03-13-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 8, 2002 File: 803950J Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Little Canada 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, MN 55117 -1633 RE: SAVAGE LANE / ROSE LANE VARIANCE SAM ROBERTO PROPERTY Dear Mayor and Council Members: As requested, we have reviewed the soil boring report, City Council meeting minutes, setback exhibits, and other information received on the Sam Roberto Property. Based upon our review we would offer the following comments. Two borings were taken on the site approximately 40 -feet apart for the purpose of soil evaluation, however based on the supplied boring location exhibit, neither were taken within the allowable building area based on the current setback requirements without any variances or vacations. Both borings indicated a 6 -foot layer of fill material over approximately a 4 -foot layer of peat. While boring #1 indicates material capable of caring load directly under the peat layer, boring #2 shows an additional 8 -feet of poor material which may need to be removed. The differences in boring #1 and #2 illustrate the variability of the soil conditions on the lot within a very short distance and the uncertainty in any assumption of the soil conditions that exist within the allowed buildable area. The lot elevations and soil boring exhibit does not show any existing features (i.e. the curb, trees, wetland, other homes) making it difficult to field verify the changes in existing ground elevations over the lot as shown on the exhibit, or the actual location of the wetland on the site. With the information supplied, it is not possible to accurately determine the cost for constructing a house foundation within the current buildable area of the lot. From review of the boring logs, there will most likely be additional costs for constructing a house foundation near boring #2 verses the more suitable soils at boring #1. These additional costs would vary depending on house style (i.e. basement or no basement), foundation size, and method of construction (i.e. excavation and backfill or pilings). If the excavation and backfill method were used additional costs for constructing a foundation at boring #2 could range from $70,000 if a basement was used to $110,000 if the home were a slab on grade, this includes costs for dewatering. If pilings were instead of excavation, the additional costs could be in the range of $20,000 to $30,000. C: \WINDOWS \TEMP \Ltr 03 -08 -02 LC- CC.doc