crisis averted

Yesterday, with 2 days to go to the big meeting, one of our future neighbors decided to oppose parts of our project. They threatened to write a letter to the planning commission and have our project pulled from the Sept. 6th agenda. My understanding is this: they had issues with the possible change in the drainage pattern of rainwater off the road and the basketball hoop that has existed in the in-laws' driveway for the last 30 years.

This was distressing to say the least. Luckily, DJ, our project manager/bomb diffuser was able to meet with these neighbors yesterday afternoon. We believe he was able to make some slight changes to the tentative map to satisfy the neighbors' requests as far as the drainage is concerned. The basketball hoop... whatever. That has nothing to do with our project, and honestly, it has nothing to do with their property either - it's 120 feet from their house. Things might be different if we all lived in one of those new subdivisions where the lots are only slightly bigger than the McMansions built on them, but we're talking about a semi-rural area, where the houses are on about an acre of land each.

Personally, I just think these neighbors are bitter because their property is right next to the busy road, and last summer a house was built to the side of their property. Once our construction is done, the only part of our property near their property will be our driveway and goats. My final thought: quit your whining and let us get on with our life. Yes, I'm upset about this. It's been almost 4 years, and to have things nearly derailed with 2 days to go to such a big step forward is incredibly frustrating. All we want is a place to raise a family. Surely they should be able to understand that.

We might have something to blog about in a week and a half...

I really do apologize for the lack of posts lately. But really, there has been absolutely nothing happening. We went on vacation, but that's about it. Nothing with the house.

The HumCo Planning Commission Meeting is on Sept. 6. That's when we'll find out if we have are able to split the lot or not.

I'll post for sure late next week...

I've been busy.

I made these tiles in my class at the Fire Arts Center. I went a little above and beyond expectations, but I have a vision for our house.

The koi, lily pad and lotus flower tiles will be installed on the walls of the walk-in shower in the master bath, with small mosaic tile around them to look like water.
The small rose tile will be used as accent tiles somewhere... probably on the backsplash in the kitchen.

I've made a lot of other tiles, but I really don't know yet how I'm going to use them. The style of the other tiles varies SO much; I just wanted to see how certain glazes would act on certain clays and to test out different techniques.

It's been fun, but it's not over yet... several more weeks of class (round #2) to go!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!

PUBLIC NOTICE
HUMBOLDT COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND INTENT TO ADOPT THE ASSOCIATED
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS

On Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, the Humboldt County Planning Commission will hold public hearings in the Board of Supervisors' Chamber, Humboldt County Courthouse, Eureka, California, to consider the matters listed below. It is being recommended that the Planning Commission adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (finding of no significant adverse environmental effect) on the indicated project. For further information regarding the proposed project and the draft Mitigated Negative Declaration may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Humboldt County Community Development Services, 3015 "H" Street, Eureka, California 95501. Telephone (707) 445-7541 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

blah blah blah

1. A Parcel Map Subdivision application, Case No. PMS-06-14; ARTHUR & ANN JONES, applicants; File No. APN 312-131-27; Blue Lake area. A Minor Subdivision to divide an approximate 2.3 acre parcel into two (2) parcels of 1.1 and 1.2 acres respectively. The parcel is currently developed with a single family residence and an on-site septic system which will be situated on proposed Parcel 1. Proposed Parcel 1 will continue to be served with water by the City of Blue Lake and proposed Parcel 2 will be served by an on-site well and on-site septic system. The proposed parcels will be accessed via a 25 foot right of way (Buckley Road) which requires an exception to lot width requirements per Section 325-9 of the Subdivision Regulations for proposed Parcel 2. Powers Creek, a perennial creek with a 100 foot Streamside Management Area (SMA) flows through the northerly portion of the parcel toward the west. No reduction in the Streamside Management Area is requested. The project requires an exception to Section 3112-3(a) of the Firesafe Ordinance to allow for a reduced access road width. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, IN THE BLUE LAKE AREA, ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 58 BUCKLEY ROAD. NOTE: The Humboldt County Planning Commission intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for this project.

more blah blah...

We're approaching the next hurdle!

whatever...

Looks like we didn't get on the August 2nd meeting agenda either. How were we lucky enough to stumble upon the black hole of bureaucracy?

We know for sure that we won't be able to build anything this year, but if the powers that be don't get their s&!# together, we won't be able to build next year either. There are still several hoops to jump through once the lot split is approved before we can build.

baby steps — backward?

We didn't make it onto the July 19th Planning Commission Hearing agenda.

The roller coaster continues.

baby steps — don't get too excited yet.

So, we got word about a week ago that the CA Dept. of Forestry (CDF) has granted our request for an exception concerning the road improvements! WOO HOO! Our case has also been tentatively placed on the agenda for the July Panning Commission Hearing. This does not mean that the Planning Department has recommended our case for approval, though. Public Works still has issues with it, but the CDF exception should help sway Public Works' decision.

We're not jumping up and down yet, but we are crossing our fingers behind our backs and giggling a little bit. The hearing is on July 19 (my little bro's birthday, which I'm taking as a good sign) and we'd like to invite anyone who is on our side of this whole fiasco to show up and plead our case. I've been told I need to put a pillow in my shirt (fake pregnancy) and sob the whole time. I'm not sure I'll go that far, but it should be an emotionally charged meeting.