All Forum Posts by: Jared W Smith

I will try and stop by just before 5pm. I have another meeting at 5:30. 

 Welcome to a fellow Westchester resident! 

This exactly. Agree with @Jonathan Greene. I've had many clients come to me to legalize prior work which comes at a costs to the buyer/new owner. 

A lot of speculation in here. Your best bet is to contact the County you plan to build in (Miami-Dade County or City of Miami) and see if a stamped set of plans is required for the development of land and building Deparment permits. Then you go find the appropriate professional. There are certain threshold from state to state on what single family houses can be built without an engineer or architect.  

Using advice from people with more experience than you in locales that differ from you spells disaster if that all doesn't apply where you are building.   

Couple things to point out. Consulting with several Architects sound like you just asked some questions and you did not actually hire any of them. That's why it's "potentially". Therefore @Bryan Montross has a point. Hence you needing to retain an Architect and have them do due diligence into the feasibility at which part of their services would be checking what is able to be built in compliance with the applicable jurisdictions. 

I talk to at least 10 ppl/month whom are trying to get very specific information on a specific piece of land without hiring me to do the due diligence. Doesn't work that way. Therefore I speak in generalities. Nothing that is remotely concrete. Better to pay an expert and get solid info on your lot.   

Thank you Scott for the tag. I spoke with him yesterday and will see how I can assist with this endeavor. 

 Hello @Isuf Aruci What you are describing is a what we, in the AEC/Construction industry, typically refer as a feasibility report and/or property analysis. We tend to offer this to Owners to figure out the best route for them to proceed on development/building/renovating. We do also offer this as a pre-purchase service, prior to purchase to see if the site is viable. However, this is not so sought after since there is a fee upfront regardless if you purchase property or not. 

You're in NY as well as I, so I hear you with regard to finding property and it working for you.   

Easements are still your property and all zoning and lot requirements/calculations would include the entire lot including easements. However the buildable area will likely not include the easement area. Your yard requirements may very well start inside the easements reducing the buildable area as compared to a lot of the same size without those easements. Would have to check your jurisdictions specific zoning code for the wording and calculation basis. As @Bryant Brislin said, best to get clarity from a local Architect or Engineer.  

If you are looking to just add an opening between the units since you are utilizing it as one dwelling, then typically you could just add a fire rated door. It would need to be rated per the Code of your jurisdiction, usually 3/4 hr or 1.5 hr depending on the rating necessary for the separating wall assembly 1 hr vs 2 hrs. Additionally, if it is bearing, then you'd need to add a header to transfer the load. I would advise that you get an Architect to help with this if possible. Though it is small, it could save you from a Contractor not installing what is required. Also, they could advise on doing this and necessity for permits. It's a change but as you mentioned you don't want to down grade the property to a single family, but maintain the 2-family designation. All the best  

Look for a local Engineer by googling ["city/county location" structural engineer]. As mentioned, above they will need to review the plans and possibly complete their own drawings before stamping.