I have a prospective client that wants a price for preparing all the documentation the City requires to rezone his 3.5 acres from one rural zoning to another. He has enough area and ordinances allow livestock with a specific zoning. I haven't asked, but my guess is his kids want a pony.
Our local City government has shown time and time again to have the organizational integrity of a soup sandwich. For this fellow to obtain his rezoning the City is requiring he go through the entire platting process. This is 12 pages of requirements such as all existing utility locations, 1' contour topo and all existing R/Ws and easements.
Then we have to get Greenbelt Committee approval (they want flowers).
Then we have to dedicate wider R/W on the section line.
If the property has any cross-drainage (NOT floodplain, just cross drainage) a Water Quality Protection Zone easement must be dedicated to the City with a size they deem as adequate (I've never seen one narrower than 200'). A 25' access easement must also be dedicated to the City for access to the WQPZ.
Any private drives have to be upgraded to a size deemed adequate for City and emergency vehicles.
The minimum of meetings if everything flies the first try (it never does):
These meet once a month:
Pre-planning meeting
Planning Commission approval
Public Works Zoning Commission meeting pre-planning (fire, traffic and utility approval and comments)
Public Works approval after notification of everyone with 350' of the property
then...after everything is said and done..and if there is no neighbor that resists, a City Council meeting.
Then and only then can a plat considered a "Rural Certificate of Subdivision Survey" can be filed at the County.
After that, ONE more City Council meeting approving the rezoning.
The last one I did was for an older gent that wanted to deed his granddaughter 10 acres to build her house. It cost $7K and took 9 months.
And people wonder why surveys cost so much.
- ok....rant off...for now :bored:
"The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it."
Forgiveness v Permission
How much does the land owner get to charge the county for the additional RW they are requiring? maybe it should be = 2(COST of PERMITTING).... yeah right...:-/
Place a concrete pony out there. for a year.
Then, add horse poop
Then, add a live pony.
Do it gradual!
N
My adventure below is the same scenario: city is making my buddy plat simply because he wants to install a rainwater collection system. Guess they're peeved he's not gonna pay for the water tap. And I suspect, and hate to tell him, the next thing they'll ask for is a tree and topo. Which, with our new tree ordinance, could well take weeks. Aren't but maybe 10 hardwoods on the whole thing, but probably 300+ 8" hackberries.
Only $7k?
Wow, that's cheap.
Only $7k?
> Wow, that's cheap.
Yeah I know. But we try to work on more than 1 survey a month around here...;-)
Yes, wow, that is way too cheap. We typically charge more than that just for the survey. Obviously you know what your up against and that's half the battle with municipalities. If you don't want to project don't take it on.
With all that Cr_p, there must be a pony in there somewhere. I believe the reason municipalities make these unreasonable requirement is because no one takes them to court. In a right of way condemnation, a justification of the area condemned must be proven. Usually, a call from a Councilman will make that kind of requirement go away. Someone needs to take these types of regulations to task. Maybe your buddy Abbie Hoffman had it right in "Just Do It".
This is more than ridiculous, it is appalling. Those who have already commented that this is standard practice in other places help to confirm that I won't be moving to any of those places any time soon. I realize that some view that as a positive thing.
The animals are running the zoo!
Wow Mr Cash, all I can suggest is to add a zero to your fee. Oh yea, get a nice retainer.
Nothing against the gobm't guys and going by their rules, and I do my best to keep up to date and know which bear finds his favorite woods. It's a challenge to say the least, especially in this now becoming a "not for profit" economy. dunno, but I do know some bears and I do know where they poop.
I have told many people how to do things in the correct order, and who to talk to. Or that I can help them to get it done the first time and in the right way. dunno that either.
cheers leggers. I love these kinds of threads. Many will learn if they are willing to learn.
oh yea - Go Red Wings 😉
This bullspit is why I hate zoning.
There is no zoning in the county I live in, and if I have my way, it will stay that way forever.
Zoning is nothing more than the means to give corrupt bureaucrats the power to get you by the short hairs.
> I haven't asked, but my guess is his kids want a pony.
Sorry to hear of the troubles. Around here, if you want a pony, you have to...buy one.
As long as he doesn't get out and start chewing on the neighbor's vegetable garden, it's all good.
Naw, it's so you don't have to shoot your neighbors.
If life in prison isn't going to keep me from shooting my neighbor, some little puss from the zoning office certainly isn't going to do it.
Used to be the local custom around my parts to dedicate whatever it took to make a 50' r/w from c/l. Until they found that they had to compensate the owner.
