Posted on 08/05/2015 9:05:04 PM PDT by TMD
We're attempting to build a master bedroom and move the master bathroom on our 2100 sq/ft house in Campbell. Total addition is ~500 sq/ft. We went to submit the plans on Monday and were told we're in a "special study zone" so a more complete design scrutiny review is required which will take 60 days to complete and requires buy-in from all our neighbors. Besides this giant hiccup, they said we have to replace our energy-saving water heater that was installed in 2011, change our current low-flow toilets from 1.6 to 1.2 gals, redo our drainage for the new downspout so it flows to the storm drain (note this will required trenching through 60' of concrete to get from the backyard to the street).
When I complain to my bleeding-heart liberal relatives their responses run the gamut from "What, you don't want to build your house safely?" to "Well, if you don't like it then why don't you move to another state?" We did remodel our kitchen last year and had our share of mandates (=$$$) from the City, the last of which was a requirement to install railings on our front porch before they'd sign off on the final kitchen inspection.
I'm a native Californian and we've lived in our house for 29 years. Why are we being punished?
Yes, I’m bitching…..more and more and more rules by petty, unnaccountable bureaucrats do nothing to encourage taxpaying homeowners to improve our property, neighborhood, community...If you encourage something (following the rules), you get more of it. If you discourage something (following the rules), you get less of it.
For a $1300 filing fee (and an additional 60 days until we can submit the plans for approval) - here are some examples of burning issues we have to address:
Is there a change in-
1. existing features of any bays, tidelands, beaches, hills or substantial alteration of ground contours
2. scenic views or vistas from existing residential areas or public lands or roads
3. pattern, scale or character of general area of project
4. significant amount of solid waste or litter
5. dust, ash, smoke, fumes or odors in vicinity
6.ocean, bay, lake, stream or ground water quality or quantity of alteration of existing drainage patterns
7. substantial change in existing noise or vibration levels in the vicinity
8. use or disposal of petentially hazardous materials such as toxic substances, flammables or explosives
9. substantial change in demand for municipal services (police, fire, water, sewage, etc…)
10 substantially increase fossil fuel consumption (electricity, oil, natural gas, etc…)
11. additional traffic generation or parking demand
Describe the project site as it exists before the project, including information on topography, soil stabile, plants and animals and any cultural, historical or scenic aspects. Describe any existing structures on the site and the use of the structures. Attach photographs of the site.
Describe the surrounding properties, including information on plants and animals and any cultural, historical aspects. Indicate the type of land use (residential, commercial, etc.), intensity of land use (one-family, apratment houses, shops, department stores, etc.) and scale of any development (height, frontage, set-back, rear yard, etc.) Attach photographs of the site.
We have to verify whether or not our property in included on the CAL-EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control Facility Inventory Data Base Hazardous Waste and Substances Sites List.
We have to provide a plot plan showing (among other things) proposed or existing street improvements, proposed exterior lighting, pedestrian, vehicular, and service points of ingress and egress, driveway widths. Paved areas must indicate proposed walkways, patios and disabled access. Fencing, including retaining walls, existing and/or proposed to be shown (type, height, and materials.)
Show location/design of trash enclosures, utility transformers and meters necessary to service the propsed use. Indicate public transit stops and bicycle/motorcycle facilities when appropriate.
Landscape plan - conceptual landscape plan indicating existing and proposed landscaping. Show all existing trees on site and indicate which tress are proposed to be removed or retained. Indicate the trunk diameter, tree drip line and tree type for all trees over 12” in diameter measured at 4 feet above grade.
A streetscape of the proposed project which illustras the proposed building and the adjacent buildings on either side as viewed from the street.
Additionally, they want to see a paint sample, roofing sample and samples of building materials. Apparently we joined a homeowners association without our knowledge or consent.
The list goes on for 17 pages. Every single thing can be verified by - looking at the plans, driving by or looking at Google maps
The only advice we’ve gotten from the designer is “Don’t make them mad or they’ll really start to scrutinize things.”
In real life, there is actually a point at which the costs imposed outweigh the benefits. Back in the day a cost-benefit analysis was required and provided actual, comparative figures of the benefit vs. the costs but, as long as your spending other peoples money, there is no limit to the cost or time imposed on the rule-following, taxpaying property owner.
We’re paying unaccountabe bureaucrats to tell us to go f*** ourselves because of their ability to pick off small constituencies (people who want to make improvements to their home) and counting on the choice between them acquiescing and paying the bribes/indulgences or not being allowed to make the improvements. It disincentivizes people from doing the right thing and incentivizes people to work outside the system (which results in sloppy/unsafe improvements).
Thanks for letting me vent!!
Exactly none. Not having the time or ability to spend full-time combing through the minutia in every single city council meeting in the last 28 years in anticipation of rules that would effect me at some point in time, I relied on the city council to balance the interests of its taxpaying homeowners wanting to improve their properties with the city interests in having local properties improved. We do pay them to look after our interests.
Campbell has always been a rather sleepy, laissez faire, non busy-body sort of town where reasonableness was the rule.
The paperwork has “Development Application” across the top, it seems pretty obvious it’s aimed at a development rather than a puny little addition. The designer questioned them and their only response was “You’re in a special study zone”.
When my husband takes the paperwork in, he’s going to say - “I think we were given the wrong paperwork because it’s an application for a development, not remodel.”
City councils are run by them that donated and those that show up to meetings. You can bet the left showed up for every CC meeting for the last 50 years. I have even been to a Campbell CC meeting in 1995 to help a friend of mine trying to expand his home.
Read up on The War of the Regulation (1765-1771), wherein gruberment corruptocrats in North Carolina provoked a mini-rebellion in western North Carolina before the Real Deal.
Gruberment Rust gets paid with YOUR tax dollars to never sleep, while you're working full-time and raising a family.
I feel your pain but why aren't the commission members accountable? Are they appointed by your local elected representatives? Are they directly elected?
Don't confuse poor choices made by your fellow Campbellians with unaccountability.
I’m passing along a suggestion from my elder-wisers here.
Take the money and energy you’ve reserved for the home addition and put it elsewhere. Big vacation, or an rv, or a car or whatever. If you have some nestbuilding instincts that are not fulfilled, then just use the money to buy a fixer-upper somewhere, a vacation home perhaps, and work out your instincts that way. Overfixing your own place will always end with a should’ve-done anyway.
Besides, if you find a fixer in a friendlier state, you’ll have someplace to go when you’re finally fed up with CA.
All the best to you.
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