Permit Tyranny

[conarb]

Not really. No determination if there WAS a mistake, or if it was too steep. Inspector, according to story so far, just said it was too steep. Brent

Albany (at the time) had a template at it's permit counter with cut-out cars that you pushed over the plan to check not only grade percentage and radii for bumper and undercarriage scraping. I never saw it until the Bald Eagle called me on it at final, but a problem was that the cut-out cars were for ¼" scale plans and the driveway was on the surveyor's plot plan at 1" = 10', probably why the plan checker didn't use it.

David. do you still have that template?

This was about 46 years ago, the "plan checker" was a gal at the counter, probably the Bald Eagle's secretary, in any jurisdiction at that time I could permit a single family home over the counter as long as I had the plans drawn by an architect and the plans sealed by an engineer. It was my argument that the approval constituted acceptance of the plans submitted.

 

[ICE]

Not really. No determination if there WAS a mistake, or if it was too steep. Inspector, according to story so far, just said it was too steep. Brent

The bumper dragging in the street doesn't do it for you?

 

[conarb]

The bumper dragging in the street doesn't do it for you?

He could not quote a code section, just said it was his policy. Interestingly nobody makes those 60s 19' land yachts anymore so everything turned out alright.

 

[MASSDRIVER]

The bumper dragging in the street doesn't do it for you?

Not to be snide, but hell no. I could just counter with a jeep. Driveway could be 45 degrees and pass the dumb bumper drag test.

Or get a bagged 66 impala and drop it to the frame and NO driveway would pass.

I never heard of the six-meatheads-in-a-Buick standard.

Now if the city had an approach/departure standard that was exceeded, then it would not be to code.

Brent.

 

[ICE]

Can't I poke conarb in peace?

 

[Mark K]

Any time an inspector says it is his policy and cannot provide a code provision he is exceeding his authority.

I would expect there to be formal standards for public streets but you are talking about a private road. Maybe this is one of the things that are not addressed in the code and as a result whether it is satisfactory or not is up to the owner and his contractor.