HomeMy WebLinkAboutBecker 4-27-10 CorrespondenceMaintenance Center
17073 Adelmann Street S.E.
Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372
April 27, 2010
Tom and Shani Becker
2289 Stonecrest Path Nw
Prior Labe, MN SS372
RE; Z2$9 Stonecrest Path Nw
Drainage Issues
Dear Tom and Shani;
This letter is meant to detail the ongoing drainage issue you experience at 2289 Stonecrest Path and to
recommend potential solutions. Based on information you have provided this issue has existed since
construction of the house in 2003. As you are aware your property is the last property at the bottom of a
large backyard drainage area. 'While you experience overland backyard drainage during rain and snow
melt events, your concern centers around ongoing discharge of what appears to be groundwater from the
side of the hill located in the back portion of your property. While it is undetermined whether the source
is an old file line or surface discharge of groundwater, the flow seems fairly consistent year round,
You have expressed two primary concerns to me related to this issue;
1~ W~7o is ~°es~onsible to ~x~i~?
The City Staff analysis indicates that the grading of the site involved a substantial cut X36 feet} of
material along the back hill of your property which may have allowed for the discharge of
groundwater or opened an old file line, An analysis of historical photos indicates that in certain
years there are variations in the vegetation on your property prior to development which indicates
that there may have been a discharge or a historical condition. The attached 1957 and 1990
photos show vegetation variations indicating this potential, In other years there are no indications
of any variable conditions. The City of Prior Labe currently maintains a storm sewer inlet and
pipe adjacent to your back yard. Additionally drainage and utility easements have been platted
across the entire back portion of your lot allowing for over land drainage and access to the City
maintained storm sewer, The current ground water issue is not related to the existing storm sewer
or the intended overland drainage. For those reasons the City or public is not responsible to
repair, improve or mitigate the condition.
You have indicated that the primary concern is not that drainage flows across the yard but rather
that is never stops flowing, The building permit grading plan shows proposed drainage grades
ranging from 1.4% to 4%. The City of Prior Labe does not require post home construction as-
built surveys so we can not verify at this paint whether these grades were constructed
accordingly, Based on the current surface water flow, it does appear there is positive drainage
however portions of the bacl~yard do appear to have minimal grade. ~t is the builder's
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www.cityofpr~arlake.cam
Phone 952.440.9675 /Fax 952.440.9675
responsibility to ensure that the constructed drainage meets the requirements of the building
permit,
Based on the above discussion the public City} does not have a responsibility to make
improvements related to this issue, It is my understanding that Centex Homes served as both the
developer and home builder, The drainage condition appears to have been created by their
actions as developer, The impacts and flows created with this issue do however appear to flow
within the platted drainage easement, In addition to overland flow and drainage facilities,
easements are commonly platted around wetlands and historically wet areas. The platting of these
easements may indicate that an issue was detected during grading prior to platting. The City is
not aware of any construction records indicating this is the case.
2~ What shoicld be done to f~niti ate the issue?
City Staff has reviewed the drainage and believes construction of a curtain drain system may
reduce the impacts of the issue. This would involve cutting a trench in the location of the flow
connecting to the discharge area. installation of a draintile, fabric and drainage rock could
improve the condition. Currently there is a file connected at the catch basin along the western
property line. A connection could be made to this file to allow the drainage to flaw into the catch
basin. Please contact us if you desire to pursue this issue further for technical assistance and to
determine whether a permit is required.
I understand this has been an ongoing and stressful issue for you over the last 7 years, while the City
cannot expend public funds on the repair, our staff can assist with certain technical support, Please contact
me at 952447-9890 if you have additional questions.
Sincerely,
~~~
s
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~~.
Steve Albrecht
Director of Public works
CITY ~F PRIOR LAKE, MN
Cc. Larry Poppler, Assistant City Engineer
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