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reservoir project. Hartman said, had part of the original plan been to come that close to their property line, there would have been a number of people in opposition. The issue is not just dust. Even when the barrow pit was completely dug, the dust was bad. The issues are noise and vibration. Hartman said the homes in Wexford were generally five years old and have cracks. These cracks did not appear until the reservoir project began. The cracks were caused by the vibration of the trucks hauling. The vibration could clearly be felt inside the homes. The homeowners in Wexford were never advised of this. The City of Minneapolis has not been a good neighbor. Hartman stated the neighbors prevented the City of Minneapolis from clearing all the trees off the site. When Minneapolis was in the process of the excavation, they built a mountain that was visible from all over. Hartman said he thought the Minneapolis Water Works intended to leave that mountain in place all winter. Due to residents’ complaints, Minneapolis got rid of that mountain. The City of Minneapolis has not been easy with which to work. The City of Minneapolis said they would restore the site to look like it did before the reservoir construction. The slides shown earlier prove that has not been done. The elevation on the northern part of the barrow pit was level. There was a slight dip to the south. Initially, the City of Minneapolis returned that southern part to approximately its former grade. Then, they excavated the northern portion of the site they ran out of soil and left it as it is. The City of Minneapolis then said it did not matter. It matters because the neighbors were never told about it. We have had to deal with the noise, the dust, and the vibration. Now the City of Minneapolis is saying they want to fill it in over a one and one-half or a two and a half year period, versus trucking for sixty or seventy days. Hartman said the neighbors had dealt with enough. Hartman stated the City of Minneapolis should do it all at once and get it done. Frankly, the thought of dump trucks and bulldozers operating over the time the City of Minneapolis is requesting, is unthinkable. Hartman said that, since part of the hauling goes through Columbia Heights, the opinions of Columbia Heights residents should be considered. Hartman asked the Planning Commission to deny the request of the City of Minneapolis. Hartman said residents were not asked for their opinions when the City of Minneapolis dug the barrow pit because it was not part of the original project. Bill Thomas, 230 Wyndham Circle, stated that the plans submitted by the City of Minneapolis and the Planning Commission approved were not the plans the City of Minneapolis followed. The City of Minneapolis violated the terms of approval when the trees were cut. Secondly, the plan had a boulevard tree planting area along Stinson Boulevard. When the contractor built the retaining wall, it was within three feet of the curb, which would not support trees. The wall was moved after the City of Minneapolis was informed the approved plans did not show this retaining wall. The elevation of the barrow pit is not what it was before the excavation of the pit. That elevation was high with mature trees on it. There were no provisions for the deer that lived on the site. The deer have become very scrawny and are endangering traffic. Thomas said there is an 8-inch pipe on the site and a temporary dyke that has made a pond before which was not there. The pipe, the dyke, and the pond were not on any of the approved plans. The vegetation the City of Minneapolis showed tonight consists of only ten trees, which have not been watered. The trees were planted on a clay slope. The trees may not be alive now. The City of Minneapolis also sent a letter to the neighbors telling us about the trees. The letter failed to tell us how many trees were planted. Thomas said there is another area where the City of Minneapolis is storing soil toward Stinson. Did the City of Minneapolis ever ask permission to do so? That area was never addressed in the original plans. The original plans stated they were not to come within a certain number of feet on the top of the hill. They always violated that condition during the barrow pit excavation. The dirt in those piles came right up to the edge of the fence. Thomas stated the vibration of the homes is an issue because they are using heavy equipment. All of the nonsupporting walls in those homes move creating cracks in the concrete. The response from the City of Minneapolis Water Works when area residents call to ask if they have been on the site is minimal. One response was, “I suppose I could swing by there.” I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\08-18-98.WPD 6