Good call on the misspellings—I ran into something similar when I was researching zoning variances for a duplex conversion. Took forever to realize someone had uploaded the key document as "dupelx" instead of "duplex." 🙄
Anyway, since we're talking permits and inspectors, I'm curious if anyone's had luck appealing directly to the planning board after an initial denial? I've heard mixed things—some say it's worth the effort, others think it's just a waste of time. I haven't personally tried it yet, but I'm considering it for a current project that's stuck in limbo over setback requirements.
My hesitation is that appealing might put me on their radar in a negative way...like maybe they'll scrutinize future applications more closely. On the other hand, if there's solid precedent or documentation backing your case (like your sustainability reports), maybe it's worth pushing back gently?
Would be interested to hear if anyone's successfully navigated an appeal or if there are better alternatives out there.
I totally get your hesitation about appealing. Haven't tried it myself yet, but a friend did recently and actually got approved after providing additional documentation. Maybe check if anyone local's had luck with specific board members first?
- Honestly, appealing can be a bit like playing permit roulette—sometimes you win, sometimes you're stuck explaining your fence height to someone who hasn't smiled since 1998.
- I'd definitely ask around locally first...some board members are surprisingly chill once you know their quirks.
Good points about appealing—been there myself a few times.
- Definitely agree on chatting up local board members first. Sometimes a quick, informal conversation clears things up faster than paperwork.
- If that doesn't pan out, you might consider tweaking your plans slightly. Had a similar issue once—ended up adjusting my fence height by just a few inches and sailed through approval afterward.
- Hang in there...permit headaches are practically a rite of passage for homeowners.
Good suggestions overall, but I'd caution against relying too much on informal chats with board members. In my experience, even if they're friendly and seem receptive, nothing's official until it's in writing. Had a neighbor who thought he was good to go after a casual talk—ended up having to tear down half his deck because the verbal okay didn't hold up later. Always safer to get something documented, even if it's just an email confirming the conversation...
