I think this is the most ridiculous request I've had recently.
The Building Department of a nearby town is requesting a permit plan (site plan) for a potential client. The client's property was surveyed and contains approximately 17 acres.
I can scale the side line offsets from the town's Geographic Information System.?ÿ There is 179' from the east boundary and 296' from the west boundary. What more can you possibly need to make a determination that the garage construction would not violate their 20' setback requirement.
I can understand unwillingness to assume liability, but in this case it appears to be intuitively obvious.
?ÿ
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
There are other issues involved including site grading and structural design meeting current construction code.?ÿ As stupid as it may sound, the construction officials have to follow local ordinances and building codes.?ÿ Doing so may prevent your client fron creating his/her own nightmares.?ÿ Add to that, if there were no permits and approvals, the clients homeowner's insurance wouldn't cover any problems down the road.
unwillingness to assume liability
They not only don't want to assume liability; they want somebody else to.
?ÿ
?ÿ
These people are grown-ups. They should be able to make decisions by themselves. My involvement in the site would only be to calculate the setbacks.
I asked the client if the house on the property had a permit plan. If so I think the builder or the client could sketch the proposed garage location, and have that satisfy the building department.?ÿ
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
@not-my-real-name be that as it may, I practice in NJ where everybody has their hand out.?ÿ You can't even pass gass here without a permit.
I think this is the most ridiculous request I've had recently.
If you are willing to certify on the basis of GIS boundaries then you should be able to complete this task very quickly.
I am attempting to educate the town officials that not every project necessitates the involvement of a survey to determine if their 20 feet setback rule will be violated.
Here is my lesson plan: Have the town get a ruler or a tape. Measure 20 feet from the house on 17 acres. Think to yourself... am I anywhere near the boundary?
It's not rocket science in this case.
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
Wouldn't want to live anywhere where this quarter playing in your yard would end up with a visit from law enforcement for violating some silly regulation.
unwillingness to assume liability
They not only don't want to assume liability; they want somebody else to.
?ÿ
?ÿ
well?ÿDUH!
?ÿ
Every time I'm cruising my sites and watching the laborers toiling away, I know they could be fast at hand laying out every single thing I am and be well ahead of me except for one thing.....they don't carry liability insurance for the lawyers to go after....
sad but true.
????
I am attempting to educate the town officials ....
I work for the engineering department of a mid sized city. We have a GIS, and a GIS department. Also a room full of planners.?ÿ Many of these people are completely dyslexic where maps are concerned. They look at that view and simply don't process the visual cues the same way you and I do.?ÿ To them, it may as well be hieroglyphics. I don't get that either, but I accept it.?ÿ
- there is no guarantee that the GIS lines are accurate.
- there is no guarantee that the GIS lines are current - there may have been a recent subdivision or lot line adjustment?ÿ
- the GIS doesn't show easements that may conflict with that placement?ÿ
It is an absolute imperative in government service that all supplicants get treated fairly and uniformly. If the city policy is that all permit applicants include a LS certified site plan with their material, then that's it, period.?ÿ Staff doesn't get to make certain judgments lest it look like playing favorites.
I work for the engineering department of a mid sized city. We have a GIS, and a GIS department. Also a room full of planners.?ÿ Many of these people are completely dislexic where maps are concerned. They look at that view and simply don't process the visual cues the same way you do.?ÿ To them, it may as well be hieroglyphics. I don't get that either, but I accept it.
This is something that took me a long time to wrap my head around. As someone who grew up hiking and backpacking with compass and map, and being the family navigator on long road trips with paper maps, then as as surveyor, I always have to remind myself that not everyone is comfortable with or can process that sort of information.
The Building Department of a nearby town is requesting a permit plan (site plan) for a potential client.
Does the Building Department require the "site plan" to be certified by anyone??ÿ
They should be able to make decisions by themselves.
They do it all the time, and fail.
Look at the Oso mudslide. Someone permitted the events that lead up to it and 43 people died.
If I worked for the bureaucracy; and was asked to permit ANYTHING, I'd make sure someone else assumed full liability.
@flga-2-2?ÿ
My guess is; requirements like these are an added tax, when someone is less than reasonable, when dealing with the bureaucracy
?ÿ
?ÿ
I think the issue is that most jurisdictions would rather reference a code/law instead of using some common sense or discretion. I've ran into this in many City projects where someone wants to build a deck. That will trigger a need for a site plan, then as a survey standard they require full boundary/topo survey with full Right-of-Way and utilities 150' in both directions beyond the property, along with 15' topographic overlap onto others properties (btw, here in WA state we don't have Right of Entry), all for a deck... I've seen Clients drop $20k-$30k on a Surveyor, Architect, Geo-Tech, Landscape Architect, etc just to get a deck permitted, yet alone build it.?ÿ?ÿ
Yeah, I know. I took a semester of GIS given by my state society. Some are better than others.
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
The client just sent email to tell me he went to the building department, and showed them the image I provided from their GIS. The building department then decided the client won't be needing a permit plan as a result. I am happy not to have to charge an exorbitant fee to show that a small garage in the middle of 17 acres will fit without violating the 20 feet setback rule.
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
Each time you navigate the maze of regulatory authority and skirt it for your clients it's a win. I've had a number of them this year and it's a feel good accomplishment.