Why is it that so often you can tell who is going to do something, before they actually do it? Maybe it’s your kids. Moms and Dads can usually tell which one is more prone to do something that doesn’t make much sense.
Things like riding their bike off a huge cliff just to see if they can make it to the bottom without crashing.
It may not be something really illegal, more just plain stupid.
Time has proven itself here in the code office; it may not be kids doing stupid stuff.
A lot of adults fit into that category as well.
This last week has been the official start of the usual spring time stupid activity regarding building and zoning issues.
And none of them involve kids. But the stupidity is running strong.
Without naming names or places, here are some of the issues handled in the last week or so… ever since the weather has tried to be better.
A new house is about to start by a contractor that [should] know better, but after six months of planning, still no plans.
The weather has turned good and everyone is in a hurry. The big question… can we start without the plans anyway?… NO… Finally get a set of plans from the architect by email / in pdf format.
Print them out and the scale is very small and hard to read.
But the snow load rating could be read… and guess what? It reads 80 lbs per foot, where almost 100 lbs per foot is required.
Stop right there, that’s a very, very basic design criteria. Everything that holds up the roof, walls, window and door headers, beams, posts, foundation is all based on that snow load.
It’s not just the roof assembly; it’s everything that holds up the roof as well.
Everyone involved knows better, the customer is the one who suffers.
Another individual, who has built a bunch of houses, buys a fairly large wooded lot. He already has openly claimed his intent to build a house. That’s great.
Activity starts, without any communication with the code office. Many trees are cut down, stumped out, piles of dirt moved around, a driveway roughed in and partially stoned and a bull dozer and an excavator is on-site.
So this office calls and asks; what’s going on? There are no permits? The answer, we’re just getting firewood… Really? Do we look stupid?…
The potential problems or even violations may include, too many trees cut down per the town’s tree preservation law, the areas disturbed may or may not be the only viable location for a septic system, failure to obtain a permit from the highway department for a new driveway and road cut and since there is a RV living unit parked there now, that may require a permit as well.
A little communication BEFORE work begins can save everybody aggravation. Don’t tell us you’re just getting firewood.
A new dock is going in. It’s only 3 feet by 16 feet, and is adjacent to a boat lift. It is also very close to the adjacent property.
Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but the property already has a dock.
Any property is allowed one dock, if it meets the size and location standards.
Two docks on one property may be allowed if the property has more than 200 feet of shoreline and the owner gets a special permit from the Planning Board first.
The Planning Board is quite understanding about this and has granted this type of permit many times.
But now, this turns into an enforcement action, over a relatively small dock, which all could have been avoided with a phone call to the code office.
A local neighborhood has rallied against a property owner over a building project which was denied for a host of reasons.
The applicant isn’t happy and decides to dress up the property with lots of very noticeable things and colors… of which none appear to be in violation of local laws.
Although it certainly looks pretty silly, it’s not a violation.
Nobody will be happy and the town is in a ‘lose – lose’ situation.
Back to the heart of this article. Kids will be kids. They can do some pretty stupid things, but we kind of expect that from kids.
However, adults? People who know what the rules are but constantly try to get around the process.
And then when things don’t go their way they act out just like kids.
Good, healthy, honest and professional communication can go a long way. You would think adults could figure that out.