RAP-->Costs? Benefits?

[fsujax]

Why seek their approval anyway? I have learned after living in Springfield for a few years that some don't have to follow the rules, they do whatever the hell they want to their houses, add-ons, trailers, etc. and nothing happens. So i have decided I will do whatever I want.

[Kaiser Soze]

Why seek their approval anyway? I have learned after living in Springfield for a few years that some don't have to follow the rules, they do whatever the hell they want to their houses, add-ons, trailers, etc. and nothing happens. So i have decided I will do whatever I want.

Because the City will exercise its enforcement powers and require you to remove whatever you installed.

[fsujax]

well, it hasnt happend in Springfield. It's funny how they chose who to go after and who to ignore.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

But you say you have a 10' fence. 

You want an 8' fence.

RAP thinks it needs to be ___________.

[Kaiser Soze]

But you say you have a 10' fence. 

You want an 8' fence.

RAP thinks it needs to be ___________.

Four

[cline]

I'm pretty sure the people on the corner of St. Johns and Talbot just erected a 6' fence- it definitely wasn't 4'.  They went through the COA process.  Who at RAP told you it had to be 4'?

[vicupstate]

I'm pretty sure the people on the corner of St. Johns and Talbot just erected a 6' fence- it definitely wasn't 4'.  They went through the COA process.  Who at RAP told you it had to be 4'?

You make a good point.  Some people don't know what the codes actually say, or are confusing it with something else in the code.  It is a good idea to ask the person in question to show you the text they are quoting from.  If they can't they really don't have a leg to stand on.

[Kaiser Soze]

I'm pretty sure the people on the corner of St. Johns and Talbot just erected a 6' fence- it definitely wasn't 4'.  They went through the COA process.  Who at RAP told you it had to be 4'?

You can have six feet in the back yard, but the front yard must be 4 feet.  The fence at my house extends from the front edge of my house to the property boundary then to the back fence.  Staff said the front portion (its about 10-feet in length) must be 4 feet tall.  I was fine with that.  But staff also wanted the first half of my backyard fence to also be 4' because it could be seen from the road.

I called RAP to discuss.  No one ever called back.  Yet they showed up an opposed what I was asking for, which was four feet in the front, four feet at the turn with a gradual increase to 10 feet.  This was four years ago, pre Carmen.

[Kaiser Soze]

I'm pretty sure the people on the corner of St. Johns and Talbot just erected a 6' fence- it definitely wasn't 4'.  They went through the COA process.  Who at RAP told you it had to be 4'?

You make a good point.  Some people don't know what the codes actually say, or are confusing it with something else in the code.  It is a good idea to ask the person in question to show you the text they are quoting from.  If they can't they really don't have a leg to stand on.

http://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/docs/community-planning-division/default/final-fencing-guidelines-policies.aspx

[vicupstate]

It appears that you could have asked for a fence higher than 6' with approval.  Is that what you did and RAP opposed it, and then the board voted it down? 

[Kaiser Soze]

It appears that you could have asked for a fence higher than 6' with approval.  Is that what you did and RAP opposed it, and then the board voted it down?

Yes, RAP and City staff opposed.  Board approved a compromise.

My point is this.  We bought a beautiful old home that needed a ton of work.  I'm a Jax native from this area and was excited about working on an older home.  First job was the 10' fence that was rotten at the bottom and held vertical with vines.  Call RAP.  No return call.  Call again and leave a message with details of my plans.  Again, no response.  Have HPC hearing on COA.  RAP rep shows up, does not say a word to me, but gets up there and fights like hell in opposition to my plan.

Is that what RAP is about?  It is in my eyes and in the eyes of many other folks in this area.  They should be helping the folks in this neighborhood.  Unfortunately, that has not been my experience.

[cline]

Just curious, did you call or meet and discuss your plans with a city planner before submitting the COA?

[Kaiser Soze]

Just curious, did you call or meet and discuss your plans with a city planner before submitting the COA?

I discussed with a planner on HP staff when I submitted the COA. 

[cline]

Just curious, did you call or meet and discuss your plans with a city planner before submitting the COA?

I discussed with a planner on HP staff when I submitted the COA. 

Well that sucks.  Presumably, city staff would advise you during the COA application so that everything is in order so that when it gets to HPC there are no issues.  It sounds like that's what you tried.  That's frustrating.

[Kaiser Soze]

Just curious, did you call or meet and discuss your plans with a city planner before submitting the COA?

I discussed with a planner on HP staff when I submitted the COA. 

Well that sucks.  Presumably, city staff would advise you during the COA application so that everything is in order so that when it gets to HPC there are no issues.  It sounds like that's what you tried.  That's frustrating.

I was not near as frustrated with the City staff as I was RAP.