A couple of weeks ago I did two surveys in Burbank. Both of them were to satisfy a 2004 ordinance the city passed regarding the possibility that a licensed land surveyor may need to be retained to certify to the setbacks of existing improvememnts prior to the first inspection of the city inspector for planned additions.
The reason that the city passed this ordinance is that folks would submit plans into plan check, pay the fees, walk out with a permit and have the contractor start work. However, the plan check people would not inform the homeowner that when the city inspector arrived on site he would want to have a certification regarding the form placement.
It was at those times I would get a frantic call because there was not any survey and the inspector would not allow concrete to be poured until a surveyor was involved and certified the forms.
The city now requires this note to be placed on all new plans submitted to the city for a building permit application..
Since the way things were done had changed, I had to do more work to satisfy the city inspector and provide a problem free solution ,or so I hoped, in the form of a survey. Below is a copy of what I provided the owners..
Survey Map for Inspector and Contractor
I was sure the project was over with, then I started getting emails from the owners and contractor, who reminds me of the movie "Clueless"
On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 9:09 PM, Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
wrote:
Dennis & Heather ..
Attached is a PDF of the survey. It will print on an 8 1/2" x 14"
I have also attached the invoice
Good luck with the addition.
Regards
Paul M Plutae LS 4722
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From: Dennis&Heather
To: Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
Sent: Tue, Apr 26, 2011 10:39 pm
Subject: Re: House Survey
Thank you!
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From: Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
Date: Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: House Survey - REVISED PDF
To: XXXX
This morning I noticed that I did not describe one of the property
monuments (the one near the wall corner and garage) so I have attached
a revised PDF.
Regards
Paul M Plutae LS 4722
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Subject: Fwd: House Survey - REVISED PDF
From: XX To: YYY
Jerry, Here is the information from the surveyor. Is it sufficient to
start our job? The property line is drawn on our side of the fence in
the backyard. Let us know.
Thanks, Heather
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On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 3:14 PM, Gerald XXXXX
YYYYY wrote:
Hi Heather,
Yes, this is sufficient to get stated. The surveyor will need to do a
follow up to confirm the forms are the correct distance of the property
line before we will be allowed to pour your foundations. Chris has a copy of
this certificate for the building inspector first go around.
Jerry
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On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 3:01 AM, Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
wrote:
This is not so.
I have set monuments with my state license number on them that are shown
on the signed and sealed map.
ALL that is needed to be done is this:
1. Protect these monuments in place during form layout.
2. Lay the forms in.
3. Batter board and string line from the monuments to align the forms at the
required zoning offset distance.
4. Call for inspection
5. Show the inspector my map, the monuments and hand tape from the string
line to my monuments to show the inspector that the forms are on the required setback line.
There is NO REASON why Dennis and Heather have to jump through inspector
held hoops and incur additional costs.
Regards
Paul M Plutae LS 4722
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From: Dennis&Heather XXXX
To: Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
Sent: Tue, May 10, 2011 9:49 pm
Subject: Re: House Survey - REVISED PDF - surveyor reply
Hi Paul,
We just spoke with Chris from XXXXXXXX Construction. He
contacted the city of Burbank to clarify the need for the surveyor's
certification. Although it seems redundant, the city is requiring it.
Chris has asked if you could stop by to do the certification on Monday
or Tuesday. His contact number is XXX-45X-XXXX. He has said he wants
to have things cleaned up before you come to make it as easy as
possible for you. Again, thank you for your fine work & assistance.
Best,
Dennis
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From: Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected]
To: Dennis XXXXXXX
Sent: Tue, May 10, 2011 11:21 pm
Subject: Re: House Survey - REVISED PDF - surveyor reply May 10 2011
Chris is speaking to the wrong person. The reason that note is on the plans
now is that plan check personnel would never inform a person getting a permit that a
setback survey was needed after the inspector arrived on the site *IF* the person did not have a current survey.. Many people complained about the surprise delay and additional cost mainly for the reason that they felt that the city should make
anyone who applies for a permit aware of what the inspector will need, hence
the note.
If the inspector does not accept my survey I will contact his boss and get
that all straightened out, but there is no need for me to come on site and measure what I have already measured. As long as Chris follows my stakes and shows the inspector the survey you wont have a problem.
However, if the city inspectors office is insisting on this, then I will
come over and do a certification but there will be a charge for my services. It is the city inspectors office that needs to be contacted about this, only they can either affirm or deny what I have told you. It would be in your best interest to
call their office and speak with the Chief Inspector and fully explain the situation regarding the survey and monumentation that was just done. You may give out my name and contact number to the inspectors office if they request it.
I am just trying to save you money here, I am not arguing with you.
Regards
Paul M Plutae LS 4722
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On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 2:13 PM, Paul M Plutae LS 4722 <[email protected] wrote:
To put this to rest once and for all, I just got off the phone with Rick
XXXXXXXXX who is the Building Inspector Manager
for the City of Burbank and he affirmed what I have been telling you.
He told me that if there is an existing survey on site, signed and sealed by
a Licensed Land Surveyor and if the features or monuments that are shown on the survey have not been disturbed and if the contractor does use the set back monuments
to place his forms, then there is no need to have me come back on site to do
a certification for one that already exists as long as a copy of the survey is furnished to the city inspector.
His phone number is 818-XXX-52XX, Rick XXXXXXXXX
Regards
Paul M Plutae LS 4722
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From: Dennis&Heather XXXXXXXXX
To: Paul M Plutae LS 4722
Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 6:09 pm
Subject: Re: House Survey - REVISED PDF - surveyor reply May 10 2011 - Follow up
Paul -
Thanks for all of your legwork on this. We'll forward the information
on to the contractor. Again, we appreciate all you have done.
Best,
Dennis
I figured that unless I called the Building Inspector Manager and got it straight from him what current policy is, that no one would. But tomorrow is another day and who knows what the contractor will come up with.
Handholding. That's what we do.
Today I had a real estate agent ask me a question on how oil and gas easements work. Do I look like an expert on minerals? I sure hope not. Most of them make snakeoil salesmen appear to be on the list of future saints.
Truthfully, I was able to give her some help. But, only because of personal experiences with two of my own properties. Definitely nothing that a land surveyor should normally be expected to have experience with.
Paul, sometimes I swear you are one of the few that have any common sense in that area.
I remember when the lenders would require an asbuilt final survey.
Agreed.