Motel 8 Retaining Walls Problem Redirected

Last month, Eureka Board of Aldermen continued discussions related to Super Motel 8's special use permit renewal, after most of the retaining walls on the property at 1733 West Fifth Street in Eureka had been deemed potentially problematic, with respect to their level of deterioration or structural integrity.

Read prior article:  Super 8 Motel Retaining Walls Need Repair Or Else

At this month's board meeting, city administrator Craig Sabo issued a memo to building commissioner Bill Penney indicating the structural engineer’s report received by city staff about the walls were "full of minor errors." Sabo said the report referenced photos that did not exist and confused the left side with the right side of motel owner Peter Patel's property.

Three retaining walls were evaluated in the report. Sabo said the engineer recommended removing the wall on the west side of the property, and grading the slope to less than 3:1. Sabo agreed with that suggestion.

He said one of the other two walls is adjacent to the motel's pool and the other is on the east property line. The engineer recommended replacing both walls "in the next year."

Sabo said the engineer also suggested replacing the wood ties with interlocking blocks. Sabo said the city's municipal code prohibits wood retaining walls on commercially zoned properties. "Therefore, the replacement walls would be required to be a manufactured stone or concrete product similar to that which Mr. Patel has already used in replacing one of this retaining walls," he said.

Although the engineer recommends the walls be replaced within a year, Sabo said it was his recommendation that the city require Patel to repair or replace the walls within six months so the project will not be affected by weather during winter months.