HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-06 Building Inspector Memo to Mayor & Council Re Pooley CITY OF
OAK PARK HEIGHTS
Fr.�f
A MINNESOTA STAR CITY
To: Mayor O'Neal and Council Members
From: Jim Butler, Building Inspector
Subj: Mr. Pooley's retaining wall
Date: August 6, 1993
A grading plan for this development is an important part towards having
an effective drainage system and should be followed.
Below is a list of my concerns on this issue.
1) This wall lies directly on the property line and has completely
changed the grade of the easement. At this time please note that
I do not object to a retaining wall, but I do object to its
location and feel that such a wall should be placed outside
City drainage easements.
2) As we know this wall stops the water from flowing to Mr. Pooley's
property. In doing so it is forced to back up onto Mr. Sullivan's
property. This definitely may result in a soil errosion problem
for Mr. Sullivan.
3) We are all aware of drainage problems which have occurred in the
past year. To control these problems I can only rely on the
grading plans supplied to me by the City Engineers. I will
accept alternative plans, but only with the approval of the
engineers and confidence within myself that such designs may work
without affecting adjoining property owners.
4) As noted in the letter from Dave Hanson this is a issue which is
a constant problem. This is a matter in which I need your full
support.
5) Back to the above retaining wall let me ask you this. If Mr.
Pooley were allowed to keep his wall within the City drainage
easement, wouldn't it also be possible for Mr. Sullivan to branch
off this wall to the other corner of the drain pipe and fill his
back yard. This would create a much bigger problem than what we
have to deal with at this time.
In conclusion I definitely feel that there is a problem with changing the
flow and diverting the water back onto the property of-Mr. Sullivan and
14168 North 57th Street • Box 2007 0 Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 55082 -2007
Phone: 612-439-4439 • Fax: 612-439-0574
that the above wall should be removed and the grade brought back to the
planned design.
The grading development calls for a ten foot drainage easement, with
five feet of property given by each owner. Should there be any pooling
of water in this easement the burden is shared by both property owners.
With this 18 inch high wall Mr. Pooley no longer shares this burden, but
has given Mr. Sullivan his share of any problems. In doing so you may
say that Mr. Sullivan has given up an additional five feet of his property.