08-21-2017 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,August 21,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. for the walls. Staff is suggesting approval of the project with screening of all of the retaining walls being required to preserve the natural look of the shoreline when viewed from the lake. The Planning Commission should discuss the issues outlined in Staff's report. The Planning Staff recommends approval of the variance with the following conditions: 1. Submittal of engineered plans with the building permit application; 2. Approval applicable permits from the MCWD; 3. Vegetative screening plan to provide a natural looking slope when viewed from the lake; and 4. Removal of the wall directly above the rip-rap or, if the wall is necessary to the stability of the slope,the applicant should provide justification and a revised plan which allows for vegetative screening of the bottom wall without justification. Staff recommends denial of this wall. Oakden played a short animated video of what is being proposed by the applicant. The Planning Commission had no questions for Staff. Dale Gustafson, Developer, stated he completed the design of the project and that he is fine with the recommendations of Staff. Thiesse asked if there is justification for the sea wall. Gustafson indicated it is commonly called a curve wall,with the curve of the wall being within the range of where the MCWD says the rip-rap should be. Gustafson stated whenever there is a steep bank,the rip- rap is placed at a low angle so it does not get pushed up the hill. Putting boulders on the edge of that will get you to the edge of the bank. Gustafson stated the reason for the wall on the right-hand side that appears in one photograph to be back a few feet is in the area where it is all dirt. The other photograph shows annual weeds, which does not hold the soil. Gustafson indicated that area is already eroded and giving away. Gustafson stated if it is not fixed now,they will probably have to come back and fix it later. Landgraver asked how it will terminate at the property line. Gustafson indicated it will tie back into the bank at the property line by the rocks. Landgraver asked if it will route water over to the neighboring property. Gustafson stated it will not. Gustafson stated they are attempting to keep more of the runoff from this site on the property and that the runoff will come down the bank and not go onto the neighboring property. Schoenzeit asked why the normal detail that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District uses on Lake Minnetonka does not work for the applicant. Gustafson stated the guidelines are set up for a 3:1 slope and this bank is steeper than that. As a result, the rip-rap should come up and meet the grade to avoid making the slope steeper. Page 2 of 25