beyoungforever
5 Answers
Bob/PKB
The more hoops you have to jump through, the more people you have to come in contact with and the more money you spend, the better off the city thinks it is. There are, of course, environmental questions and zoning laws. You can avoid a lot of the red tape by doing some investigating about what you need BEFORE you walk in the door of the planning department. 
| 11 years ago. Rating: 7 | |
country bumpkin
Vinny
It's all about money! Several years ago I went through this. I wanted to tear down two houses and make it a parking lot for our family restaurant. They wanted drawings, wanted me to pay the planning dept. $500 to make a drawing, I got my bro in law to do it, he was certified, really upset them. The parking lot was finally accomplished but they demanded that I put a 4' fence east and a 8' fence south, planters at the entrance for flowers so I did all this, now cut easement to the street so that cars can access the lot. They said NO! I said how do people get to the lot if they have to drive over the curb?? So I put 2X4's and 3/4" plywood. The city wanted $3,400.00 to bust the curb and make a drive way into the lot, about 10' wide, 6' to the street. I had a contractor that would do it for $800.00 City said no, must be city workers .. It's all about money. Your money for their pockets.
| 11 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
vpiano992@gmail.com and I will send you a friend request or visa versa. :) It was a beautiful restaurant, specializing in Italian/Sicilian. My parents opened it in the early 50's, i shut it down in the late 80's. We had many celebrities that came there. Michael Landon, Red Skelton two that come to mind. I just wanted out of the business. I wanted out of the area too.
bustieone
I have a buddy who was building a house with native pine air-dried lumber. The inspectors had to be involved, and wanted to prevent this construction based upon fact that they had no specs for its usage. He told them, you had better get specs, if you would like to inspect the job, as it is going ahead, and I am using my own lumber. They tried to argue the point, but did not realize they were working with a WWII vet who is a very determined Scotsman, MacDonald. The house has been there some 30 years so far, they figured out how to inspect it!
| 11 years ago. Rating: 3 | |
robertgrist
I don't bother those folks any more than necessary. I pay taxes. That is as far as I'll go. I know there are many who go to city planning to get permits for every-little-thing but from what I have seen it's usually best to avoid that paper-work-rats-maze-and-fleecing. I read the rules and regulations because they are instructive and building codes support safe and sane construction. But I'm not applying for permission to work on my own property and codes have been skirted here since the area was first settled. Traditionally there are no codes. But I don't antagonize those folks either. What I do don't show. Of course I live in a dump...low taxes and I like that. If I make it look pretty my assessment could go up and I'm too old to care about that.
| 11 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
Is the restaurant still operating? I'd love to enjoy a meal there if it's in Silicon Valley area where you live...tabber and I can meet there! Let me know, if you don't mind.