HomeMy WebLinkAboutRe: ltr from homeowner-1994 January 21, 1994, Sapa and Eriksmoen, 1015 Linden Lane, Orono, MN 55364
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Mr. Lyle Oman ���:-?_ _-__ _
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Building Official
City of Orono
PO Box 66
Crystal Bay, MN J A N 2 5 19g4
55323-0066
Dear Mr. Oman,
We received your letter dated January 3, 1994. As always, we have been and are
willing to comply with the rules designated by the City of Orono with regard to
hardcover. This is why upon your request we rernoved over half of our driveway,
walkways which surround our home, plastic that was under the landscape rock, and
our deck which you checked and found satisfactory. We do not, however, feel there
is any misunderstanding with regard to our current situation.
We bought and moved into our home in the fall of 1991. We did not build the
circular driveway, put plastic anywhere, nor construct the walkways around our
home, nor did we build the deck but our home purchase was made in part because
we liked these things. We do not understand why the City of Orono chose to wait
for 2 years after we moved in and years and years after these violations occurred to
enforce the rules.
Furthermore, we do not understand why the rules are different for different people.
Mr. Oman, the survey that cost nearly $1000 that you required of us (not the
previous owner) shows our neighbors house at least 5 feet over the 75 foot line.
You however say that his survey shows it is not. So why does he get to cornply with
a different standard? --You'll have to understand that our frustration with this is
because our neighbor at 1027 Linden Lane and his Realtor think the whole situation
is very funny and they have not hesitated to share this with other neighbors. You
ask our neighbor to comply with something, and then he apparently distracts your
attention by making noise about us.
We did all of the work you requested including removing our deck. We (Mary
Sapa) specifically asked you Mr. Oman, once on the phone and once in person in
your office if we could build a retaining wall to hold back the dirt that was under the
deck in an effort to save our foundation. We (Mary Sapa) explained that we would
like to use those landscape rocks that have become popular lately. You said this was
okay.
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We constructed the retaining wall. We did not bring in any materials other than
the cement rocks as your letter implies. The whole thing measures about 5'x5' and
is only about 2 1/2' tall --just enough to hold back the dirt and the f oundation.
If this now requires us to apply for a variance, we will do so. Please send the forms.
However, we would like to go on record as saying we think we are being picked on.
Sincerely,
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C—
apa 'Thora Eriksmoen
c.c. Jeanne A/ Mabusth, Building & Zoning Administrator
Bruce L. Vang, Field Inspector
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