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DEL.ICIO.USBuilding porch requires red tape
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Do you want to do a story about Snellville?”
Posing that question to me is like offering crack to a crack head. It’s what Judy Ackerman asked the other day when she rang with a story about a couple who want to build a screened porch for their backyard.
Ralph and Jacqueline Blanchard want to do it legally. Sometimes following the law means dealing with bureaucracy, rules and regulations that don’t make a whole heap of sense to everyday people. So the Blanchards turned to Ackerman, a neighbor and friend, to help navigate City Hall. After sitting in on a meeting they had Wednesday with city officials, I see why.
“Maybe they should build a crematory,” quipped Ackerman, poking fun at the city for a zoning classification that will allow a crematory to operate near a neighborhood whose residents are none too pleased with the business’ location.
The Blanchards need a city-approved variance because the proposed porch would encroach on the required setback. The variance must be approved by a nine-member Zoning Board of Appeals.
But I’m getting ahead of the story. Before going before the board, the former funeral home owners must apply for the variance, an application process that requires a landfill of paperwork, not to mention a $250 fee. These items are part of the “submittal checklist”:
A certificate of title of the property. A map of the property. A list of adjoining property owners, their addresses and tax parcel numbers. A site and concept plan. Proof that property taxes are paid. An analysis/details of the waiver request. Nine copies of the application packet. A CD/ROM of the site and concept plan as well as other documents.
The Blanchards just want a porch so they can enjoy the outdoors sans mosquitoes. I’m not advocating skirting the law, but this sweet couple could have done what some people do. Build without a peep to City Hall.
“We couldn’t do that,” Jacqueline Blanchard told me. “We’re Christians. We want to follow the law.”
“We want to be able to sleep with ourselves at night,” added Ralph Blanchard, who’s been in and out of the hospital as of late.
Laws, even bad ones, are made to serve a purpose. And I’m sure valid reasons exist for Snellville’s variance application process. But it seems to me Snellville, as well as other municipalities, should have a separate, more streamlined procedure when it comes to seemingly harmless home projects.
This project, in the words of Ralph Blanchard, is little more than a “box” that will be built over a concrete slab. He told acting city planner Jason M. Thompson, and John Dennis, the zoning administrator, as much Wednesday. The Badie Tour tagged along.
“There is no plumbing in it, no heating and AC, and no wiring involved,” he said. “It will just be a box, sitting there, that affects nobody. Seems like to me this should be a simplified process.”
Thompson and Dennis are two of the most professional and respectful city workers I’ve ever come across. And I’d like to think it wasn’t because yours truly occupied a seat in the corner. They seemed to care.
“We can do a lot to help you through this process,” Thompson said. “It’s pretty complicated, but this is the only way to make it legal. I don’t have a problem helping you through the process. I know it seems excessive for something like this.”
Ralph Blanchard turned to his wife of 60 years.
“You want this porch bad enough?” he asked.
“Whatever you want to do,” she answered. “I think we can do it.”
And with the help of Ackerman, I think they can.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By LT5000
August 7, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Beware if “Mime” shows up and offers to build a porch for you.
Police are looking for a man nicknamed “Mime” (mee-may), whom they say raped a 14-year-old Snellville girl at her neighbor’s house last month.
According to police, the girl was visiting her neighbors and swimming at their pool July 15. After she finished swimming, she came back into the house, where she said the man, a day laborer who has occasionally stayed at that home, dragged the girl into a bedroom and raped her, Snellville police Det. Damon Harper said.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20’s, between 5-foot-10 and 6-0 with an athletic build. The girl’s neighbors do not know his name, only his nickname.
Yep Rick, just some of those “undocumented workers” who are rapidly becoming a majority in Gwinnett. Was he committing a rape that an American was too lazy to commit?
LT5000
By Scottt
August 7, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
LT5000,
Although the rape you speak of is rather disturbing, its not appropriate in this thread. Please stick to the topic. Take your hate to another thread.
By Oz
August 7, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Most porches are total eyesores, man.
By LT5000
August 8, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
Scottt,
Hate? I was just providing a community service for anyone considering having a porch built.
As you can plainly see this is yet another vapid Badie blog. Absent of any substance whatsoever.
Surely one of these days Badie could address the real issues facing Gwinnett County.
LT5000
By Sayme
August 8, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Badie, I know you could have found a better topic than this to write about. Who the heck cares as to what these people do? Frankly find something better to write about man.. than this crummy story.
By JC
August 8, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Do the Blanchard’s have a contractor or are they planning on building the porch themselves? The reason I ask is this should be the job of the contractor to apply for the licenses. That is part of their job - IF they are a decent business person.
The reason you have to get these permits is to PROTECT the homeowner, because building inspectors are part of the process. They are to come out to the site of the project at various stages to make sure the contractor is building the structure to code. I am speaking from experience, these codes are pretty stern, and you will not get a title of occupancy until it is done properly.
Everyone wants something CHEAP and quick these days. Why waste your money on a crappy structure that, if fails, could bring lawsuits by injured parties.
In these days of cheap labor, shoddy work and lawsuit happy America - it’s best to do things the RIGHT way!
By Mark
August 8, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
What is it going to take to make people realize that hispanics and blacks are the filth of this county?? Wake up white people!!!!
By CDC Atlanta
August 8, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Mark ask your mom how much crack she did in your first trimester. Could explain alot, pal.
PS. try the salve
By Steve
August 8, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Thank god for laws like these. The last thing I want is for my neighbors to whip up some porch that may be unsafe, unsightly, or who knows what they would do that could affect my property value.
By Mark
August 8, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
CDC Atlanta referring to ones mother is quite immature. But I’m not surprised. That goes hand in hand with ignorance. Best go out and buy a spare pair of rose colored glasses in case the ones you’re wearing break…..
By Pot Kettle
August 8, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
Oh, the irony, Mark. Thanks for making my day!
By JC
August 8, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
After reading this article yet another time for clarification, I can see further problems for this homeowner.
They describe the porch to be built, several times I might add, as nothing more than a BOX. From the description given, I think they are going to run into problems!
Ajacent property owners are going to have to agree to this structure. If you get even one homeowner that is not happy with what is presented, you can forget the porch.
Where are the Blanchard’s family and what role are they playing in helping their elders with this project? This sounds very similar to the OTHER Snellville homeowners that have been left by their families to deal with erroding property values and zoning issues (aka crematory).
I think Ms. Ackerman is at least doing what she can in an attempt to help these people. Good luck!
By nice
August 8, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Rules are put into place to protect property values, ensure good craftsmanship and ensure safety during and after construction. I know following the rules as Christians may be difficult and confusing but the law is the law. The City screwed up on the Chick-Fil-A, the zoning for the crematory and this difficult process for this couple. The City is at fault for these mistakes not Chick-Fil-A and the crematory and everyone is bashing these businesses. WHY? The politicians are at fault.
How would this couple feel if they TOO followed the LAW like Chick-Fil-A and the crematory and when it came time to sit in their screened room, the City said, “You can’t occupy the space.” Even if you followed the law!
I think the process is difficult as well and I think the crematory may be better some place else but the City and every politician should be removed from office for their stupidity. We do need businesses to relocate to Snellville! I don’t care if we have 10 crematories here, we need jobs and growth.
I hope these people get their room built, Chick-Fil-A gets their driveway and the crematory gets to operate. The Law is the Law and eventhough the City “F’d” up we have to live with it and correct the rules and replace the politicians or NO BUSINESSES will ever want to come to Snellville.
It’s funny how there are two attorney’s on City council and all of this nonsense is going on. Wouldn’t they read the laws that are on the books and highlight their recommended changes to make our city better? STOP CRYING FOUL and blaming someone else for these poor rules and laws! I know when I have taken a new job, I read the policy manual and if I am in charge, I make necessary changes to make things safer and better. Maybe we have no need for an attorney to be on council. VOTE or IMPEACH THEIR LAME AES OUT!**
OK. I feel much better.
By edd
August 9, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
my dealing with the city of duluth is that if it dont hurt anybody(your neighbor)dont ask the city just do it
By Sayme
August 9, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Mark, You are one sick dumb fart white man. You think your race is the best? You do your crime and stealing in a cunning way. The only way blacks and hispanics get caught in doing thins is because the cops are always hunting us down to make it look like we are the culprits. You are a sneaky b*******. the first to rape women and slaves too and cause trouble with your guns. No wonder the world hates you boy and others like you. You want to get rid of a vehicle you cant sell and you take it to the inner city with keys in there to leave it and then complain your vehicle has been stold. You dumb a* fart of a white man you rob people of their dignity. Go back to the hills somewhere in your cave and screw the animals.
By Mark
August 9, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Sayme I see the truth hit home! You are a fine example of the rampant filth that resides in Gwinnett. Maba la pinga.
BTW, Try www.dictionary.com
By Lee
August 9, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
So, the government makes you jump through mounds of red tape just to build a porch onto your house.
Think about that the next time a politician wants to nationalize health care.
By Sayme
August 9, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Mark and so is your Mada.. the one who hatched you. birds of a feather flock together bye…dont need to say anything else to you.
By Mark
August 10, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Sayme Fine with me. you never said anything worth reading anyway you filthy pc of human flotsam.
By ламинат
August 13, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
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