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Variance Board Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Page 6 there was apparently a French Drain used in the past that no longer worked, 254 especially during large rainfall events. Ms. Stefanski advised that they had looked 255 at every option, including excavation and creating a true walkout basement, but 256 advised that there was a tree in the way that prevented that option; and therefore 257 this was the best remaining option to allow them to finish their basement and 258 alleviate their water damage in the home. 259 Ms. Stefanski advised that they tried to be respectful of their land and the 260 shoreline, including not mowing close to the lake, and installing rock buffer to 261 stabilize the shoreline. With these additional improvements, Ms. Stefanski opined 262 the runoff would be further improved, and would include some street plantings to 263 further absorb water from that source. 264 Given that her husband’s truck currently sits outside on the street, Ms. Stefanski 265 advised that they were proposing the 15’ x 20’ turnaround to accommodate that 266 off-street parking, and while calculations were tricky, they intended to be sensitive 267 to the purpose of impervious coverage limitations and redesign of their driveway 268 accordingly. Ms. Stefanski noted that, prior to their purchase of it, this home had 269 gone into foreclosure, and had been forgotten, now needing a lot of work that they 270 were more than willing to do, but were seeking to address some of the issues 271 (e.g. overgrown patio and areas no longer used, and removal of an existing 272 crumbling retaining wall). 273 Ms. Stefanski expressed some concern with the potential length of the residential 274 stormwater permit process, opining that with the proposed rock garden by the 275 street it should prove sufficient to provide the needed drainage for that area. 276 Mr. Lloyd clarified that zoning code in shoreland districts and stormwater 277 management needed to be addressed. However, Mr. Lloyd advised that city 278 engineering staff were consulted about eh slope to the street versus the lake, 279 resulting in language in the staff report “if properly addressed.” While not being 280 aware previously of the improvements made along the street, Mr. Lloyd advised 281 they would be taken into consideration, and would depend on the slope to the 282 street as to whether or not they qualified as part of the storm water management 283 needed. 284 At the request of Chair Murphy, Mr. Lloyd further clarified that this residential 285 stormwater permit was a city process, not unlike a building permit for timing, and 286 once plans were submitted and reviewed as to whether they met applicable 287 requirements, he didn’t see that this permit process should add a tremendous 288 amount of time. 289 Discussion ensued regarding the average depth of Willow Pond (4’-5’); desire of 290 the applicant to protect he water body, even if not as significant as Lake Owasso 291 or larger bodies of water; and Member Daire’s history of Willow Pond’s 292 development in 1949 as a slough and flood control structure to address lake 293 levels and variably controlled as a flood control measure versus a pond, even 294 though it afforded some amenities. 295 In his review of the application, in addition to the evidence provided by Ms. 296 Stefanski of the interior and exterior building, Member Daire expressed 297 appreciation of the insight they provided. Since this current situation definitely 298 affected their quality of life, Member Daire stated the proposed solution was not 299 only acceptable and good, but he was personally in favor of it. 300 Public Hearing 301 Marilyn Rose Sauft, 2500 Fernwood Street 302 Ms. Sauft spoke in support of the variance, opining she was happy to see young 303 families in the area and a variety of ages in her neighborhood. 304