Had a discussion with the Code Enforcement Officer today

mdh157

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Hey Guys,

Some of you may remember me mentioning that I was going to have a problem building a second garage on my lot where we just finished a new house. The initial issue was that I could not build it where I wanted to b/c it would project closer to the road than the main building, in violation of a township code. Well, I read the regulation and took a few measurements and realized although my location was in violation if measured straightway, it would be closer to regulation if measured on the angle at which the roadway passes my house.

This afternoon i stopped by and spoke to the code enforcement officer and asked him if my measuring method was correct, and he told me it was. We discussed it using a crude hand drawing of the house and road and he noted I could easily put a single garage there but if we were to take a good look at it once I stake it out and it is close he would be "fine with it being a bit closer than the house" but that would depend on the exact measurements. He also seemed understanding of my concern to disturb as little of the rest of the property as possible to maintain an environmentally friendly presence. Yes, I actually told him that.

With my measurements I can put a 30' wide garage in that location and only the front corner of it will be closer to the road than the house - maybe 8 feet or so and only going another 8 feet or so toward the back of the garage, at which point it goes back behind the required distance.

Long story short, they will approve a garage most likely and quite possibly even approve a 30' x 30'. Isn't that great? My wife waited in the car and when I came back out she asked me why I had such a grin on my face, she hadn't seen me look so happy in a while. Well, that's because i'm tickled pink, my dear!

Hopefully I am not counting my chickens before they hatch........things have been looking up recently and I feel i am getting in the mood to get a car again and this would be a great way to start.

 
Before he give's his final approval does he want to see it staked it out on the property?
 
I think it's good that you talked to him face to face and that he seems to be in agreement with you.
 
Just hope he's the insector that shows up to check the garage build.
 
This is great news Mark, I’m excited for you!:thumbsup:
 
Before he give's his final approval does he want to see it staked it out on the property?
Yes he does and he said at that time we will figure it out and go from there. I think he wants to eyeball it and get a mental picture.
 
BTW, did the crack situation get resolved?
the cracks are still there, have not changed since my post about them. It seems they are the result of shrinkage as it dried, seems as though they have stabilized. No I have several small things like doors being hard to latch and moldings coming loose......I guess all prob due to settling.
 
the cracks are still there, have not changed since my post about them. It seems they are the result of shrinkage as it dried, seems as though they have stabilized. No I have several small things like doors being hard to latch and moldings coming loose......I guess all prob due to settling.
you-mean-shrinkage-yes-significant-shrinkage-so-you-feel-you-7227948~2.png
 
Hey Guys,

Some of you may remember me mentioning that I was going to have a problem building a second garage on my lot where we just finished a new house. The initial issue was that I could not build it where I wanted to b/c it would project closer to the road than the main building, in violation of a township code. Well, I read the regulation and took a few measurements and realized although my location was in violation if measured straightway, it would be closer to regulation if measured on the angle at which the roadway passes my house.

This afternoon i stopped by and spoke to the code enforcement officer and asked him if my measuring method was correct, and he told me it was. We discussed it using a crude hand drawing of the house and road and he noted I could easily put a single garage there but if we were to take a good look at it once I stake it out and it is close he would be "fine with it being a bit closer than the house" but that would depend on the exact measurements. He also seemed understanding of my concern to disturb as little of the rest of the property as possible to maintain an environmentally friendly presence. Yes, I actually told him that.

With my measurements I can put a 30' wide garage in that location and only the front corner of it will be closer to the road than the house - maybe 8 feet or so and only going another 8 feet or so toward the back of the garage, at which point it goes back behind the required distance.

Long story short, they will approve a garage most likely and quite possibly even approve a 30' x 30'. Isn't that great? My wife waited in the car and when I came back out she asked me why I had such a grin on my face, she hadn't seen me look so happy in a while. Well, that's because i'm tickled pink, my dear!

Hopefully I am not counting my chickens before they hatch........things have been looking up recently and I feel i am getting in the mood to get a car again and this would be a great way to start.


That's great news... maybe someone smarter about this than me can chime in. I'm thinking stake it, get it approved, pour the slab, get it approved, build it right away, get it approved... then make sure you have whatever variances in place so that it doesn't become an issue for future surveys if you decide to sell it.
 
... then make sure you have whatever variances in place so that it doesn't become an issue for future surveys if you decide to sell it.

I got bit by that on the last house I sold. We twisted the house a bit on a pie lot, to get better side yard usage, and it ended up encroaching on the rear yard setback in one corner. All stamped and approved, but had to apply and pay for a variance after the survey at time of sale.
 
I went to my county to get a carport approved. Structures must be minimum 15 feet from property line, which shrank what I could build. Then they wanted me to have an engineer spec out an area for a reserve septic drainage field. I had to talk to the assistant director to get them to back off on that. Bureaucrats make building annoying.
 
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