Minutes - Planning Commission - 11/05/2001

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Chairperson Nixt closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 8:15 p.m. in order to call the public hearing to order. Public Hearing Chairperson Nixt called the public hearing to order at 8:15 p.m. Presentation City Engineer Jankowski stated that in the fall of 2000, two residents, Lance and Jody Van Norman, 8991 160th Lane NW and Gary and Louise Jacobs, 8981 160t~ Lane NW undertook a joint project to excavate and deepen the existing pond on their properties. The spoils from the excavation have been cast on the northerly side of the ponds to form a landscaping berm. City Code requires that a mining and grading permit be obtained for such excavations. The property owners were informed of this requirement and had been asked to submit information on the landscape berm created by the fill. A public hearing was held on July 12, 2001. Comments received by the Planning Commission at this hearing resulted in a request to the North Fork Homeowners Association to provide recommendations on this issue. The City received a letter dated October 11, 2001. The purpose of this case is to review the submitted information and provide comment and/or direct corrective action to. the excavation that has taken place. Approximately 7000 square feet of the fill has been placed over the northerly boundary of the two properties performing the filling onto an outlot owned by Northfork Homeowners Association. It also appears from the survey contours that a minor amount of filling has occurred on the lot west of the Jacobson parcel. The slopes of the fill placed range between 30% to 35%. The maximum slope allowed under the ordinance is 12%. There is currently no topsoil and little vegetation on the fill material. A minimum of six inches of topsoil need to be placed over the fill material, seeded, mulched and disc anchored to prevent erosion during the turf establishment period. There appears to be no significant impact of the fill on the drainage of the surrounding areas. Patty McGerr, 8990 162nd Lane N.W., explained her property is north and west of the berm. She stated she is not happy with changes in the landscape. She said she has come to realize it is not worth extending this issue out any further to ask that the berm be removed. She stated her concern is that the berm may not be maintained and looking nice. She would like to focus on an agreement with Mr. Jankowski to assure the berm is maintained as requested. If the City determines the slope should be decreased, that would be a bonus to the residents. The North Fork Homeowners Association gave their approval in hopes that the City did not weigh in on that. She said the residents did express their disapproval, but were in the minority. Chairperson Nixt inquired if the berm extends onto Ms. McGerr's property. Ms. McGerr stated it does not. Commissioner Brauer questioned what her specific concern is. Planning Commission/November 5, 2001 Page 10 of 20