Retaining wall ideas Needed - steep slope with only top access

[dfkrug]

I mention this because the project also required and extensive retaining wall... the owner had and excavator and
trucks delivering large boulders for nearly two weeks... no permit or engineering required because it was natural
stone... found it odd and the HOA did research and found the same...

But, under 4 feet high, correct? Otherwise, engineering and a permit are still required, as Dave mentions above. The
4-ft limit includes the height (thickness) of any footer.

 

[ultrarunner]

6 to 7 feet... boulders as large as a VW Bug... individually placed.

 

[tractchores]

On the wetland buffer, do you own the land to the water? Outside of the wall, I was wondering if it would be cool / appropriate to put stairs down to the waterfront.

Yup, I own down to the water. The hill levels out a bit on the side of my land and I have a tractor trail down to the water. Its all open so a great view and that side of the hill is grass, so an easy walk down to the water (or drive). I'm putting a dock in (getting permits in spring), which will give me something to put the kayaks etc on. it'd be great if I could make the whole thing a nice sloping hill of natural grasses or something, but they basically don't want you to touch in the 100' buffer zone at all

 

[dave1949]

Could a concrete pump truck boom reach the area? They can reach a good distance and over things, not sure what the practical limit is.

That would fix part of the heavy equipment access issues if you could pour a retainer of some type in place.

 

[tractchores]

Could a concrete pump truck boom reach the area? They can reach a good distance and over things, not sure what the practical limit is.

That would fix part of the heavy equipment access issues if you could pour a retainer of some type in place.

I actually had given this some thought as it would be a great solution and I could hand dig out the area and put in forms pretty easily. The problem is I think the truck would be on the other side of the house. Not sure on the range of those, but I believe it would be about 100 - 150' horizontally and would have to go over the house and then down probably 30' to account for the downward slope. The side yard is steep and grass so I think if I put any big truck in there I would rapidly be in trouble.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Check with your state EPA regulations and local building/zoning restrictions. Your land might not be considered wet land until you get within 50 feet of the shoreline of the lake/pond; unless you have typical wetland flora growing there like cattails, sedges, or reeds. Also check to see how hard (and fees) it is to get a waiver to put the wall closer to the shore. Finally, there are always exceptions to rules. Some wetlands work may be allowed without permit or study if it's all done by hand, and not by machine.

 

[tractchores]

Check with your state EPA regulations and local building/zoning restrictions. Your land might not be considered wet land until you get within 50 feet of the shoreline of the lake/pond; unless you have typical wetland flora growing there like cattails, sedges, or reeds. Also check to see how hard (and fees) it is to get a waiver to put the wall closer to the shore. Finally, there are always exceptions to rules. Some wetlands work may be allowed without permit or study if it's all done by hand, and not by machine.

Thanks. I had the conservation guys come out and flag my wetland border (defined by I believe 50% of the plants being wetland types). For me this is luckily right at the waters edge, which gives me more room to play with. Within the 100' zone its easier to get a permit, especially if just doing temporary work - but there are mitigation measures and its relatively expensive. Within 50' they don't want you doing anything, again you can try to get a permit, but the mitigation cost goes up and in my town they tend to lean towards not granting permits.

I could take a huge risk and just do stuff and hope no one measures, however the penalties are severe and a neighbor just got fined $70k+ for clearing trees in the buffer area (they take it pretty seriously here). Given that I'm going to go by the letter and be really careful.

 

[dave1949]

The Shoreland Zoning buffer in Maine is a separate thing from wetlands. They really don't care how wet or dry that buffer zone is in determining what can be done within it.

I would ask your local folks (code enforcement, planning board, or equivalent) about your project if you haven't yet. Usually if you explain what you are trying to accomplish they will tell you what you can or can't do, explain the regs, etc.

I sit on my town's planning board and it seems like granting shoreland exceptions is not really going to happen here. I'm the most junior/least experienced member of the board so I try to ask intelligent questions and provide a voting quorum. Two board members have houses on the local lake and they follow the letter of the regs in deciding what can be done in the buffer zone. The board has granted some minor exceptions in non-shoreland areas, so it isn't like they just want to be buttheads.

You for sure don't want to attract the attention of the MA DEP or the local boards in a bad way.

It would probably pay to ask about the concrete pumping possibilities although it does sound like too far. Maybe it's doable, maybe not, or doable but no one has the equipment near you and/or too expensive.

 

[tractchores]

The Shoreland Zoning buffer in Maine is a separate thing from wetlands. They really don't care how wet or dry that buffer zone is in determining what can be done within it.

I would ask your local folks (code enforcement, planning board, or equivalent) about your project if you haven't yet. Usually if you explain what you are trying to accomplish they will tell you what you can or can't do, explain the regs, etc.

I sit on my town's planning board and it seems like granting shoreland exceptions is not really going to happen here. I'm the most junior/least experienced member of the board so I try to ask intelligent questions and provide a voting quorum. Two board members have houses on the local lake and they follow the letter of the regs in deciding what can be done in the buffer zone. The board has granted some minor exceptions in non-shoreland areas, so it isn't like they just want to be buttheads.

You for sure don't want to attract the attention of the MA DEP or the local boards in a bad way.

It would probably pay to ask about the concrete pumping possibilities although it does sound like too far. Maybe it's doable, maybe not, or doable but no one has the equipment near you and/or too expensive.

All great advice. I had the guys from the committee out to take a look and give advice. It helps a LOT to play nice with them, then if there is a mistake they know you are trying to do the right thing. I used to sit on a planning board years ago in another area as well and in general they want to help you VS hinder you - if you work with them.

I may call around on the concrete idea. I wonder if they can pump through a pipe that's rolled out or something, which could work.

 

[check]

Does the water stay in a constant channels, is the bank covered with vegetation or eroding. Scour is moving water eroding under a fixed structure To OP for wall under four foot height go with precast block as curly Dave mentioned. Check building supply to see what is sold in your area. Both types that he mentioned are good products

The creek is very stable, in fact it runs right over rocks. Also there will not be any scouring, since the retaining wall would be virtually sitting right on the bed rock beside the creek.