27 minutes of waiting? Good lord. I'm sorry trying to do a good deed is such a freakin' hassle, omnis! That's stupid.

Anyone know anything about land use? I just got a notice that they're planning to tear down the house behind me and put up two houses AND three townhouses AND six parking spots. Not sure how they're going to fit all that, at all. Really not thrilled, in any way shape or form, but especially that I apparently have until Nov 7th to comment on the plan by mail, because there won't be a meeting, and the only way to SEE the plan I'm supposed to comment on is to go to the office in person, during their M-F business hours.

“There’s no point in acting surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you’ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it’s far too late to start making a fuss about it now. … What do you mean you’ve never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven’s sake, mankind, it’s only four light years away, you know. I’m sorry, but if you can’t be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that’s your own lookout. Energize the demolition beams.”

If the county is asking for comments, it usually means that the developers have applied for a variance. Most counties have restrictions about spacing and homes per acre for single-family houses. My county has its zoning restrictions online, so you may be able to look up zoning information online as a start.

Even with out look at plans, you can guarantee it will be crowded. Is the location such that it will block sunlight part of the day? Object to that in writing. Replacing one home with five - much more noise. If it is accessed from your street, it will increase traffic on it. If it is accessed from the street behind you maybe you can introduce someone from the street behind you and get them to file a complaint.

Good luck, meara. Yeesh.

Minor celebrity sighting! I was at the local sushi place (did not eat sushi; did eat edamame, which I will probably regret later) and this guy came in with a woman and a small kid and sat next to us on the patio. Pretty darn sure it was the guy who plays Sonny on Treme.

I picked up some hurricane supplies today: Bottled water, batteries, potato chips, and cookies. IOW, all the important stuff.

Yeah, I'm not sure without looking at the plans whether all six parking spaces would be right behind me, or how close to the lot line it would be, but I"m assuming (based on looking at the zoning) that it would over-cover the lot. Now, granted, my lot is about the same size I think, and has three townhouses and a house. And many of the lots of four townhouses (two front, two back). But five seems like a lot. And if all the cars are accessing it via the alley between us--it's a gravel alley, not paved, and already in awful shape. So that's worrisome (plus, if they block the alley with equipment or support or supplies, I can't get out of my garage)

I picked up some hurricane supplies today: Bottled water, batteries, potato chips, and cookies. IOW, all the important stuff.

Seriously. All you east coast folk in the path of the storms, stay safe. Us west coasters are thinking about you.

Meara, it is well worth the look at the documents, and a quick response. Noise is an issue. If the parking is close to your windows, then exhaust fumes is an issue. What is the height of the structures? Will they be blocking a view you currently have? Use words like "quality of life". Good luck!

You forgot the booze!!! Aaaahhh!!

We are well stocked on that, but I haven't been drinking very much while trying to get pregnant anyway.

meara, the plots of the proposed structures might be available online on your local government website. Something similar is (supposed to be) happening on the empty lot behind me. I found a lot of info and plots online. I doubt they'll have access solely through an unpaved alley; they've got to have plans for a road into the place. I don't think it's even legal to plan a community with only one entrance/exit. (My neighborhood only has one, but the theoretical structures behind us would have had another road in/out, and that was actually planned at the same time this neighborhood was built.)

meara, the plots of the proposed structures might be available online on your local government website.

The flyer claimed they would be, but when I looked in that spot, it said only in person. I called and left a message asking.

It's not a "community", it's just one plot of land--it's OK in Seattle to build townhouses behind other townhouses, on a plot. Currently my house (part of a triplex) is behind a single family home--I can enter it walking through an easement sidewalk past the SFH, or exit via my garage out the alley in back. You can't see my house from the street, really.

The place next to where they're building is four town houses, two and two--and all their parking is in the alley (one duplex faces the street, the other is behind it, and behind that is the alley). I'm hoping those folks might have opinions, because (a) their townhouses are even more expensive than mine--I figure they're Real Adults, and (b) they already banded together once to buy a dumptruck full of gravel to try to fill in some of the holes in our alley (I saw them pouring it and gave them $20).