I figured there was no reason to sit back and begin this process quietly, that I may as well start with a flourish and build up from there, taking no prisoners, and leaving no bridges unburned behind me. This might be war, so let's show 'em what I've got, keeping a few things hidden up my sleeves for later when the time is right, but set the stage early.
Yup, that's right, I brought Karen with me!
I figured it was time she learn what it is that I deal with on a daily basis with the City, and why it can take months to get a permit issued even when the job seems simple and straight forward. We arrived a few minutes late to our 9 am meeting thanks to my impatient driving in morning rush hour traffic (anyone remember the car pee pee dance? Yeah, that was me a little thing morning...) and then the City parking lot that is reserved for people visiting the Planning and Property Department was filled, and some yahoo figured his precious truck needed two spaces rather than one like everyone else, so we had to park in the metered lot further away... grumble, grumble, grumble... This patience stuff is hard. Give me time.
I used my contractor status, such as it is, to use the separate entrance to the waiting area, and introduced Karen to some of the staff that I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the years as I have waited for permit intake meetings etc, and as we sat she commented how "office-like" this area was compared to the more mall-like building we had just passed through. The low height t-bar ceilings and standard fabric covered office cubicle partitions and fluorescent lighting which was my reality back when I toiled for the City all those years ago are still in use here, and Karen noted the piles of plans and paperwork on counters and desktops, and I think she was beginning to understand the office environment much better.
Our Zoning Officer was late to meet us - he was on a call with another homeowner looking to build on a unique-shaped lot and was discussing the options and issues said homeowner would likely face in his attempt to construct a second dwelling on his large sabre-toothed-shaped lot.
I have had the pleasure of working with this particular City employee for the past 5 or 6 years - he had been my regular permit intake technician (fancy title for the person who I meet with and to whom I provide the information regarding our commercial construction permit applications) but had sought a promotion or change in employment scope, and was now located further away from the public areas, in a corner of the maze of cubicles that is this City office workspace. Having a familiar and friendly face to deal with on this matter is a bonus for us, and hopefully will allow the entire process to proceed smoothly.
He had to get another chair for Karen - he has 2 in his cubicle for guests - but the second one was buried beneath plans and drawings and files bulging beyond their elastic banded file folders. We exchanged pleasantries, and I introduced K and we visited as he began to assemble our application from the documents we had brought along. We enquired how long we might expect the Variance process to take and he said in our case - asking the requirement of a 25' front yard to be relaxed to 17' for the new garage and entryway - shouldn't encounter too many issues.
But then he stopped, apologized, and corrected himself, and confided in a lower tone as he leaned forward towards us across his desk, that he had shown our application to the Planner, whose cubicle is right behind his, and Mr Planner had said, "I'm not sure I like it." Gee, that kind of attitude reminds me of someone I spoke to last year about this...
You guessed it, Mr Planner is the lovely individual I spoke with last spring about our plans and who gave the impression of someone with entirely more power than his education or personality should allow.
Great.
We finished with the application, and were informed that it will likely take 10 business days until we're called to pick up the bright yellow signage that must be posted conspicuously on our property that advises any and all who care to read it, that we are asking for a variance from the by-law and for what reason etc. and that the yellow signage must be posted for 14 days, and then it may take another 2 weeks until a decision has been reached. We wrote a cheque for a little over $400, thanked our zoning officer for his help and guidance, and were led back through the maze and out into the main mall hallway.
So, we've done what we can do, now we wait for the call.
At some point I'm sure we'll be dealing with Mr Planner. This should be fun...
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