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JH Sep 03 : 09:33
Congratulations to Mayor Still and the Council. They successfully stuck it to the taxpayer again.
HelenAnn Aug 27 : 12:46
From Ani Dadron: My dog Gretchen died peacefully last week while we were up in Maryland. She's buried on my friends farm near the miniature donkey's corral. Thanks to all for your kind words about the good ole big red dog. She was a sweetheart.
Marvin Aug 02 : 18:26
Pool Hours for August 2010 11 am to 8 pm Fulton Co Schools Start August 23,2010 Pool Open (schooldays) 4Pm to 8pm 8Am to 4PM More Hours To Swim Pass Members Swim at Your Own Risk September Weekdays 4Pm to 8 Pm September weekend 4,5,6(Labor Day) 11 Am to 8 Pm September 7,8,9,10 4 Pm to 8 Pm September 11,12 11 Am to 8 Pm
Pool Closes Sunday, September 12, 2010
editor Oct 18 : 17:42
Members, Login to post a "milestone" in the Chatbox: happy birthday or anniversary, get well or welcome a new baby, or... The editor will post major announcements from time to time...
Registered Member #118 Joined: Thu Mar 09 2006, 12:26PM {LOCATION}Posts: 186
I know what Fishing Guy is talking about... Grandma's Kid must not talk to other folks in M.P. if he doens't understand the problems with permits and code enforcement that's been going on here over the last few years.
Isn't it interesting that it can takes months for 1 person to get a permit to have some wiring done in their house, or months for someone to get a permit to put a shed on their property; but that some "new" landowners or select people just seem to get what they want. Just look across the lake at that oversized house sitting on 3 lots, if you don't understand what we're talking about.
Permits and code enforcement hasn't been on the up and up here for the last few years... if you or someone you know in M.P. has had to get a permit or had a complaint about a code not being enforced you know what this is all about.
Registered Member #115 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:52AM {LOCATION}Posts: 71
Cheeful,
I own the oversized house sitting on 3 lots across the lake, and I can tell you we spent more than 21 months obtaining our building permit: - 3 months obtaining sewer capacity for Mountain Park so we could be sure it was possible to build in the first place, - 7 months waiting for MP Building Moratoriums to expire, - 5 months getting our plans approved by the BZP Committee, including many, many rounds of absurd requests [many of which were clearly indicated on the first set of plans which we filed], - 6 months with the Fulton County Soil and Watershed District obtaining their approval for our plans, which include parts of the footings of our home below the "top of dam" elevation for Lake Cherful and which resulted in special engineering and a private hydrology study of Lake Cherful to insure our home construction did not affect the "impoundment area" of the lake. None of these things has ever been required of any other MP resident (look at the lake and count the houses that sit below the top-of-dam elevation).
We did not receive special favors or even fair consideration. Get your facts straight before you suggest (or imply) things you obviously know nothing about.
I agree with you, however, that “permits and code enforcement hasn’t been on the up and up here for the last few years.” I am currently preparing to answer a Citation that has been absurdly issued, and there is a second administrative action pending which the City Administration has refused to explain for 6 weeks. The problem we have experienced during our project is an abuse of the law by those sworn to administer it evenly and fairly. Come over some time and we can talk about this issue and I’ll show you the other side of the argument you are attempting to make. The problem in Mountain Park begins in City Hall, but it is not with the Mayor’s office (who, by the way, has almost nothing to do with permitting and code enforcement in our City).
George, Let me ask you one ? when are you going to fix the buffer zone ? I have looked at your plans and they should never have been accected, By your plans you, the builder,and the building insp.knew you where going to desturb the buffer zone.
you said (but it is not with the Mayor’s office (who, by the way, has almost nothing to do with permitting and code enforcement in our City). where have you been? He stated he issues building permits. at the 2nd q&a.
Looking at your plans shows intent to brake our codes here in mtn park. and you cannot show it does not.
Anyone can go to city hall and look at them and see what I`m talking about.
George is correct in that he (the mayor) doesn't approve them. He may oversee the process and the persons who issue them but that has nothing to do with the final approval of them. That is determined by whether or not it meets the criteria set forth in the code and the people in the review process. The Menden’s permit was submitted to severe scrutiny by many people inside (council members) and outside (EPD, SWCC etc.) of Mountain Park. If, out of all the people including council members and people who do this for a living, nobody caught the buffer issue then you can’t blame George since this is not what he does for a living. He just wants to build his house. Jim Still
Registered Member #115 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:52AM {LOCATION}Posts: 71
Roger,
Visit City Hall and ask to see the Revegetation Plan for our site if you are really interested. It is about 35 pages long, and includes a copy of the Approved Plant List for revegetating buffers of State Waters in Georgia. We are proposing to revegetate in accordance with this plant list, as opposed to the standard that applies to all other homes around the lake (who have simply planted grass down to the shoreline), and according to their formula (all native GA plants) (40% shade trees, 20% small trees, 20% shrubs, 15% forbs, balance grasses). Note that the lakeside 10' of our site has been undisturbed (and is also sewer easement where planting is restricted), so we will revegetate where we can plant, but according to the State formula. The Fulton County Soil and Watershed District will approve the plan before any plants are put in the ground.
We were trying to fix the buffer May 4-6, but we have been in an interminable "approval process" once again and we are stuck until we get approval. Now, the planting season is over so we won't be able to plant until fall anyway. Ask the BZP why the buffer has not been restored.
The City Clerk issues permits here, and believe me, the Mayor has little control over the City Clerk. Talk to Audrey if you have any questions about this. For permitting issues, she takes her instructions from the BZP Committee and the City Council - they have received copies of each letter/inquiry I have provided the City Clerk, and building permits are issued once the "required items" in the MP building process have been satisfied. It should not be discretionary - meet the requirements and get a permit. You can decide for yourself if discretion is involved in the City's current process and with the current personnel. I have my own opinions.
Code Enforcement is strictly between the Code Enforcement Officer and the City Clerk. (Sometimes the Code Enforcement Officer solicits the help of local fisherman to police soil and erosion issues in Mountain Park, but tangible evidence of this is often elusive.)
Registered Member #115 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:52AM {LOCATION}Posts: 71
I'll comment over the weekend when I have more time if you want to begin a dialog about the buffer issue. Our lot had a difficult and unique configuration, exascerbated by the (incorrect) location of the road (moved toward the lake more than 10' from the original City plat). In construction, I understand, you "do the best you can with the property configuration", balancing the property owner's right to build on the property with the interests of the City and uniform building laws. There will be some in MP who have a "tough luck" philosopy, but I side with those who believe property owners should be able to use their property. Ultimately, after a long and arduous process, a building permit was issued for my property.
There was no question we would have to enter the buffer minimally to build the house which we proposed and which was permitted. We committed to do so in a way that would insure (a) lake protection, and (b) with buffer revegetation.
The discussion in our City over our "buffer disturbance" is so silly - we are trying to protect the lake buffer like it is something sacred or magic. (Don't read too much into that sentence, I believe the buffer is important, too, and have gone to extraordinary measures to protect it and our lake.) The buffer on the lake side of our new home was completely destroyed when the sewer line was originally installed, and will necessarily be disturbed to make our sewer connection. The prior property owners obtained a permit to scrape away the shorline to create a small grass area. Every other home in MP just plants grass in what we are now protecting as a buffer.
We have and will continue to protect our buffer during construction, and it will continue to protect our lovely lake. We will revegetate under unbelievable supervision, and we will do it carefully. Let's get on with more important issues, let us plant and let the plants grow, and return civility to our community.
Fishing Guy, it is definitely too large of a house on too little land, that close to the lake shore. The city made a major mistake to issue a permit on the house without some design changes. BZP could have refused to issue a permit because it was an inharmonious structure for the environment and also for disturbing the buffer. The problem began with the architect in its design and then to BZP for compliance and design approval and not requesting some changes. The property owner probably had confidence in all of them and felt protected. With all of this, it had to go right. How many people in our government are qualified to see a house drawn on a piece of paper and envision how the house would look actually constructed in that situation? Council members should govern and represent the public and not these other professions that they are not qualified to do. There are too many of them which creates too much friction. They are understandably inexperienced and unqualified, as expected, since it is composed of ordinary citizens doing the jobs both of governing, policing, accounting and engineering etc. The citizens are the only ones that can correct this situation.
Following The Bill Campbell Play Book
