Architectural Articles
Doing It Yourself Is Not What It Used To Be
From the stories my parents have told me, it was not unusual for young
couples in their generation to build their own houses. Back in Michigan,
my parents lived temporarily in a converted garage while they built their
home next door. My grandparents had also constructed a home plus a roadside
restaurant, lodge and cabins. As far as I know, no licensed professionals
were involved at the time.
Before we get too nostalgic however, remember that I am recalling a bygone
era in another state when and where building codes and zoning regulations
were either nonexistent or minimal. Just try to do the same today in Monterey
County, California, and see what happens. My relatives would probably
laugh (or cry) at the idea of getting permission from a government agent
to build on their property. Today, the issues of individual property rights
and planned growth are quite controversial in this county.
If you have attempted any building project recently, large or small, you now know that we live in one of the most regulated areas of the nation. The building process is complicated by a myriad of overlapping national, state, regional, county and city government codes and ordinances, not to mention neighborhood design review committees and homeowner associations. The long standing tradition of doing it yourself is severely handicapped today.
For example, if you are thinking of trimming or removing trees on your property to add a bedroom to your house, wait! If you live in town, you must first apply for a permit from the city forester in the Public Works Department; if you live in an unincorporated area, then check with the county planners who maintain lists of particular species of trees that are protected.
Here is another example that may surprise many homeowners in north county. Did you know that some of the hills of Prunedale are in the Coastal Zone? Planners have told me that the coastal zone averages five miles in width, but the most restrictive area is between the shoreline and first public highway. The zone narrows from a few hundred feet near the Monterey Peninsula Country Club on 17 Mile Drive and widens to several miles approaching Highway 101 because of the inland marshes of the Elkhorn Slough. The Coastal Commission will jump in with their requirements for landscape and erosion control plans, fees and time extensions. Call Monterey County Planning to see how your plans may be affected.
In our highly regulated society, the architect can be your advocate.
Although you could try to wend your way through the bureaucratic maze
on your own, many people do not have the time, energy or patience to succeed.
However, local architects have the training and experience to guide you
through the entire process, from obtaining use permits from the Planning
Department to submitting complete construction plans to the Building &
Inspection Department that incorporate changes in national codes and local
ordinances.
Published in The Californian
