interiordd.com Blog

Tree cutting permits are submitted.  We are waiting approval.  The approved lot division had to be resubmitted to the county to obtain an official address.  We discovered this week that we need to obtain an administrative variance to build the front porch according to the current plans.  That is going to require visiting each neighbor that abuts the second lot, and getting their signed approval for the porch.  First I have a ten page application to fill out, and then I believe that I have to get a Mylar copy of the plan signed off on as well.  Then it may take a few weeks to catch all of the neighbors at home.  Should be fun!

 Additionally, we’ve been arranging appointments with landscape architects.  We’ve met one, who seemed very knowledgeable, but we are looking forward to hearing from more.  In the meantime we are having a survey done that will show the slope of the land.  The name is long and I would never spell it right, but it is commonly referred to as a topo. 

We’ll keep you posted!

We are official.  The one lot is now officially two.  Right now it appears as tract I and tract II, so I will be working on obtaining an address for the second lot, but that should not slow down the next step of getting the tree cutting permit.  I believe all I have to do is fill out the paper work, and submit it with an appropriate check.  The question remains as to whether I will immediately recieve the permit or whether I will have to wait on it, but we will get the process under way quickly. 

Also on the docket for this week are surveyors and landscape architects.  The surveyors will be out tomorrow to set the new pins on the property lines, and I am hoping to speak with one or two landscape architects this week.  If possible we’ll get them to the site.  We could use their input on several areas including the retaining walls, the placement of the pool and the new drive going in on the property.  Plus there is some existing foliage that we will consider transplanting if at all possible.

The picture is of the lot as it is now.  We are expecting changes to that view be taking place very soon!

Everything is looking good for the plat division.  A representative of the city came and walked the property.  I happened to be arriving at the same time, and I was able to give him a verbal tour of the “gonna be’s” for the land.  He seemed very receptive and understanding.  A few days later I received a phone call from another city representative that told me that everything had been approved.  He had called the surveyor and instructed them to send a Mylar copy of the survey to me.  Upon my receiving it, I could take it to the county to get the health department to sign off on the water and sewer.  Once I got the signature, I was to take it back to the city.  They would complete the process. 

The short story is that I got it all done.  The bigger picture is that it took all day and a ridiculous amount of time and driving, but I did receive confirmation that the process should be complete within two weeks!  Wah-hooo!!!

The next step will be getting a tree cutting permit.  (I’m amazed at all of the paperwork the government requires of property owners, but we are way too early in this project to risk stepping on the wrong toes.)  Hopefully that will be an immediate release and not something that we have to wait on to get approved. 

While all of that is happening in the next week or two, I need to make sure that we won’t be held up by any of the plan work.  We feel confident that we’ve gotten the house plan worked out, but we’ve yet to establish the pool/guest house or the exact size and shape of the pool.  All of these things need to be set before we begin cutting trees.  In addition, we will need to establish how many square feet of impervious surface are being added to the lot.  Once this is determined, we can see if we need to consider run-off drainage needs.  So . . . I need to get to work!

Wow!  What an insane last couple of weeks we have had.  With school starting for both of my children and fresh new schedules to learn, it has taken us a bit to settle into our routine.  Once we had a couple of weeks behind us, it was time for my annual trek to Las Vegas for the Business of Design conference, or BOD ’07 as we Best Practices Network members refer to it. 

The conference was started in 2004 by David Shepherd, and it was there that Designing Profits gave birth to the Best Practices Network.  This network is a group of designers from across the nation that agrees to exchange ideas in a non-competitive manner about their business operations.  This isn’t to say that all firms operate on the same business plan.  There are almost as many different business plans as there are firms involved, and many of them are quite successful.  The conference allows each business to address their own position at their own pace.  It also enables and empowers each one to advance to the next logical step.  By spending two intense days considering a staggering number of options and directions viable for each company, we eventually narrow the field to the most important idea for each.  It may or may not be the same as other companies, and like people, some companies have advanced in areas that others haven’t even addressed.

Design Details joined the BPN in 2005.  Through membership, Design Details has met other designers that are in similar situations, learned the value and simplicity of specializing within this broad field, and received guidance from other designers with much greater experience that I have.  The BPN has provided immeasurable amounts of guidance and direction for growth in the design business. 

While in Vegas this year I was relieved to learn that Design Details is on the right track.  There are advancements to be made, but those items are ones that we have under way.  We are looking forward to seeing these projects come to fruition, and we will keep you posted on our progress.