September 30, 2022 |
Saratoga may be close to ending the war with Randy Stevens.
During a special workshop on Wednesday, the Saratoga Town Council showed the public several plans that have been developed for Stevens’ property, located at 800 River Street. The council was in agreement that one of the designs would be presented to Stevens’ and his attorney.
The town has been in a legal battle with Stevens for over a decade. In 2009, the town filed a lawsuit against him for removing dirt from his lot and destabilizing the adjacent town owned property. The town and Stevens have a consent decree that states the alley between the Stevens’ property and the Natural Resources Conservation building must be maintained. A sheet-steel wall is holding the hillside back, but it is failing. A permanent solution is needed.
Last week, the town council held a special workshop about the continuing litigation. This was the first time the matter had been openly discussed with the public. The council talked about the problem with rainwater eroding the cliff under the alleyway and how the current wall isn’t working. Plans were mentioned, but the council was guarded about regarding any details.
At this week’s meeting, the council showed and discussed several plans. They will select one plan and present it to Stevens and his attorney. The cost of the plans was not discussed publicly, despite being asked by the public. Stevens will pay for a portion of whatever plan he and the town agree on. What the percentage will be was also not discussed. Some of the designs would have required moving the NRC building, making them too costly. They were rejected.
Council narrowed their choices down to two proposals. One plan was received on September 19th from engineers, and focused on using fill dirt to create a slope along the alleyway to the north of Stevens’ property. An alternative design, received on September 27th, would change the slope to run toward the south. Neither plan would involve the NRC building, instead, focusing on altering the slope of the alley to mitigate erosion.
Councilman Jon Nelson described the alternative design.
The town has narrowed the proposals down to these two plans. The September 27th blueprint would use significantly less dirt to achieve the desired result. The fill dirt would come from town owned land on the Northwest corner of River Street and Cyprus Avenue. Less earthwork means less money. Nelson mentioned the exact differences between the two competing plans.
The council members agreed that the September 27th plan involving less excavation was the best option. Afterwards, the council went into executive session for an hour. When they returned, Nelson made a motion to have the town discuss ending the dispute with Stevens.
The town will present Stevens with the September 27th plan in the near future. The 13-year long battle may finally be drawing to a close.
