Based on my last post, I thought I was on top of things, but I severely underestimated how much rain we got here in LA this past season and how overgrown things can really get. It turns out, due to a huge backlog of work, my brush clearing didn’t make the first inspection date, and I received a notice of non-compliance. I don’t blame the service, I understand they survive on commercial contracts and the smaller private customers will always be placed second. Besides, as stated many times, my land is challenging and I wouldn’t even know how to start clearing it. The end result was similar to last year, I will be fined a $29 fee for re-inspection.
Things got a bit more interesting as the re-inspection deadline loomed, and the property was still not cleared. Here more communication with the Brian Walsh Brush Clearance service was critical, and they were able to get me cleared on the deadline given. They also were in contact with the LAFD as they try to manage the backlog of land that still needs to be cleared. I know how critical this work is as we enter the much drier months and the risk of wildfires here in CA is very high – so I’m sure my patience and understanding were appreciated when things did not go exactly as planned.
Two other outcomes of this were that a few dead trees were identified on the property, which now need to be cleared for an additional $300 – again, this is worth the price (based on past experiences) and really only a one-time cost. The other was that I can finally see the sign that Stillwater posted outside the property. I don’t know if it went up right after the clearing or before, and I just didn’t see it due to the over growth, but they asked if they could place one on the property a few months back. I’m happy the sign is posted and only had a small doubt as I’ve had some experiences where my neighbors were not happy over improvements or expansions I’ve done to past homes (all approved and permitted). With all the approvals needed for this property, I could still be a year or more away from actual construction – so is it better to let the neighbors know this far in advance? In the end, if they are going to have issue with my plans for the property, the timeframe really won’t make that much of a difference. Besides, understanding what I’m planning and how nice it will end up, should definitely work in my favor, unless they really like a derelict lot in their neighborhood.