Still Pond House - The Process Has Begun!

M

MikeeH

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Well, the wheels are in motion to start the house in Still Pond. We searched the internet and several design books that 4Roys sent us (thanks Rich! Let me know where to send them back) and found a few designs that came close to what we think we want, but none that were “exactly" what we want. The Admiral and I talked about this for months (very long distance phone calls and emails) and came to the conclusion that since this will eventually be our primary residence for our retirement years onward, we might want to start with a clean sheet of paper. So, based on some recommendations from local folks we met with an architect in Rock Hall on Saturday to see what we could learn. We learned a lot! Things the plan books don't address like doorway widths that would allow wheelchair access into rooms, (just in case); how to best place the house on the site to take advantage of views and sunlight; kitchen options that we did not consider; features that the local environment dictate a necessity like a screened porch; local zoning restrictions because we are in a “environmentally critical zone" (within 1,000 feet of the water); new building techniques.... I could go on but needless to say at this point (and you probably figured out by now) we hired the architect. It didn't hurt that the architect is a “she" and had a design focus that the Admiral could relate to.

So, here we go! I posted this in the NBR Forum but from now on I'll keep the updates going here in the Chesapeake & Delaware Bay Forum because I know you guys are watching and waiting for the housewarming party!!

This is going to be fun... when its not a headache!!!!
 
Congrats. You're sure right about the process being a mixed bag. Hope your builder doesn't go belly-up, like mine did.
 
Actually, the builder hasn't been contracted yet but the likely candidate is the family builder who sold me the property and is also a future neighbor so I'm feeling confident if they are selected..... regardless, sh!t does happen so there's always that chance!
 
Best of luck Mike, sounds like fun. Keep us in the loop on what you learned and how it is going. My first house I had built (my present home) I made a ton of mistakes (lack of knowledge and being cheap) sure would like a do over. I really look forward to someday building another home, I hope I will rememember the mistakes I made :)

Walter
 
Mike,

Smart move hiring an architect. Keep us up to date on the project.

Glenn
 
Don't forget: Refrigerator, hammocks and bathroom in the screened-in Tiki Bar on the pier.
 
MikeeH, Good luck with the Kent County Planning Department.Nice people but not very flexible. Before you touch a tree or bush, contact the Planning Dept. and have them look over your site to approve any tree removal.Be prepared to replace any removed trees with 150 percent more trees and a lot of bushes, all of which have to be the approved list of native species. We worked with Amy Moredock from the planning dept. Be very afraid of the crazy red haired lady who will approve the septic system. EVERY contractor knows her. We had to have a certain type of stone for the septic trucked from the western shore, 5 truck loads $$$$. Living on the Eastern Shore is awesome.
Greg Reed
BayBum38ftrb2@gr5tgmail.com
 
Greg: That would be Noni. Howell, I think. Oh my god. Do I have stories! I'll share them with Mike for the price of a beer. I have a 10,000 s.f reserve area. I can poop, my kids can poop, and their kids can poop and there will never be any danger of the septic reaching capacity. As a matter of fact, I may teach my dogs to be like the cat in "Meet the Fockers", just to use up the space.
 
What a fun time for you! Sure, you'll being learning all kinds of stuff every day and making decisions and then second-guessing them. But, this is your biggest reward to yourselves, and it will be coming true more and more as you watch it take shape. I'll second the motion for a Tiki bar, much more useful than a center-island kitchen ;)
 
4Roys, we have the same 10,000 sq foot area in our front yard for our current system and enough area for an entire new system. Our front yard is huge and our back is small because the house had to be pushed back to be clear of the reserve area, all the houses on our side of the street are positioned this way. Fortunately our plumber has a good working relationship with Noni.

Greg
 
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