And the verdict on the building permit is... (originally posted on LiveModern on February 4, 2005)

About 2.5 weeks after submitting the building permit application, Ron the builder received the preliminary verdict from the Southampton Town Building Inspector- INCOMPLETE. In essence, it appears that we are being harangued by this ludicrous hurricane windzone issue, the window specifications and the lot size. We have to:

Make notations on the drawing that all construction will adhere to a 120mph wind zone specification, including details of high wind connections.

Simple notation.

The proposed awning windows for the bedrooms were not appropriate for emergency egress.

We will have to change these to casement windows. (No double-hungs!). Easy fix.

Proof that the proposed dwelling is in compliance with the local pyramid rule for building height (i.e., that the structure will stay within the bounds of a 45-degree pyramid drawn at the corners of the property).

Easy.

Window compliance data demonstrating resistance to windborn debris and 120mph winds.

This is information that will need to be provided by H Window, so I am pretty much at their mercy. If they cannot provide proof of the hurricane wind zone resistance, I will have to have plywood shutters and hooks prepared for all of the windows. UGH!!!

Ron the builder thinks these are not particularly unreasonable issues and thinks they can be resolved within a week. Unfortunately the new drawings will have to go through the engineering review and stamp process again, which means yet more $$$. And then after everything is resubmitted to the town, another 2-3 weeks of waiting.

Now I just wonder if we will still be drinking Bloody Mary's by the pool before Labor Day (Ron's personal goal). When I imagined summering in the Hamptons, I was thinking about beaches, wineries and sailing. Not hammering, sawing and painting!