Each New Year brings certain hopes of something refreshing, new and somehow better than the year before. Here in the Town of Webb Code Office the same applies… but, time has proven that not much changes.
There are plenty of good things to reflect on. Each year this office issues nearly 400 permits.
Then there are well over 100 Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Appeals applications processed.
On top of that we’ll deal with an equal or greater number of inquiries, complaints, enforcement actions, pre-planning meetings with all kinds of property owners.
This office can easily have direct involvement with over 1,000 issues in any given year. The vast majority are positive interactions, guiding people through the regulatory requirements involved and ultimately leading to a successful conclusion.
The more difficult issues never go away completely either. That’s human nature. Instant gratification is a growing trend. Selfish attitudes are prevalent and can spoil neighborhoods.
When a property owner has little, if any, regard for the appearance or use of their property and how that has a direct impact on the quality of life in the neighborhood, the neighborhood starts to fracture.
This trend has seemingly grown each year. This can be seen with both year-round residents and by seasonal, second home owners alike.
Things like the front yard storage of boats, trailers, snowmobiles, RV units, campers, heavy equipment, firewood, unlicensed motor vehicles, pallets and miscellaneous “stuff” are all examples.
That is why so many communities have local laws restricting these things.
Did you know that by local law the parking of trailers, boats, RVs, snowmobiles in any front yard is prohibited?
Section 480-28F&G of the local law prohibits the parking of any unlicensed vehicle outdoors or any trailer, RV or similar unit in any front yard.
Can you imagine the case load if a ticket was issued for each and every situation? This could be a full time job for one enforcement officer alone…
More typical of seasonally owned properties are issues of inappropriate use.
Renting a portion of a single family dwelling, thus generating cash to help support the cost of the “second home” and at the same time allow the owner to use the property while the renters are there.
The concept is perfectly legal if the property [or structure] is an approved two-family or multi-family dwelling.
A “bunkhouse” does not qualify as a separate dwelling, and can only be used in conjunction with and as part of the house on the property.
Nor can the house be rented and the owners of the property use the bunkhouse. The violation of this helps to fracture neighborhoods and dissolve the quality of life in that neighborhood and the general community as well.
This job enables us to meet the good, the bad and the ugly. However, for sure, we meet many fine, high quality professional people who do care about the impact of their actions on the neighborhood and community. And for this we are grateful. The tough ones just seem to stand out.
For every difficult and selfish client, there are ten really nice ones. Because of that, this office will continue to encourage pre-meetings with property owners to discuss their hopes and dreams of how to develop their property.
Our mission is to guide property owners with their projects, to avoid confrontation with other agencies, to be as compliant as possible with all state building, fire safety and energy conservation codes and be in harmony with our local zoning laws. Usually this is not a big deal to do, done right the first time.
If you are thinking of building that new “camp,” replacing that old boathouse, putting an addition on the house, subdividing your land, thinking about how to pass the old family estate to the next generation, starting a Bed & Breakfast, buying an old restaurant, starting a new business, replacing the old dock for the association… please give the code office a call.
A one-hour meeting can provide the tools you need to move forward in a positive way and not have to butt heads with anyone.
For those who just like to butt heads, remember this—arguing with a code officer is kind of like wrestling with a pig in the mud… after a while you get to realize the pig enjoys it. We don’t really enjoy it, but we deal with it.