Mayor Walsh’s Bluffgate Continues

If Lake Minnetonka shoreline matters to you, pay close attention to the recording of the April 24 Orono Work Session (https://youtu.be/Qbbnz-tVGlw)  where Mayor Walsh and a few Council members are trying to change the code again for the 75 foot setback from the Lake. 

Under Mayor Walsh’s leadership, the City Council has already allowed cutting of mature trees without replacement. (Note the clear cutting of Mayor Walsh’s own bluff in the photo.)

Now Mayor Walsh is trying to change the code to allow retaining walls within the 75 foot setback. Is this for Council member’s Matt Johnson’s new multimillion dollar project on public land in the Wildhurst neighborhood? After all it was Orono council member Matt Johnson who asked the city to spend time and funds to look at this issue. 

Why open up lakeshore for retaining walls Mayor Walsh? Isn’t this allowing Lake Minnetonka lakeshore to be graded, changed and hardscape without oversight? 

Now taxpayers are spending our dollars to see if there’s a way to circumvent the current ordinance with code changes. Imagine all those new retaining walls around the lake without oversight - is that what is best for property value and habitat?