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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> MONDAY,MARCH 19,2018 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> The Planning Commission should discuss whether the applicant has met the standards for a practical <br /> difficulty to warrant a variance and whether the applicant has made an attempt to meet the City standards <br /> for stair access to the lake. <br /> Staff is recommending approval of the project,with screening of all the retaining walls be required to <br /> preserve the natural look of the shoreline when viewed from the lake. <br /> Schoenzeit asked whether there are any elevation drawings. <br /> Oakden stated there are no cross-sections of the plans but that essentially the applicant is looking to install <br /> stairs that would be embedded into the slope. The retaining walls are being requested to hold back earth. <br /> Schoenzeit asked if the retaining walls exceed four feet. <br /> Oakden stated the elevations vary but none of the rocks will exceed four feet. <br /> Dale Gustafson,applicant,stated he is the landscape designer for this project and that this lot is a typical <br /> kind of problematic lakeshore lot with a steep bank. Currently the slope is just a collection of weeds and <br /> invasive trees and that there is the typical problem with trying to maintain that. In addition,the existing <br /> stairway is beginning to deteriorate and needs to be replaced in some shape, manner or form. The walls <br /> that were originally installed were substandard and the stairs going down to the boathouse are sinking and <br /> are not very safe or useful. <br /> Gustafson stated it is the property owner's plan to resurface and redo the boathouse and then install the <br /> stones more into the ground. Gustafson indicated they are anticipating using granite slabs. The retaining <br /> walls are simply to retain the soil on either side of the stairs. Gustafson noted as someone comes up the <br /> stairs,the wall might be nonexistent on one side and on the other side it could be two feet high. <br /> Gustafson stated the idea is to plant vegetation around the retaining walls and stairs so they are not very <br /> visible. <br /> Oakden displayed a picture of a sample stone stairway. <br /> Gustafson indicated it would consist more of stone outcroppings to control the slope. <br /> Thiesse asked if it will be similar to what is depicted. <br /> Page 11 of 23 <br />