My shaganappi fourplex project has been approved and no appeal was registered.   This is a significant step forward in proving the viability of the project.   

The design work encountered a major hurdle thanks to some irrational exmax requirement for a huge rear setback.   We were feeling squeezed between attempting to be contextual with the 60 year old neighbourhood frontal setback and then we were told the alley had a large setback as well. Without moving the building forward we’d have been left with little buildable footprint. That worst case scenario would be a distaster for a two building fourplex on a56 x 110 ft lot.

Fortunately the planning staff came through with some very progressive thinking and we relaxed the front setback.  I also met with the neighbours to gain support for the relaxation and this actually worked out better than I had hoped.  This all unfolded over a year long process.  It could have been quicker but for reasons I’m going to forget about we needed all this time to get to the finish line. One of my builder friends describes this process as a form of brain damage.  I’ve heard the process described elsewhere similarly (and it is much worse in Portland Oregon, a jurisdiction I find endlessly amusing for its hideous infill policies). This fourplex was much less brain damaging than other similar processes I’ve endured. For example the row house process was vastly worse. I’m still recovering from the row house project brain damage.  I’ve yet to determine if the brain damage accumulates or dissipates over time.    

This ends my development permitting for 2017 and possibly next year too. I’m currently too broke to be buying more land.  Ideally I will take a huge break from permitting once this fourplex has a bp and of course the dssp remains. This is going to be another storm water adventure as I struggle to contain the costs.   This project is on the back burner for now, I’ve got to get some building done and a few houses sold before I start a new one.

No appeal on the fourplex. What a relief.