Charles Li’s Post

The weather has been wonderful, so I decided to tackle a long-standing issue with our house: the cold cellar leaking water during heavy rain or rapid snowmelt. We took apart the deck and gave it a thorough pressure wash to find the source of the leak. Our plan is to use a concrete waterproofing product to seal any hairline cracks and restore the deck’s wood while we are at it. [City of St.Catharines Zoning Amendment is now Official!] On, April 8, 2024, City Council passed Zoning By-law 2024-032, a housekeeping amendment for the City’s Zoning By-law. The purpose of this by-law is to address changes made to the Planning Act and City’s Official Plan, Council directives, and make improvements identified through staff’s on-going monitoring of the Zoning By-law. The by-law has the following effect: 1)Permits two accessory dwelling units within detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwellings with associated zoning provisions; 2) Updates detached accessory dwelling unit provision standards; 3) Permits duplex, triplex and fourplex dwellings within the Low Density – Suburban Neighbourhood (R1) zone; 4) Permits existing lots that do not meet minimum lot area or frontage requirements for the above noted uses to be used for such use, provided all other zoning provisions are met; 5) Updates definitions for lot lines, yards, and encroachments (i.e. decks, patios, porches); 6) Updates parking space dimensions, bicycle and accessible parking space provisions, and introduces parking area requirements (i.e. minimum driveway aisle widths); 7) Adds definitions for landscaped open space and landscape buffers and inclusion of minimum soft landscaping coverage; and, 8) Includes a transition clause and updated formatting (i.e. page numbers, section numbers, etc).  

Planning permission achieved for a new dwelling in Essex. Acorus have recently been successful in obtaining planning permission for a unique new build dwelling on a farm in Essex. The site historically had a mobile home positioned on it, which had been occupied as a residence for over ten years. It was on this basis a certificate of lawful use was granted, this had effectively established the principle of a dwelling on the site, which was in addition to a listed farmhouse, the mobile home therefore being an additional dwelling. The mobile home was situated in the middle of the working farmyard, and in close proximity to the listed building. This was considered not ideal, and betterment could be achieved through relocating this “dwelling”. In particular the mobile home, together with a separate garage building were considered to be causing harm to the setting of the listed house. A planning case, including full design and detail of the new dwelling, was therefore prepared to remove the mobile home, together with the adjacent garage building, and replace them with a new build permanent house in a more suitable location. In discussions with our clients, a barn conversion style dwelling was pursued, which fits in well with the setting and surroundings. Ultimately it was found by Braintree District Council that the benefit of replacing the mobile home, with a well-designed dwelling, away from the listed house was a sufficient basis on which to grant planning permission. Acorus and client are extremely happy with the outcome and the benefits achieved at the site. 3D render by WhiteChalk #acorus #planning #planningpermission #rural #replacement #dwelling #success #flint #oldbarn #newbuild #farmstyle #farm #workingfarm #essex #braintreeessex #views #countryside #house #cgi #3drender #mobilehome #listedbuilding #architecture #design #property

🕊 The birds have spoken! Ok, they haven't, but the people sure did: "The two most debated changes to the [Portland Planning Commission's Housing Regulatory Relief Project] zoning proposal involved the suspension of requirements for eco-roofs and bird-safe glazing. They were identified in a Bureau of Development Services survey among the top obstructions to housing production of the zoning codes and development standards that would be waived. However, after much deliberation on Tuesday, both items were ultimately removed from the proposal." ->The cost of bird-safe glazing is as little as roughly 0.4% of project costs. <- Bird-friendly glazing is not a financial impedement to its inclusion when included at the design stage. Guardian Glass North America has a team that will assess your bird-friendly needs based on the building's exact location, avian environment, building elevations, and ultimately the design aesthetics. There are options. Lots of them! Spread your wings and reach out for more information.🐦 #birdfriendly

8246 Terrace Dr. in El Cerrito Listed at $750k. Build your dream home on one of the last remaining level lots in the hills, offering panoramic views from Oakland to San Francisco Bay, including the ocean and bridges. This exceptional lot features expansive frontage, impressive curb appeal, and unique views from each corner. Two old oak trees add to its charm, making it a truly dreamy place to live. A complete survey and detailed soil reports are available, indicating that bedrock is just a few feet from the surface, simplifying foundation design. The lot previously hosted a house, and remnants of the garage suggest all utilities are stubbed to the lot, providing significant cost and time savings. Utilities (PG&E, sewer, and water meter) are documented in the survey report. This lot is definitively permittable, with previously approved plans from the city of El Cerrito Planning Department for a high-end, custom-designed modern house available for review. Additionally, there is easy and clear access for any prefab house, with plans from Connect Homes for a 4BD/3BATH available for review. SB9 offers further opportunities for this lot, allowing the potential to build more than one house. Conveniently located just a 10-minute walk from public transportation. https://lnkd.in/gWVsV434

Two options on the layout of the proposed townhomes are up for consideration.

🏗️ Vancouver Changes Zoning Rules to Drive Timber Construction! 🍁Vancouver is setting new standards for urban development and is now incentivising mass timber construction. Just before the British Columbia Building and Fire Codes (BC Codes 2024) came into effect, the Vancouver City Council approved zoning amendments to incentivise developers to choose mass timber for new buildings taller than six storeys. 🌐This move positions Vancouver as a leader in sustainable urban construction and a model for cities worldwide! 🔍 Key Insights: 1️⃣ Innovative Zoning Incentives: Vancouver's new rezoning rules offer additional floors for buildings opting for mass timber and hybrid construction systems. 2️⃣ Alignment with New Building Codes: The timing aligns perfectly with the revised BC Codes 2024, which will permit the construction of all timber buildings up to 18 storeys. 3️⃣ A Sustainable Future: Mass timber is recognised for its carbon reduction potential and construction efficiency. 💬 #questionforgroup: How can other cities follow Vancouver's lead in adopting mass timber construction to drive sustainable urban development? 🔗 Dive into Vancouver's mass timber zoning incentives: https://lnkd.in/gGKXfFqS #masstimber #masstimberconstruction #urbandevelopment #urbanplanning #construction #buildingcodes #canada #vancover #vancouverrealestate #engineering #timberconstruction #timberengineering #architecture #architectureanddesign #greenbuildings #buildtorent #sustainabledevelopment #vancouverhomes #rentalhousing #innovationinconstruction #urbandesign #architecturedaily #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #woodcentralau1 #woodcentral #woodsolutions

PLANNING WIN: Great to see planning permission given for a scheme on development land in east Dorset. The site comprises 20 homes, including eight affordable properties, off Knighton Lane, Knighton, near Canford. The rectangular shaped strip of land falls within the northern part of an area zoned for at least 800 homes in the Poole Local Plan, under allocation PP10 UE2. The land was not promoted by the landowner but was included as a logical part of the wider allocation. With its distinct character and architectural design, it will form a buffer between the elegant and grand Knighton House and what will be a major and more suburban development to the south. We secured approval for the outline plans as part of our ongoing support for the landowner, which has included initial feasibility and design advice, pre-application negotiations with the council and handling the application submission through to decision. All partners in the project worked closely together for the submission of a comprehensive, convincing and ultimately successful application which was compliant with policy and overcame a number of objections. Partners included: Partners in the project included ABR Ecology Ltd, Extreme Assets LLP, Paul Basham Associates, Richard Nicholson Planning Consultant, Scott Worsfold Associates Chartered Architects and STURT & COMPANY LIMITED. #planningpermission #planning #planningnews #newhomes #development

Chapman Lily Planning Ltd are delighted to have secured planning permission to to demolish existing and erect 3 detached houses with parking in lower Parkstone, Poole. This follows two application being refused by members contrary to officer advice. The key issues were character and residential amenity. The Inspector opined: 'the subdivision of the site would result in a layout that would conform with the surrounding pattern of development. The scale and design of the buildings would be compatible with others in the immediate locality. Consequently, the proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the area. The development would, therefore, accord with Policies PP27 and PP28 of the Local Plan, which seek to achieve a good standard of design in all new developments, and to ensure that plot subdivisions preserve or enhance the area’s residential character. Furthermore 'the occupants of surrounding dwellings, would retain acceptable living conditions, with regard to outlook and privacy. The proposal would, therefore, accord with Policy PPS27 of the Local Plan, which seeks to avoid harmful impacts on amenity for both local residents and future occupiers'. We were delighted to be working with an experienced client who was able to hold their nerve in the face of Member objections and a talented project team including local architects Anders Roberts Cheer. The quality of the original application and carefully considered design, proved critical in progressing the successful appeal. #poole #application #planning #appeal #homes #development #allowed

A Guide to Cost Effective Building Solutions - Apply for Building Permits Today I would like to talk about what is needed to get a permit. Some require a zoning review and may require a hearing at the Committee of Adjustments. Some projects don’t need a permit, such as building a low-level deck which is considered landscaping. To be sure what requires a permit go to your local municipality and look under permit requirements to decide if you need a permit or not. Information for the City of Toronto can be found at https://lnkd.in/gpheNWpz The first step in obtaining a permit is to make drawings. These are done to scale and show the floor layouts, building elevation and sections. For most municipalities a site plan is needed. This is a site layout based on the survey and shows the outline of the house with the various setbacks shown. It can also show the gross floor area (GFA) and the overage coverage for all of the buildings on the site. The amount of landscaping for the front and year yard are also added to the site plan. Most municipalities have limits on the amount of hard and soft landscaping that you need. An application is made to the municipality to review the drawings and site plan for compliance to local zoning regulations. This includes the heights of the roof, how many stories there are in the house and how far you must be away from your property line. The rules also limit how big a deck can as part of these zoning rules. If the drawings and site plan pass the zoning rules, a zoning compliance notice is issued. This goes with all of the documents you need for a permit application, and this is considered a complete application. This means that the municipality has legislative requirements get your permit response back within a certain number of days.  If there are zoning non-compliances (you don’t meet some zoning rule) then a zoning non-compliance notice is issued. The notice will outline the exact section of the zoning rules that you don’t meet. You can either change your drawings to meet the rule or you can go to the Committee of Adjustment for relief from the zoning requirement. If you need relief from any zoning requirement, then an application is made to the Committee of Adjustment (C of A) for a hearing to go over your zoning variance request. This process can take a long time and may take several months. If you have not been to C of A hearing before it can be quite daunting. The technicians involved in the C of A procedures are helpful and can guide you through the various parts of the process. Once you have the hearing and are successful, then a Notice Decision is issued. A Final and Binding Decision is made, and this outlines the zoning variances granted and any restrictions the C of A deemed necessary. This notice is then sent to the Zoning Examiner who then clears your Zoning Notice. #ADM4326

A lot of people seem to think that the building materials used today don’t compare to the materials used in older houses. In many cases they don’t. So I thought I’d investigate why current materials are used now. The primary reasons that plywood and drywall are used today are because they are more affordable than timber, less susceptible to termites, and fire resistant. Timber is extremely expensive. It’s quality in 2024 is poor compared to say, 1918. Timber is susceptible to termites, is far less  fire resistant than plywood or drywall, and feels flimsy with each step. Water damage is also very likely. I think many of us also have this thinking because in downtown Colorado Springs we see the beautiful homes downtown. “Why don’t they build homes like that anymore?” Well, it’s important to remember that Colorado Springs was settled by rich people that wanted a beautiful oasis to live in. Many of them could afford the best quality construction of that time. Colorado Springs’ nickname was once “City of Millionaires”. We also have smaller homes from that time that need a significant amount of work and renovation due to the poor materials used during that time as well. So, what I’m trying to say, is that the homes that are built today are “better quality” in terms of fire safety, pest control, energy efficiency and affordability. If we tried to build homes from the previous century, only millionaires would be able to afford them. Also, how many beautiful treed areas would be leveled? https://lnkd.in/gaHnrw2A