Sunday, August 26, 2007

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...

Thursday, August 2, 2007

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!

Saturday, July 28, 2007

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!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

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.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

baby steps — backward?

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

The roller coaster continues.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

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.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

the latest? not much.

I hear from Andy's dad that the latest news is that the Planning Dept. has submitted a request to the CA Dept. of Forestry (CDF) for them to approve or reject our road improvement plan. As you may remember from an earlier post (http://bluelakebungalow.blogspot.com/2007/01/recap_543.html), the road improvement is the main dispute in our lot split procedure.

Our plan is to trim back the trees and build an 80' turnout between our new driveway and Andy's parent's existing driveway. The county thinks we should put in 400' of new street with storm drains, sidewalks, etc. CDF is supposed to be the first responders in the event of a fire in our area. However, we know that the Blue Lake Fire Dept. actually would be. Whatever. My understanding of this submittal to CDF is that the county needs to find out if CDF thinks that they will be able to maneuver their trucks around the area given the turnout we have planned.

Andy's dad said that the CDF submittal is a timed thing. (THANK GOODNESS!) Meaning: if CDF does not respond negatively within the time period, it's the same as responding positively. Silence equals consent. In this particular case, I think I like it. Let's just hope the time period isn't 6 months.