retaining wall height, setback, and amount of fill associated with a wall or planter box, below which no permit will be required. - Retaining walls and filUgrading projects that have a potential impact on neighboring properties need to be reviewed by staff-this necessitates the homeowner applying for a permit in order to be effective. - Existing City Code Section 58-2(e) - see Exhibit C -prohibits the creation of negative drainage impacts to neighboring property. - Retaining walls and similar improvements represent an investment by a property owner that could be at risk if not properly located, designed and constructed. - Future maintenance of such improvements needs to be taken into account. - Consideration should be given to the extent and types of encroachments that are allowed within right-of-ways. Planter Box& Retaining Wall Proximity to Lot Lines. Council suggested that a planter box up to 2' high and involving up to 20 cubic yards of fill should be allowed as close as 2-3' from the side or rear lot line without a permit. In subsequent discussions among staff inembers, staff is generally comfortable with allowing a 2' high wall or planter bed involving 10 cubic vards as close as 5' from any lot line without a permit,but less than a 5' setback, higher than 2 feet or more than 10 cubic yards would require an administrative permit. Staffls reluctance to allow for less than a 5-foot setback without at least an administrative permit, even for low walls, is that while there may be a desire to to m�imize use of space on a narrow lot, it is the narrow lots where drainage becomes a concern. Retaining walls and planter boxes need to be located and designed so as not to impede drainage between and across adjoining properties. Maintenance, safety, and visual impacts are less of an issue for low walls close to lot lines. Ten cubic yards is one standard dump truck load, the equivalent of 270 cubic feet. This is one foot deep over an area 10' x 27'. This amount of fill should have minimal impact on even the smallest properties in the City. Staff would recommend that without a permit required,retaining walls and planter boxes up to 2 feet in height be allowed no closer than 5 feet from property lines in all yards (front-side-rear), subject to: 1) no more than 10 cubic yards of imported fill is allowed; 2) no impacts on drainage direction,rate or volume allowed. 3) must be at least 10 feet from edge of traveled roadway, even if that places it more than 5 feet inside the lot line)