Architectural Articles
Cutting Through Red Tape
In the story of Little Dorrit, a novel by Charles Dickens, an unsuspecting character tries to file a patent and encounters lackadaisical bureaucrats unwittingly dripping marmalade onto stacks of rolled patent applications, each tied with a red ribbon. I am sometimes reminded of this image of 19th century England's red tape when I am at city or county offices. This is not to unduly criticize government employees, because I have heard them complain about the same things that frustrate me on the other side of the counter. When seeking information, do not assume anything and ask lots of questions. Write down everything that is said and then ask the agent to verify your notes. Be sure to ask for copies of written forms, regulations, and fees. For best results, be polite, professional and ever so patient with our public servants.
When thinking about constructing a new building or renovating your facility, where do you begin? Start with your city's Planning Department, sometimes called the Department of Community Development (if you are located in town) or the county's Planning Department (if your property is located in an unincorporated area). They will let you know of any restrictions such as property setbacks, easements, water allocation or construction moratoriums. Entire towns, or designated areas within towns, may have design guidelines or review boards that may limit size, height, architectural style, exterior materials and colors. Monterey County has additional regulations governing ridgeline development (do not build on top of a hill silhouetted against the sky as viewed from a nearby road) and scenic easements (do not even think about building on a slope more than 30%).
If your property falls within the coastal zone, the commission will add their requirements (landscape and erosion control plans), fees and time extensions. Call Monterey County Planning to see how your plans may be affected. The coastal zone on the Central Coast averages five miles in width, but the most restrictive area is between the shoreline and the first public highway. The zone narrows to a few hundred feet near the Monterey Peninsula Country Club along 17 Mile Drive and widens to several miles approaching Highway 101 in Prunedale because of the inland marshes of the Elkhorn Slough.
When prepared by a licensed professional, the design and construction drawings will have been evaluated for compliance with the newly revised Uniform Building Code, plus national electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire codes, with state amendments to each. Prior to receiving a building permit, the Building Inspection Department in your city or county will check the plans and list those items requiring clarification on the drawings. Various agencies will list their concerns such as Public Works (roads and driveways), Health (septic system), Fire (sprinklers and fire truck access), and Planning again (site grading and landscaping). Some areas have special agencies or fees, such as water hookup (MPWMD) and traffic mitigation (Carmel Valley Road Fee Ordinance).
Because of my experience with local agencies in the cities and unicoporated areas of Monterey County, I can make the government processing quite tolerable. Rather than letting the restrictions stop your project, I will view these problems as a challenge to develop an optimal solution that will incorporate the regulations. Businesses and property owners will save themselves time and aggravation by using an architect to wend their way through the bureaucratic maze.
Published in The Home Edition, Carmel Publishing Co.
