Having lived in the city my whole life I could never have imagined that a shed on my property would cause such HAVOC!
Let's see:
1. bought the house in 2003: 13,000 square feet (it takes up 2 lots) with a pool, pool house (electric but no running water. it houses the plumbing for the pool and pump) and a 10 X 10 metal shed - everything went smoothly, no issues were raised.
2. In 2006, we received a notice that there was an open permit application on the "pool house" (nothing said about the other shed.
3. Hired an attorney, submitted the application, kept calling the inspector and the TOH. 6 months of calling and emails and letters ... nothing ... it got dropped ... so we thought!
4. Fast forward to Good Friday 2014. after 3 refinances (again nothing came up)
5. 3 kids through college, and with no basement, garage or attic, we put up an 8X10 rubbermaid resin shed to store all this stuff.
6. Inspector shows up at the house and issues us a violation notice to appear in court because nothing has been done on the pool house since 2003, and oh ... by the way... you cannot have that many sheds on your property! UGHHH and it starts
7. We took down the rubbermaid shed. leaving the 10 x 10 and the pool house
8. Hire an attorney (who was useless) because we wasted money and time only to find out we needed an expeditor.
9. Get an electrician to make sure the electrical in the pool house is okay
10. Got an electrical inspection - passed, thank goodness
11. Hire the expeditor to do all the measuring, and drawings.
12. Find out that the Pool house is considered a Shed, because it has no running water.
13. We then find out it doesn't matter how large your property you can only have ONE SHED. Great ...
14. so we now know we have to get a variance. But first they have to deny the application for the permits of the 2 remaining sheds.
15. Oh almost forgot ... we now have a 12' POD sitting on our front lawn ... but that's okay ... REALLY???
16. August 2014 - After close to $8K (legal, expeditor, application fees, electrical) applications were submitted. Now we keep going to court once a month waiting for the building department to issue a denial so we can apply for the variance.
One of the town attorneys says to us ... why not just take down the 2nd shed? I looked at him and said "sir with all due respect, we are in our sixties, we put three kids through college that have no place to put their stuff yet, no garage, no basement, no attic and a 12 ft POD now on my front lawn until I can figure out where to put everything." He looked at me and said "oh, you need the sheds." No ... you think!!!
I sent a complaint to Kate Murray's office. they just sent me a letter..." we have forwarded your complaint to the department of buildings." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!
And after all of this I guarantee, they will just increase our taxes too because we have a second SHED!!
And so now the saga will continue...who knows when this will end. And my family want to know when I will retire .... uhhhh not happening!
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