4486 Oak Chase Rd - Retaining Wall Memo46k,
MEMO
city of eagan
TO: JON HOHENS'I`EI1V, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DII2ECTOR
FROM: RUSS MATTHYS, CTTY ENGIlVEER
DATE: JULY 19, 2004
SUBJECT: 4504 OAK CHASE ROAD - RETAINING WALL CONCERNS
I am writing in response to a telephone request from Ms. Bea Blomquist on July 12, 2004, regazding her
concems about a retaining wall built adjacent to her north property line at 4504 Oak Chase Road. The
purpose of her call was to complain that a neighbor's retaining wall is encroaching on her properiy. City
staff responded that it was primazily a private lot line dispute, but that there may be some pernut or
drainage issues that should be reviewed. Tlus memo addresses the potenrial drainage concem.
I am very familiar with Ms. $lomquisYs property at 4504 Oak Chase Road and the associated drainage
characteristics. I have responded to and written memorandums on various previous occasions when Ms.
Blomquist has expressed concerns regazding the drainage pattems of her property and those of her adjacent
neighbors' properiies.
I visited the property at 4486 Oak Chase RoaB, the property directly north of Ms. BlomquisYs properly, on
the afremoon of Monday, July 19. During the site visit, I met Art Pem, owner of the property and the party
responsible for the conslruction of the wall in quesrion. Mr. Perri shazed with me that he had been made
awaze of Ms. Blomquist's concerns about the location of the wall, although not by her, and he had left a
message with her requesting that they discuss her concems. Ms. Blomquist regortedly did not respond to
his request, so he obtained informarion from city staff at the municipal center to vedfy the wall locafion.
Based upon the informa6on he found at city hall, he relocated the wall, actually removing about 4" of
previously existing bihuninous driveway to ensure that the wall was clearly located on his property. W.
Perri also removed some additional retaining wall that had been established for some time to avoid any
additional concems from Ms. Blomquist.
I ohserved the locarion of the wall adjacent to the cut edge of a bituminous driveway about 10.5' from the
south side of Mr. Pecri's gazage. Whereas the bitununous driveway would have previously directed
drainage in the direction of Ms. BlomquisYs property, the newly placed wall will act to retain the runoff on
Mr. Perri's property and redirect it into lus back yard. Mr. Perri explained how he completed additional
work to keep the drainage on lus property and even redirected the drainage pattems away from Ms.
BlomquisYs property, which was evident from my observations. The natural drainage pattems appear to
have directed runoff towards Ms. Slomquist's property, as I haue e7cplained in previous memorandums.
My understanding of Ms. BlomquisYs initial concem included the perception of addirional drainage
contribution on to her properiy. I did not observe any evidence of additional drainage that would come on
to her property due to the work associated with the newly placed wall neaz the south side of the guage at
4486 Oak Chase Road.
I don't lmow that I can respond to any greater degree to Ms. BlomquisYs request. I would be happy to
provide further details of my understanding of the drainage conditions at her residence. Please contact me
with any quesrions.
??,
City Engineer
c: Tom Hedges, City Adminishator
Tom Colbert, Public Works Director
GRM/01/MemolBbmquisl Adnin Will-NoAeiv16n