Land Ho! (A twist in the Mini House plot) – LivingMini®

This Frank Lloyd Wright building may look nice – but don’t be fooled

Posted By Erin on April 28, 2010

April 28, 2010 — West Marin

Good news, mates — There’s land on the horizon! (maybe)

I’m happy to report that I’m still a whole person after having survived a visit to the scariest place on earth:  the Marin County Planning Office.

Yep. On the good advice of my friend Steve, we paid a little visit to the planning office to see what permitting was required to buy a plot of land in West Marin and build me my mini house. The verdict: Scary!

Now, I had been warned about the septic tank issue (being that there is no septic tank). That will run a girl about $50,000. Yes, you read the zeros right – we’re talking fifty thousand.

Then there’s the planning fees, the building fees, and the surveying fees. In addition to the encroachment permit and the school district fee for all new builds – even though I don’t have kids. And let’s not forget the arborist’s fee for cutting down a few trees. Gulp.

And that’s not all. I need to still call the gas company and water district to check out their story. And evidently a trip to the local fire station to get an idea of the hydrant situation.  (Although that may not be so bad. I might actually put on makeup for that little jaunt. He He.)

I don’t understand why the cost of building a mini house is so enormous?  I’ve just started my Mini House Extreme Makeover journey and I’m already whirling out of control….typical.

But just when I thought about a long slide into depression, I drove by the tempting tip of land again.

The flats on the Northern border

A shot from the southern slope, showing the amazing view. (That is, if I cut done a few trees.)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 and is filed under Mini Makeover.