Eugene Planning Commission <br />May 2, 2018 <br />Page 9 <br />The last recommendation, regarding fill- and cut-slopes, is most problematic. - Rather than decrease <br />the risk of slope failure; the recommendation for installing fill slopes at angles up to 1.5H : 1V is <br />likely to increase the risk of slope failure. In general, installing fill slopes at angles steeper than 2H <br />: IV is reserved for fills constructed of material with high angle of internal friction such as rock. In <br />this case, it is being made for fills constructed of "compacted earth". Moreover, the fill slope typical <br />drawing contains provisions for a sub-drain only on the lowermost key-way. On this slope, underlain <br />in part by rock, this may allow buildup of excess pore pressure higher in the fill section, resulting <br />in reduced effective stress at the base of the fill and an increased potential for failure of the <br />embankment. <br />As a result, the applicant's report does not contain "numerous specific recommendations to <br />mize the potential for slope failure" and one of their recommendations appears to actually <br />increase the potential by allowing overly steep fill slopes with inadequate drainage. It is <br />difficult to determine where the HO received the impression that the issue was addressed in the <br />application materials. <br />2.c. "Soil Creep" <br />Branch Engineering ascribes the tree deformation noted on the steep eastern slopes of the site <br />entirely to "soil creep"." 6 The HO twice seizes upon this statement in her findings. However, <br />whereas "soil creep" is clearly occurring on the steeper slopes of the PUD property (as acknowledged <br />by GeoScience in our March 7, 2018 report), the tree deformation found in several portions of <br />the site is not consistent with having been caused by soil creep alone. As discussed by <br />GeoScience", deformation by soil creep always tilts the base of the trunk in a downslope direction, <br />due to the direction and mechanics of the soil movement. <br />However, on this site, and especially in the areas where there are geomorphic indications of <br />sliding failure, the deformation of the tree trunks is haphazard, with many tree trunk bent in <br />different directions at different levels, in some cases in an upslope direction (see also <br />GeoScience site photos"). This is consistent with back-rotation of the tree during rotational <br />sliding movement and cannot have been caused by soil creep. The HO erred in accepting <br />Branch Engineering's explanation of the tree deformation on the site. <br />16 Branch Engineering Rebuttal, 3/20/18 p.2, last paragraph. <br />17GeoScience Technical Review, Geotechnical/Geologic Assessment and Addendum Capital Hill PUD, <br />March 7, p 4, 2' paragraph and following. <br />18GeoScience Technical Review, Geotechnical/Geologic Assessment and Addendum Capital Hill PUD, <br />March 7, attached site photos and GeoScience PowerPoint presentation. <br />