Harmless accessory structure , or future mother-in-law apartment/crackhouse? Discuss.....
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Oh Oh, I wonder what they did to himMary Welch said that in early 1997 she went to the city's permit department where an official told her a permit to build an elaborate structure in a tree in the front yard was not needed, Smith said. The building inspector is now dead.
ecofem said:I probably should have also added....
Treehouse torn down.
Repo Man said:We have adopted the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy with treehouses.
ecofem said:I have nightmares about treehouses.
In Orlando, a family built a treehouse in their front yard (against the Zoning Code). After construction was complete, they got flagged by the Code Inspector, and came before the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a variance.
I was on the Board.
News cameras rolling...
Children testifying. Petitions presented. Parents pleading.
Variance denied.
It wasn't pleasant.
Habanero said:Children testified, what do they say "I like my treehouse!"? I think it's a nice way of showing children they need to follow rules or be punished, but I can be evil sometimes.
Zoning Goddess said:From the photo, it appears it is only connected to the tree by one board. It's not "in" the tree or supported by the tree. I say it's an accessory structure.
What happens when the kids outgrow the "treehouse"?
ecofem said:
I still get harassed to this day by coworkers saying I'm the big bad wolf who helped blow the treehouse down.
*Grr* (or bark? what do wolves do?)
Zoning Goddess said:I think you're supposed to howl, and then gnaw their limbs off.
Habanero said:snarl
I've had applicants cry before, ask how I sleep at night, tell me I'm ruining the lives of every child in my current city... I told her got about 8 hours on average.
Michael Stumpf said:Too much tact... I'd tell them I don't like kids anyway.
Michael Stumpf said:I could see an exception depending on the size of the front yard. If the house is a couple hundred feet or more from the road, and the thing is not in an obvious place, then maybe it does not do any harm.
Hehehe; there's the "fun" in zoning... It only gets better when you're frustrating the polygrips (old farts).Habanero said:snarl
I've had applicants cry before, ask how I sleep at night, tell me I'm ruining the lives of every child in my current city... I told her got about 8 hours on average.
I
JNA said:did you mention their web
http://www.saveourtreehouse.com
Streck said:I have heard it on good sources that in an effort to show good faith compromise, the city offered to assist the owner with local volunteers in disassembling the treehouse, and then re-assembling it at a tree in the rear yard, thereby rendering the treehouse as a legally complying accessory building.
The judge was made aware of this offer.
The owner refused the proposed settlement.
mcmplans said:
Michael Stumpf said:I think if I were a neighbor I would get some old pieces of plywood, two by fours, and plastic sheeting to make myself the most godafwul ugly "treehouse" you have ever seen. It would need electricity, of course, to power the strobe lights. After erecting it in my front yard, I would wait to see how long it took for the neighbors to begin calling for the city to enforce its codes.
Zoning Goddess said:You have an evil mind. Hehehe. Cool... Mind games with the pompous neighbors...
Zoning Goddess said:[
What happens when the kids outgrow the "treehouse"? [/B]
Michael Stumpf said:I think if I were a neighbor I would get some old pieces of plywood, two by fours, and plastic sheeting to make myself the most godafwul ugly "treehouse" you have ever seen. It would need electricity, of course, to power the strobe lights. After erecting it in my front yard, I would wait to see how long it took for the neighbors to begin calling for the city to enforce its codes.
From the photo, it appears it is only connected to the tree by one board. It's not "in" the tree or supported by the tree. I say it's an accessory structure.