do building setbacks apply to digging underground? (Austin: inspection, salaries)

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by owlman

Mine's the same... Property line, strip of land, sidewalk, hell strip, curb. The tcad plat follows the survey. I don't know why they do it like that instead of putting the property line at the curb and additional easements in.

They do it that way so they have the right to widen the road if it should be come necessary in the future. If your property line went all of the way up to the street edge they would have to buy the land from you if they ever need to widen the road.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

The heavy blackline is your property line. Yes that is normal for your property line to be behind the sidewalk, a couple of feet in your case it appears from the drawing.

P.U.E. means Public Utility Easement. The "25' B.L." is the typical 25' Building Line, a setback line required for the building.

I'm pretty sure that every part of a structure has to be behind the setback lines, front and sides.

does this include any underground stuff? what I was hoping was that I could build a basement under the driveway.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by Austin97

does this include any underground stuff? what I was hoping was that I could build a basement under the driveway.

Seriously? I don't think there is any way you could get a building permit for that. Plus the whole issue of water tables making leak-proof basements nearly impossible, digging through limestone, AND then there is the egress problem (you need at least two ways to get in and out of the building. And it will extend into the easement? Pretty sure that will be a no-go.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Seriously? I don't think there is any way you could get a building permit for that. Plus the whole issue of water tables making leak-proof basements nearly impossible, digging through limestone, AND then there is the egress problem (you need at least two ways to get in and out of the building. And it will extend into the easement? Pretty sure that will be a no-go.

We live on a hill so we are most likely fine with water table, building our pool taught me that it doesnt cost much at all to dig through limestone (about 400/day for 6 days for the pool), we would put entrances outside the 25' area.

Our pool for example is within the 10 ft rear boundary and that was fine.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by Austin97

We live on a hill so we are most likely fine with water table, building our pool taught me that it doesnt cost much at all to dig through limestone (about 400/day for 6 days for the pool), we would put entrances outside the 25' area.

Our pool for example is within the 10 ft rear boundary and that was fine.

Well, who knows? Give it a try. You'll probably need a site plan and an engineer's stamp on the plans too. There can be more utility lines and other cables running through front easements so it might be more problematic than a pool in the back.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Austin97

does this include any underground stuff? what I was hoping was that I could build a basement under the driveway.

As I already said:

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I'm pretty sure that every part of a structure has to be behind the setback lines, front and sides.

I'd be real surprised if the basement was allowed in the setback area. But it doesn't cost anything to go down to the building inspection office and ask them.

[G Grasshopper]

Just out of curiosity, what is your definition of a "root cellar"? My grandmother had one - a room in the basement with a sand floor where she kept home canned goods. In a very traditional sense, a root cellar was where you could bury your root vegetables in the sand floor to help them keep over the winter. I haven't heard the term used much, but I doubt you are planning a structure in that older sense. Is it just a basement for storage that you are planning?

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

Just out of curiosity, what is your definition of a "root cellar"? My grandmother had one - a room in the basement with a sand floor where she kept home canned goods. In a very traditional sense, a root cellar was where you could bury your root vegetables in the sand floor to help them keep over the winter. I haven't heard the term used much, but I doubt you are planning a structure in that older sense. Is it just a basement for storage that you are planning?

It would be used as a

1) wine cellar (!)
2) bulk food storage (could be used as an actual root cellar)
3) car could drive over entrance so I could work on the car from underneath
4) tornado shelter
5) general storage, stuff in the attic has been getting damaged from the heat.

[LongLiveCassettes]

You can always call the city clerk at 974-2210 and ask for Mr. Gernsey in Planning, he would know.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by LongLiveCassettes

You can always call the city clerk at 974-2210 and ask for Mr. Gernsey in Planning, he would know.

Ill try this #. I did call and all I got was automated systems and voicemail.