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HomeMy WebLinkAboutdrainage issues � o;�,.� , 0 0��� ,; J '� CITY of ORONO � / l� ♦ . ... � I i � ' �ti " Municipal Offices �.� ����� f ` ��`�'.��%� Street Address: Mailing Address: `qlfE$xp'g' � 2750 Kelley Parkway P.O. Box 66 ___� Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323-0066 October 13, 1998 Damian Topousis 395 Ferndale Road North Wayzata MN 5�391 Re: Lot Drainage The approval for the construction of the new home at 375 Ferndale Road required that yard drainage be directed to the southwest. The building staff has inspected the large swale draining your back yard. We believe this swale meets the above requirement. The drain tile directed straight south was cut off and plugged ten feet back from the south property line and should remain so. If you have questions please call me at 473-7357. Sin rely, , Bruce Vang Field Inspector BV/jlg cc: Ron Moorse, City Administrator Greg Gappa, Director of Public Service Donald Chase, 365 Ferndale Road North, Wayzata MN 55391 Telephone (612) 473-7357 • FAX 473-0510 � . ; � O� �O O � -�;-- !=- �1 CITY of ORONU -� '� ,� ,'°,`:`�r��...� �; \,�,� E'•�, �t Y,X,� �l5� Municipal Offices � �� � 7y;i�`k�,�G Street Address: Mailing Address: �t'EgHOg' 2150 Kelley Parkway P.O. Box 66 Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323•0066 December 4, 1998 Mr. Donald Chase 365 Ferndale Road North Wayzata MN 55391 Dear Mr. Chase; This letter is in response to your recent phone calis and letter regarding drainage concerns with the new house constructed next to your lot. We have discussed this situation �vith the Building Inspector, Bruce Vang, and I have completed a site inspection with Bruce to view the drainage issues. My understanding of the history of this project from Bruce is as follows. The approved site plan for this house showed surface drainage going to the southwest. The builder first constructed a temporary drainaae ditch heading to the south. Because of concern for maintaining septic sites, located west of the house, they could not determine exactly w�here the final ditch to the southwest should be located. They later installed a perforated drainpipe in the ditch to the south. The builder's plan was to use this pipe to drain the depressed area for the walkout basement entrance and then grade the site to drain the remainder of the property to the southwest. The builder was informed by Bruce that draining the walkout depression through this pipe was not acceptable. The builder then graded a lazge ditch deep enough to drain the walkout area and remainder of the lot to the southwest. This is a substantial ditch with a five wide bottom and approximately five feet deep. This ditch is more than adequate to handle the drainage from the property. This ditch draining the surface water to the southwest is in conformance with the approved site plan. The amount of surface drainage going to the south should be reduced with the installation of the drainage ditch. It appears that before construction of the house large part of the lot drained overland across your drive�vay and into the wetland area to the south. The lot has now been graded to direct much of this water into the drainage ditch to the southwest. Telephone (612) 47�7357 • FAX 473-0510 s . The perforated drainpipe was cut off ten feet from the property line and plugged. This pipe still serves as an outlet to the house foundation drainage system. The amount of water that can drain through this pipe and percolate into the ground is limited. Therefore,additional foundation drainage can be provided by a sump pump that will pump water into the drainage ditch to the southwest. Since the ground surface elevation above the drainpipe is higher than the basement floor elevation the �vater will back up into the sump before surfacing to the ground. The owner of the new house said that since moving into the house,there has never been any water in the sump. Some sandy soils were encountered on the property, so the amount of foundation drainage is limited. Mr. Vang's comments about the original pipe installation being inappropriate were regarding using this pipe to drain yard surface drainage to the south. This problem has been conected by the drainage ditch to the southwest. Use of this perforated pipe as only an outlet for the foundation drains is appropriate and reasonable and an allowable use within the intent of the City's codes. There is nothing in the codes to prohibit this foundation drainpipe. The water from the foundation drains is existing groundwater and use of perforated drainpipe to discharge this into the ground is reasonable. . I am not clear on exactly what the conversations between yourself and Bruce were. Bruce has told me he indicated that the pipe could not drain surface water and that this problem would have to be conected. This problem has been corrected now and the pipe does not drain surface water. He also indicated that the pipe would have to be plugged and removed from within 10 feet of the property line. This has also been accomplished. Regarding the comments that Bruce made about sending a letter saying that Bruce Bren Construction and the City of Orono would have to correct any future water damages caused by this pipe. Bruce does not have the authority to make these statements or send letters providing these assurances. We have discussed this situation with Bruce and he understands that it would be inappropriate to make such commitments. The City's regulatory function is to take adequate and reasonable steps to facilitate projects to minimize adverse impacts to the environment or adjoining properties. We cannot offer 100% guarantees that everything will be perfect without exposing the City to future liabilities. We believe that the diversion of the surface drainage to the southwest,using the perforated drainpipe only for foundation drainage, and plugging the end of this pipe 10 feet from the property line aze adequate and reasonable steps to handle the drainage in an appropriate manner and protect the interests of all parties involved. We offer our apologies that this issue was not dealt with in promptly. As Bruce's immediate supervisor, I have to admit that I was not totally familiar with the situation and exactly how this issue was being handled. We have discussed this situation with Mr. Vang regarding the importance of promptly responding to citizens and not making promises or commitments that he cannot fulfill. We hope this letter clarifies the history of the project and the City's position on the corrective actions taken to ensure that the drainage from the new house is handled appropriately. . . If you have continuing concerns,we are available to meet with you to review how the drainage will be handled on the site. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding this issue. Sincerely; � � V� � �f , � �� Gregory A. Gappa Director of Public Services Copy: Ron Moorse, City Administrator Bruce Vang, Building Inspector Mayor Jabbour and Orono City Council Members s .' ` /�! 1�� �t/✓ 11/14/98 Niayor Gavriel Jabbour k City of Grono -- - �-� 2750 Kelly Farkway Orono , T�iinn. 55 356 ��- 1 ..>;��. 1 7 1��?� llear �iayor Jabbour, _ ,�-, ,�. ; .,. ... .�.�� N�y problem started on Feb.9 , 19a8 and as of this writing is . still unresolved . I reside at �65 No . Ferndale Rd . .t� New house was built at 4z5 r�o . Ferndale Rd . - adjoining lots - by Bruce Bren Construction Co . I phoned Bruce Bang, building inspector fnr �rono � and told him that $ren had excavated a trench running south to my property line . I told T�:r. Bang that I did not want water drainage directed at my property because of previous erosion to my driveway from run off and a 4" drainage pipe would aggra.vate +�1G rT'!'�?�?_T.. T'ti. �3:i� u�i C:;.�.� �11�11 iTiC c2'lii �tS I recall SalQ tY13t he told Peter Bren that they could not drain to the south in my direction. He said he would call then again to rer�ind them. I mailed a letter to Mr. Bang with a copy to Bren stating my opposition to this drainage . On June 11 � 1998 Nir. Bang told me he would not give final inspection to Bren until this drain pipe was removea . Gn �iuly 6 the pipe had not been removed and iYir. Bang said he would call Fsren and tell �iim to reMove the pipe . He gave finGl inspection so ovrners could move in but the pipe was not removea. This was contrar-y to w}iat T,ir. Ban� haci Dromiseri . t,�r. Ban� saic:i re would rvrite a letter statin� that I��ir. Brer� ha�. not Gbided by the city' s instructions and I would �et a copy . On hugust 12, 1998 I asked for a copy of the letter and was told it would be mailed shortly. On �eptember 3, 1998 Tr;r. Bang said I would get a copy in one week. Gn �eptember 25 , 1998 I told kon niorris of the above situation and he said he would find out about the letter and advise me . On October 5 , 1998 Ivir. I�iorris said he was told �the arain pipe was resolved by running the pipe to the southwest . I told him this was not true and the ori�inal south running �ipe still remained . iie would recheck and get back to me . On October 30 , 1998 I called 1�':r. l�:orris for informGtion. . He was out of town. I called l�ovember 2, 1998 and Y�e was in a meetin�. I called November 3, 19�8 and again he �vas in a meetin�. On I�ovember 4, 1998 T�'.r. P�:orris called and said he would ad�ise me . Un I�ovember 5 , 1998 I t�lked to iv:r. rlint oi the city council and advised 'nim of my problem. He would get back to me . It is November 14 and I have not heard from anyone . . _ I would not be writing this letter if persons involved had done their job. Secondly, this would have been resolved if the people had not procrastinated. Being a resident of Orono for over 30 years � I am surprised that this type of performance exists in Orono . I would like to have a letter within 10 days stating that any water problems caused by this drain pipe will be corrected and paid for the Bruce Bren Coonstruction or the City of Orono . Please renew my faith in Orono government . � Regards /g�7i? Donald B. Chase 365 No . Ferndale Wayzata, lv�inn. 55391 r:ncl . letter 8/10/ 98 to bruce Band CC Bruce Eand CC Ron A�iorris CC Dick Flint CC Larken, Hoffman, Daly and Lindgren u►ct� �'���r� �- ��3-- SSB�� � � . �, . � �� _ 7��� Marc2i 10,1998 �,y� � � ��•�r-�✓ City of Orono , �{j/J �1 U �J�l S � c�Ty /�'Qi`'1 � Box��:66 Crys tal Bay, T�in. .55323 Ref. Phone Calls 2/9/98 3/9/98 Htt : t�ir. Bruc�= Ban� �ui�.din� Inspection Dept. L�cizi iir'. DGI1V� This letter will confirm my recent phone discussion with you concerninb water run off from nerv construction adjacent to my property. I do not want the proposen drain tile system rieGded my direction . The water run off prior to development frequently caused erosion to my road . In addition the loss of natural �;round absorption aue to construction could make m�tter� �:orse . The contractor stated that the pitch of driveways etc . v�ould not be in my direc�:�on . I assum�, you have discussed t'r.is and will direct their water run off ir. a airection and manner that will not affect my property. Re�ards , �� �� G�«�� �^/l�-, ll. B . .Chase cc Bruce Bren Co . o/o Peter Bren 10i: �o . Broadway 'v�ayzata, f�in. 55391 �� �'i�✓,�- � i Z� .�t " ���� , 7'�� G��`'f� S�rg"l�7 7/�C�� C.�-�.w�. �7 /`' T 7/��'�� /'Jo��-� T v�i �. �+���' E S 2�0 �ti'�� �_ G_ �� �,e� �° �.PJ �� d- ��� I�� �-�4 `� � 'f y,t��'`'�l� c� _ I Z_g� ,C!�T I'-t o�S S F�P C��7/ a � �. �b�f�. �_3-��'/�-1�� ���' �i�2 l r,�/�.