Russell –
Did you ever build the apartment or granny flat you were talking about a while back? I know you were considering building some income units.
I had to laugh at your descriptions of lazy incompetent architects. Since I’m married to an architect, I can laugh from an insider perspective. (Of course *my* hubster is not incompetent and *never* lazy. LOL)
The permit process is pretty different between the city of San Diego and the county. Having gone through the process with the city – I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy if the project is something they’re not used to (like a room addition.) They put us through the hoops: we were reviewed by not just building services – but had to draw up civil plans, additional structural plans, had to get fire marshal review, almost faced the dreaded canyon review and just missed the steep slope review. We ended up with 3 separate stamped sets of plans: building, civil, retaining walls.
It sounds like you learned to work the system well. I’m sure you pulled out a lot of hair when you were doing it, though.
