Below is a snapshot of the new house that will be built for the owners of the property I just did the survey for.
I spent the morning sorting out the grid line placement, caisson locations and grade beams from the architects, who is also the structural engineer, plans. It was not the easiest thing to do the plans have been compained about by the contractor, concrete guy and framer so far..but they always seem to get built no matter how bad plans are, as long as one has a permit.
I am also going to be staking drill points and maybe a few offsets for the concrete guy, so deciphering the architects plan was more than just a cadd exercise.
The location of the existing 8" CMB wall on the south was critical since the new home was to be parallel with that wall and 3.5' north of it where it would meet a 10 ft sideyard setback. The 2008 survey shows it angled, it is not.
The 2008 survey also missed some oak trees. I see one 8" oak that will be destroyed and maybe the 7" one will also be taken out by construction. The owner will now have to have an oak tree report done and maybe even have to install replacement oaks. More costs that were going to happen anyway but now it's "suprise time" because of inadequate surveying in 2008.
JPG's sure do look better in Photobucket than they do when posted here.
PS..Late edit here. But if I had not been retained to do the pre demolition topo survey I would never have agreed to do the construction layout.
I don't see "Note #1", but you're going to put the house through a sewer esmt? That would never fly around here.
> I don't see "Note #1", but you're going to put the house through a sewer esmt? That would never fly around here.
Different jurisdictions..different rules.
In my area it is not uncommon to have structures over underground lines. In Pasadena, a condominium complex is built over a flood control channel.
Replacing this sewer line, it's a 12" one I believe, would not be a problem at all. All a plumber would need to do is excavate two holes on either end of what needs to be replaced and pull the new line through the existing one. That's done all the time.
Trenchless Pipe Bursting
> If the existing sewer line is too damaged to use relining, then trenchless pipe bursting is the next option. This method requires two small access holes at each end of the existing sewer pipe. A cable is fed through the length of the sewer line and attached to a tool called a bursting head on the other end. The bursting head is attached to a new sewer line that is made of high density polyethylene. The bursting head is pulled through using a powerful hydraulic winch and breaks up the old pipe while pulling in the new. With this method, the new pipe being installed can be of a larger diameter if preferred to allow for >future growth of the property.
What is the big deal with the oak trees down south?
Don't they grow wherever they are planted? Around here, you can't hardly kill them. Burn them and they come back, cut them down and they will grow back.
It's interesting how different communities protect and regulate cities to look a certain way. JRL
Oak Trees
> What is the big deal with the oak trees down south?
Well, it's not just oaks that are on a list Jeremy, there are other tree specimens that also get that 'city hall red tape special attention'. Why this is done, no idea but it is and folks have to live with it.
The list includes all Oaks indigenous to California except scrub oaks, Southern California Black Walnut, Western Sycamore and California Bay.
"an oak tree report done"
A report to take down a 7" oak?
You live in a different world, my friend.
> "an oak tree report done"
>
> A report to take down a 7" oak?
>
> You live in a different world, my friend.
Yes, it gets pretty insane with the trees over here. We are not even getting into the red-legged frog stuff over on the coast either. That is another dimension of stupid.
> "an oak tree report done"
>
> A report to take down a 7" oak?
>
> You live in a different world, my friend.
Yes it is different. 7" is BIG TIME Oak considering the specs..
I am really shocked that any structure can be put in a utility easement or over a utility line of any kind.
Is that just in your town or county?
That is so unheard of on the East Coast.
Nice little project, if you had a good drawing to start with!
Live Free or Die
> "an oak tree report done"
>
> A report to take down a 7" oak?
>
> You live in a different world, my friend.
Around here, we get a state approved septic design, fill out a one page building permit and start digging the foundation.
> "an oak tree report done"
>
> A report to take down a 7" oak?
>
> You live in a different world, my friend.
I one city around here...if you have a 30" tree, that is a heritage tree, and nothing can come near its DRIP LINE. Whole lots go away...
So, you have discussions about where 4.5' up the tree really is, and whether that tape reads 29.9" or 30.0"...but you can't beat city hall.
> I one city around here...if you have a 30" tree, that is a heritage tree, and nothing can come near its DRIP LINE. Whole lots go away...
Ahh yes..the drip line.
I worked for a developer back in the late 80's and all the lots he was developing, single family multiple story hillside homes, were in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles off of Beverly Glen. Now if anyone knows that area just from the names they also know that the place is congested with Oak trees.
Anyway, this guy was from Argentina and after I had finished a topo survey for him with all the oaks located he would send up a crew on a weekend and when it came time to build the house, not a single oak was in the way.
That doesn't happen anymore now, lots of busy bodies with cell phones who monitor everything that happens in a neighborhood.
Why someone would want to live in a city that removes that much personal freedom is beyond me.
I wonder what the penalty is for cutting down a tree on your own property?
I can understand wild animals belonging to everyone, but timber has always been private property, that has a dollar value. I wonder if the city has compensated the owners for the loss of personal property?
I also wonder what the utility companies do when they need to maintain clearance between the power lines? Can they trim the branches or do they need to move the power line?
That just riles me up and I don't even have to deal with it personally.
Mr. Man
Get a load of this: We submitted a proposal to the Town of Loomis, CA to divide a 1-acre parcel into three lots, one with the existing house on it and two lots in the back. The owner had the misfortune that the back part of his property was thick with oak trees. There were so many, they were crawling along the ground to find some light. Estimated oak tree mitigation fee to clear it out for a driveway and two building pads - $212,000.00.
Need I say that this project did not come to fruition.
Jeremy AKA GunMan
> I wonder what the penalty is for cutting down a tree on your own property?
About 5 years ago I got a call from a Realtor that I have worked with a lot. She told me that one of her clients had trimmed a limb of an Oak Tree and that someone had reported this to the county. The county then levied a fine on the client and requested a map be prepared showing the Oak tree.
I think that my charge was $ 700 or so. I do not know what the county fine was, but it was over $ 200 (from old memory). I think that an Oak tree report was also part of the mix, and all this was over a limb maybe 3 inches in diameter and 5 or 6 feet in length.
Now, that should get your blood to boil 😛
Oak trees
Makes me glad I live where I do...at least it is not that bad here yet. As far as I'm concerned ...those are fighting words.
It's a fine balance, being free from the federal gov. and avoiding crazy rules like this brought about by local city gov.
I can understand the need for having trees and open space. The thing is if you want open space and trees, put your money where your mouth is. The city should levy a open space tax on everyone (approved by the voters and paid by the voters). They could plant as many heritage trees and oak trees as they wanted. This would be in areas that could be enjoyed by everyone.
Really chaps my hide when people are so emotionally tied up in saving the trees..if you ask them how many trees they personally plant each year....I'll bet it is not very many. JRL
Mr. Man
I think that is probably the whole purpose of rules like these. To discourage development.
What was that term I heard awhile back..... NIMBY?
JRL
Oak trees
> ..if you ask them how many trees they personally plant each year....I'll bet it is not very many. JRL
Another good question to ask them; How many trees were cut down to make the plat/house where they live?
Oak trees
I've always wanted to ask them if they live in a tree.
Dead Oak Trees
If the tree is dead and a threat to your house...it has to come down...
And that happens a lot.
