Game On!

Good bye patio and walnut tree.... Hello kitchen and bedroom!

The day of the Zoning committee meeting finally arrived.  I have no idea why it felt like months and not just the few weeks weeks that it took from submitting the plans until the actual meeting- but it sure did!  Dave was anxious all day.  Said he couldn't sleep.  I said "but you are at work?" I am not 100% sure that he was joking.  It was torture waiting for the 8 pm meeting.  So, we fed clover to the turkeys for a while which always is a fun waste of time. 

Cranberry and Gravy (not for human consumption)

 Cranberry

We met Peter in the board room where the Zoning committee members were all assembled in their seats around the table.  The guy that vetoed our garage remodel a few years back sat front and center (which made me a little nervous).  There were a number of other people anxiously awaiting their turn to present their plans and learn their remodeling fates.  Peter had all our plans done up nicely on foam board so that they could easily be seen by the committee.  This was impressive since I have made many scientific posters in my life that did not turn out so great especially when you introduce humidity to foam board and spray glue (voila bubbles).   But no bubbles with these plans.  Maybe I used the wrong spray glue?

We were slated to go second, but the first group failed to show up, so we were on first.  The plans were eloquently presented showing CAD drawings and pictures of the existing house and then the projected new addition.  Peter nicely pointed out the 1775 structure and how the new addition would complement and be in keeping with the style of the house without detracting from the historical portion.  He also mentioned the new barn and how that would be swung into the hill and not near the property lines as recommended at the last hearing.  The committee looked on intently and nodded a lot.  The main guy commented that he did not like the existing chimney.  Hey, we don't like it either.  But at this point there isn't much we can do about it without a total gut of the house.  Dave and I sat in the back nudging one another about that one.  Finally they had heard enough and we were adjourned.

The three of us ventured into the parking lot where I think we stood for an hour or more in the dreaded heat of the evening.  Dave asking plenty of questions and we all joking about a zillion things.  Eventually the zoning meeting ended and everyone came into the parking lot.  Peter inquired of one board member as to whether or not we had passed.  He said yes!  We all breathed a sigh of relief.   Now we can move on to the "soil test" for the placement of the new septic system.  How exciting, huh????

Apparently they want to drive trucks through my garden.  Maybe to get my new kitchen it will be worth remodeling the garden too!