-=> Quoting Michael Loo to Jim Weller <=-

 ML> high-rises were built to the property line
 ML> with the little house boxed in by them.
 
 JW> setback rules and access to sunlight regs.

 ML> All I can say to that is Hah.
 ML> We're talking Revere, Mass. and the Mafia here.

That simply wouldn't happen here, not even in notorious Montreal.

 JW> building codes do get enforced (here).

 ML> variances get rammed through that are not only illegal but
 ML> unethical and unsanitary.

Variances get public scrutiny here. The city administration can
approve up to a 10% variance on things like side and rear yard
setbacks, garage sizes, minimum apt sizes etc at their discretion,
Anything beyond that is automatically turned down and a developer
can then go to an independent development appeal board and plead his
case. All such hearings are publicized in the media for 14 days and
the hearings are open to the public to make presentations at. Some
sensible ones get approved if they have merit. I have been invited
to sit on the appeal board but declined because I like to be free
to lobby for my clients and customers.

 ML> At Lilli's, though, she could build a helicopter factory

 JW> So I'm curious what type of loose multi-use zoning

 ML> for the outlying areas has no rules at all. Remember
 ML> this is the US of A.

Even our smallest hamlets in the high arctic have rudimentary zoning
including residential, commercial and industrial areas. These small
communities with limited bureaucracies also get Territorial
Government guidance for the asking. Even in the wilderness you need
a permit to build a fly-in fishing lodge and you have to apply for a
land lease to build on and the hurdles a mine must jump through with
several depts in three levels of government are awesome, or more
realistically awful.




Cheers

Jim


... Wieners: fine ground things that you wouldn't eat otherwise.

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