WORK SESSION AND ROAD BOARD MEETING

12001 Business Boulevard Eagle River Town Center M.O.A. Conference Room -#170

AGENDA May 23,2011

Work Session: 6:30 P.M.

1. 2.

Foreman's Reports (Financial, Capital, Maintenance/Operations) General Discussion and Calendaring: ,/ lssues Requiring lmmediate Action ,/ lssues to be placed under "Future Agenda ltems"

Road Board Meeting: lmmediately Following work session or 7:00 p.M.

A. ROLL CALL B. MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETTNGS:

C.
D.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: (Non-Agenda ltems)

Aprit 25,2011

7. 8. 9.

OLD BUSINESS: 1. Onqoinq Project Updates: Breckenridge Dr./Eagle Glenn Subdivision Drainage, MOA/SOA Amenities Maintenance Agreements, Old Eagle River Road/Hidden Hills Subdivision Diainage Eklutna Bridge 3. Yosemite Drive Drainage Study Chugiak Disposal Site Plan Eagle River Lane Emergency Access 6. Asphalt Overlay Program Storm Drain Project Chugiak & Hiland Storage Facitity 2011 C.l.P. Program 10. Rebecca Hill Circle Drainage 1 1. 3'd Ave/Cresfuiew Lane Driinage 12.Traffic Calming (Driftwood Bay Drive/Meadow Creek Drive)

2.

4. 5.

E. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Work Session

2. Efficiency Metrics 3. Tablelands

- lmmediate Actions (lf Any)

F.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

G. ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION PHONE: 343-1510 FAXr 694.1540
lndividuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids, services, or specia! modifications to pafticipate should contact the Eagle River Street Maintenance Dept' by telephone at 343-1510;fax at 694-1540; or email beauieanal@muni.orq to request reasonable accommodations.

MUIIIcIPALIw oF ATCnoRAGE
Community Development Department Development Services Division

-@'Mayor Dan Eullivan

',4

Phone: 907-343-8301 Fax: 907-343-8200

May 6,201I

RE: THE TABLELANDS SUBDMSION

RESPONSE TO ONGOING NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS FACTUAL INFORMATION FR.OM TITE X'ILE

RECENT DISTT'RBANCE TO TEE SAMBAR RIGET.OF'-WAY STIMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES F'OR THE TABLEI,ANI}S

06/10/2003: SuMivision Agneement struck between Arctic Devco Inc. and the Municipality of Anchorage 0710212003: NIP for full improvements, subdivision and water system extension
03122120042 Plat 2004{25 filed, The Tablelands Subdivision 08/24/2004: Pre.final inspection noted 1) Streetlights need to be installed; 2) Guardrail on Oberg Road needs to be installed;3) The ditch needs to flow between Northwoods Drive and Shadowy Spruce; and 4) All ditches within this subdivision and Glenn View North need to be graded to flow properly. This is imperative for placing these subdivisions on warranty. 10125/2004: Project passd final inspection 12/08/2004: Final trnspection passing (aka l0-point letter) correspondence sent to Developer A4/2712005: Letter gent to developer rescinding warranty due to 1) during the winter, several locations experienced glaciation; 2) electrical conduit trenches were settling; shoulders are soft due to water standing in the ditches, causing the asphalt to fail along the edges; and ditch slopes were sloughing offinto the ditches. Ditches not draining properly. Engineer directed to submit a proposal on how to remedy...... Topsoiling and seeding that had been postponed until end of warranfy period
rescinded.

A7/0512005: Declaration of Default sent to Developer. A8/0412005: Developer responded to Declaration of Default - rebuttal either correcting the problem or claim
third party damage by homebuilders

08/31/2005: Project placed on warranty

Ongoing complaints of water rtanding in the drainage ditches, primarily on Sambar Loop and

Fallow Circle Conclusions:

2. 3. 4.

1.

The Municipality has accepted The Tablelands for operations and maintenance. The Municipality should be performing routine maintenance on improvements. The Municipality has not released the project from waranty* or granted 'Notice of Completion". *A warranty period (typically aZ-year term) is established to monitor the improvements obligated and constructed under the subdivision agreement for any design and construction defects. Landscaping in the right-of-way is an obligation of the developer. Landscaping, in this context, is viewed as stabilizing disturbed grounds within the right-of-way that are not stabilized by the paved road section, gravel shoulders, or ditch (gravel or armored by rock) areas. In a suburban area, such as The Tablelands, the landscaping is typically the stabilization of back slopes (behind the ditches) with topsoiling and seeding, or other means to prevent erosion.

Page 2 of 6 Project ldentifier May 6, 201 1

5.

6.

7. 8. 9.

There have been continual complaints from area residents regarding drainage, particularly on Sambar Loop and Fallow Circle, i.e. water standing in the ditches, drainage impacts to driveways (frost heaving at culvert crossings), visual impact, etc.. Subsequent driveway construction and enhanced landscaping in the right-of-way by homebuilders and homeowners (properly owners) ar not included in the obligation of the subdivision agreement. Any disturbance to the right-of-way by the homebuilder, the homeowner, or their contractors to cause the area to become unstable is to be repaired and re-stabilized by the party creating the disturbance. Work involving any disturbance (direct or indirect) to the ditch and flow line resulting from a property owner's activity is to include restoration of the ditch to original grades. A right-of-way permit is required to work in the right-of-way. Permit fees are charged for such permits. To receive a permit, one should expect to provide plans for the proposed improvements.

The most recent calls appear to center around the events identified below.
On Tuesday, April 26,2011, Don Keefer (Private Development Manager) and Will Pace (Right-of-Way Enforcement) visited the Sambar Loop and Fallow Circle of The Tablelands Subdivision in response to multiple complaints from Sambar Loop residents. All complaints had the common theme of standing water in ditches. Other concerns included impact to driveways (paving) by culvert (frost jacking); impact to utility infrastructure as a result of earth mass sloughing; impact of the drainage to properly values; impact of the drainage to the public roadway, private driveways, and private property improvements; impact to home curb appeal; impact on property resale values; etc....... See photos below. Keefer called Mr. Boorhees, one of the callers, on April 26'h to let him know Keefer and Pace would be visiting the site later in the day. At 2:00pm on April 26th, Keefer's and Pace's visiVpresence on site attracted adjacent property owners Jim Cross and Gregory Mick; conversation followed reiterating complaint content, lack of street maintenance; inability to get the attention of, or any response from, the developer, etc. Keefer and Pace observed the following and took photos. Tlre Cross and Boorhees properties sit well above the roadway behind a roadway ditch with a significant back slope. r Water is standing in the ditches. . There is significant erosion and sloughing of the slopes in front of the Cross and Boorhees properties, beginning at the edge of established lawns, down to the ditch Iine. . There is sedimentation in the respective ditches. . Wherever the ditch flow line is compromised (via lateral movement of earth by erosion or mass land sloughing, there is ponding. . There is water seeping from under the front lawn areas at the top of the slope into the slope materials. . Shallow utility service boxes on the slope are displaced horizontally and vertically, slowly moving down slope. MEA was called. . At the interface of the grassed, stable "flat lawn" area and the top of the unprotected slope, the slope has totally failed (shear break) and subsided (about 3.5'), exposing fence post bases at the edge ofthe grassed lawn area; resulting in sections of the split rail fencing/posts toppling and falling onto slopes below. . Privately installed concrete edging material under and along the split rail fencing has also given way and fallen down the slope. . Establish grass lawn areas at the top of the slope appear stabilized. . Other (not all) properties along Sambar and Fallow have standing or very slow moving water in the roadside
ditches.

Page 3 of6 Project ldentifier

May6,2011

Activities and Events contributing to the complaintu

. o

In 2010, the rock covering that had been lining the ditch and slopes in front of the Cross and Boorhees properties (and presumable placed by the property owner) was removed by either property owner or both. Mr. Cross indicated that the rock lining the ditch and slope was removed with the intent of replacing the small rock material with larger rock. Even with the small rock cover in place, slopes were experiencing movement and slough, and did not have a stabilizing affect on the slope. The work within the public right-of-way was in progress without any apparent plan to guide the process and stabilize the slopes; nor was there any apparent guideline/design to re-establish or establish ditch flowline. Right-of-way enforcement discovered the work in the right-of-way in progress; all rock had been removed exposing earthen slopes. The work was in progress without benefit of a right-of-way permit. According to the enforcement officer, "On l0-11-10 ROW Enforcement (ROWE) found Wayne Defour I Guaranteed Services J removing materialfrom the ditch infront of Jim Cross house on Sambar loop. Guaranteed
Services had no permit IAMC 24.30.1A0 I YIOLATION. J so ROWE stopped himfrom work and requested that he obtain a permit before continuing work. He went to NW ffice and appliedfor a permit , but did not return to payfor and pick up the permit.. The area was left in the state discovered; with Spring melt and thow (Alaska breakup) the impact is now exacerbated. The ditch and slope were not prepped for winter and the following spring thadbreakup period. The area remained unprotected through the winter. With Spring tharv, snovr rnelt, etc., we are now faced with a iailed slope, and other descriptions above. The property owners and neighbors are upset by the above actions (or inactions).

r r

Recommendations to correct the immediate problem:

. . . . r

The property owner(s) need to present an approvable plan to re-stabilize the disturbed slope area. Portions of the right of way fronting a property are often viewed as an extension of the property's front yard, and the properly owner wants an appealing presentation/curb appeal for the property. Prior rock placement clearly did not succeed in stabilizing slopes, and may have contributed to slope failure and standing water (ponding) in the ditch due to the resulting direct or indirect elevation changes (damming affect). Any design needs to consider drainage patterns, dewatering, and slope stabilization. The plan needs a municipal right-of-way review and right-of-way permit. The plan, if it is to include substantial retaining walls, may require preparation by a professional engineer (and geotechnical specialist). Applicable right-of-way permit fee needs to be paid. At locations where shallow driveway culverts are the catalyst for resultant "humps'o in the driveway, an alternative to culvert installation, such as a curtain or French drain, or a combination of both, may be more

functional.

Page 4 of6 Project ldentifier May 6, 201 1

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Plrotos fi'om Keefery'Pace Visit 4126120ll

Page 5 of6 Project ldentifier May 6, 201 1

Below are additional photos provided by a concerned resident.

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Page 6 of6 Project ldentifier May 6, 201 1

Distribution: