Four years ago, I built a cabin on my 3 acres which is in an area that's on a road not yet been assumed by my municipal government. That means that no building permit will be granted in that area.
Before I built, I called the planning board, and was assured that I could build up to 100 sq. metres without a building permit, so I planned for a 9' x 12' cabin.
I was also told I could build 18 feet high.
While we were building, my companion ran into a man he used to work with. When he told this man, Lee Scott of Cherry Valley, what he was doing, Scott warned him that he was using his ultralight aeroplane to take pictures of all these 'illegal' buildings around The County, and then he said 'I'll get all of you so look out'.
Well, he did. He took aerial photos, and sent them into the planning board. When I went in to a meeting this winter, there they were, and the one of my place looks so beautiful from the air that I want a copy.
Even though I was originally told I could build 18' up, apparently I could not have two floors. A hanging loft, yes, but not an attic. I have been using the upstairs - 9' x 11' (closet-size) - for sleeping occasionally.
I was told to close in the door leading out to the tiny balcony off the upstairs 'bedroom', both outside and in, and to close in the attic hole.
The attic may only be used for storage. That has been done. At first, they ordered me to remove the entire upper story, so I consider myself very lucky here.
Before and After:
I was also told we may not use the balcony at all.
Then I was told to remove 1/2 the roof covering the deck, which provides shade so that sitting out there in the summer is bearable. It's really not a 'roof' at all, just an overhang over the deck. However, we started taking off the panels underneath the overhang, and have yet to finish this huge, expensive, unnecessary job.
A few years ago, Sandbanks suddenly became aware of nudity at the Outlook sector, and outlawed it. They even sent rangers down there to check up regularly. The nudists covered up when they came along, or went out swimming...catch me if you can.
Why the fuss? You have to walk a mile or more down the beach and around a corner into a deep cove so it is definitely not a problem. Families rarely do. If you don't approve, don't go. Don't look!
I can't help wondering now if some 'troublemaker' in an ultralight hasn't sent pictures taken from the air in to management with a letter of complaint. Maybe those pictures are floating around the internet somewhere.
So, if you are in your backyard, this means any ultralight passing overhead has the right to photograph you and what you are doing? Is this not an infraction? Like the paparotsy, maybe not. If you hear one droning by, cover up.
The best we can hope for is that his ultralight lands in the bush or on top of some tree and is never found again.
Wouldn't mind getting a photo of that!
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