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Planning Commission Minutes -3- Mr. Jeff Schmidt, 1876 West County Road C-2, said he didn't see what the problem was. Mr. McCarty has had a retaining wall for 30 years, and why can't he just continue to maintain it? r1r. Jim Nammen, Chairman of the Fairview Heights Civic Association, indicated that on behalf of the executive committee of the Fairview Hei~lts Association, he strongly encouraged the Commission to uphold the provisions of shoreline zoning. He asked the Commission to consider what permitting this variance might allow other property owners to do on Langton and other lakes. He also asked the Commission to consider the affect of this retaining wall on the natural ecology of the lake. Mr. Jim McKenzie indicated he lives across the street from Mr. McCarty. He said he has been unable to find any of the immediate neighbors who oppose what Ed wants to do. Mr. McKenzie indicated Mr. ~1cCarty has beautified his property in the 30 years he has lived there, and that all the neighbors have agreed to help him complete the construction of the wall. The resident at 2900 Arthur Place expressed satisfaction with what f1r. McCarty is doing. He felt the shore line wi 11 be improved. Hr. Fred Ralech, 2906 Arthur Place, also agreed with the improvement Mr. McCarty is constructing. Mr. Phil Oman, 2890 Arthur Place, commented he didn't feel there should be much concern about what other people were going to do on the lake because there were very few other private property owners. Mr. Matson indicated originally he did not favor the application, but he was convinced by the fact the wall has been in place before, that Mr. McCarty should be permitted to maintain it. t1r. Mastel indicated he agreed with ~1r. Matson, and commented that ultimately the Department of Natural Resources will decide on whether the construction should occur. Mr. Johnson stated he appreciated Mr. McCarty's problem, but he didn't like the design. He suggested there must be some method to make it look less man-made. He also acknowledged that Hr. McCarty will maintain the wall, but when he moves, will the new owner maintain it as well? Mr. Rukavina agreed with Mr. Johnson on the long-range maintenance of the wall. He also stated it was unfortunate that Hr. HcCarty had started work on the wall because it made it more difficult to discuss other possible methods of resolving his problem. Mr. Rukavina commented he was sympathetic to the problem, but didn't agree with the solution proposed by Mr. McCarty. He was also concerned about the precedent of approving the variance. Mr. Matson suggested this was a unique situation, and would not necessarily be precedent-setting. Mr. j\.Joeller asked if Mr. McCarty could fill along the shoreline without getting a variance. Hr. Dahlgren responded he could. Hr. Moeller asked if he could place riprap along the shore, and Mr. Dahlgren indicated this would require a variance and Council approval.