Here's a timeline of the project up to this momentous milestone...
May 2010 - Purchased property
Dec 2010 - Preliminary discussion on house design
Feb 2011 - Begin design in ernest as we sold our house
Mar 2011 - Draft interior floor plan drawings
Apr 2011 - Potential of peat on the site investigation begin
May 2011 - Draft exterior design drawings
July 2011 - Completion of geology report which closes the peat and water table risks
Aug 2011 - Discussion with city to start permit application. 64% SFR* qualification ran into a snag
Sept 2011 - Detailed drawings and various engineering firms seal of approval starts
Nov 2011 - Submitted all documents, final approval wait begin
Dec 2011 - Ceraclad use for exterior cladding rejected by city. Drawings revised to not use Ceraclad!
Dec 20, 2011 - Finally!
Total time of 9 months for design & permit application. It is within the range of the 6 to 9 months average expected. I think ours required 9 months since it's a custom home and the extra geotechnical engineering report for foundation on peat.
Saving Grace, you ask? The builder has been working on scheduling demolition activities to start right after permit approval... progress as of:
Jan 4, 2012 - house demo, old tree taken down, site cleared
Jan 6, 2012 - house positioned, foundation surveyed and backfilled
Most importantly, all sides of the neighbours' house are still standing!
Cost of site assessment, design and permits up to approval: $44,000
