(It suddenly occurs to me that I never told you the end of the electrical line saga. Ooops. Yes, we can build a one story building on the lot, as long as we position it correctly. Since we only wanted a one story building--with a basement--all is well.)
Long version: On Friday Mema and I went over to the Lindon City Offices to look over some stuff and get the final "okay" on two front doors. (Yes, we can have two front doors, as long as we don't try to permit Mema's part of the house as a separate apartment.) While there, we looked over parts of the geotech report from the creation of the subdivision. (This was my classic blunder. No, I didn't get into a land war in Asia, but I DID think that I only needed the parts of the report that dealt specifically with our lot. Thus overlooking the maps and diagrams at the beginning of the report.)
In scanning the geotech report, I discovered something very ominous. In 2006 (an average-to-slightly wet year), when the survey was completed, the groundwater was measured at between 6.5 and 12 feet deep. (That's a mighty big range of groundwater level.) The report recommended that the lowest level start at least three feet ABOVE groundwater.
This was a potential dealbreaker. If we can't build up (electrical lines) and we can't build down (water table), then what can you do? Even building a one story BIG house is dicey, because of the location of the electrical lines. The big question: Where, exactly, was the water table at OUR lot? If it was the 12 footer, we're golden. If it was the 6 footer, we're sunk. If it is anything in between, who knows?
Our (extended) due diligence ends today (Monday), so first thing this morning, our builder got the full record, and took it out to the site to look things over. To my everlasting relief, the test well dug on our lot was on the lowest part of the property, about two feet lower than the house site. And the groundwater was at 11 feet. WHEW!
So we are good to go. We will close this week, and meet with our long suffering builder to finalize our plans and put them out to bid. (There's part of the answer, Ashley!)
And everyone who expressed interest in helping us make our plans lovely and perfect, thanks! I'm excited to hear what you have to say. (Even if you have never build a house before, Marianne!)
Here are the very rough preliminary plans (click to enlarge):
First floor
Basement floor
(Yes, our master bedroom is in the basement. This is for cost and size reasons, and isn't likely to change. Just FYI.)
(Yes, our master bedroom is in the basement. This is for cost and size reasons, and isn't likely to change. Just FYI.)
lol, I love the spare 'Oom! The only thing I can think of is a problem that we have at our house. With 5 kids coming and going through the front door to school and back everyday, we have a large pile of backpacks, coats, musical instruments, snow boots, etc...that pile up. Have you considered putting in a coat closet/landing pad of some kind for the kids right inside the door? Just wondering if that would help or not.
ReplyDeleteThat was also my comment. You are going to need at least another linen closet upstairs and Mom needs one too. Also you are going to want a hanging closet upstairs. I'm assuming that Mom's laundry is that square in the back of her closet, so that is covered...Where are all the books going to be? Also, you might want to move the sink in your kitchen. Mine overlooks the backyard so I can keep an eye on kids and do dishes at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting, Keryn! That's kind of weird that they won't let you have a permit for a separate apt, that is so common in many cities, is it less desirable in zoning for some reason? Anyway, just wanted to say that it is so cool that you get to build your dream house.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kimberly, they actually will let us have a permit for a separate apartment, but only if we follow all their rules--which aren't really that bad, but the dealbreaker is the two front doors. My mother really wants her own front door, to face the street (can't say I blame her!), and so if we want that, we can't make it an official accessory apartment. But that's okay. We're making it so that if we ever do want to make it separate, we can just wall off the front door and have the back door be the entrance. Voila! :)
ReplyDelete