Planning for Retirement

[Medix]

My wife retires this week and I can do so in 3 years so it was time to consider where we would spend our retirement years. We own two houses, one in the city, in which we have lived for the past 11 and a half years and one in the county about 30 minutes away. The county house is an 1100 sq ft two bedroom, 1 bathroom home built in 1950 (on a lot which is 100 X 245 feet), and sits on what was the family farm, property which has been in the family since 1833. That is where I grew up. As I own two Professional Cars, my garage at the city house would not accomodate them and I have had to find storage else where. So the decision has been to sell the city house and move to the county. We are currently working with a builder on plans to add a third bathroom, a second bathroom and a main floor laundry room as well as a 3 car garage. As we have to go to the Planning Board for an approval as we are a non confirming use (the property was rezoned a decade ago or more from agricultural/residential to highway commercial), we are also applying for permission to build a 40 X 60 pole barn at a later date as well. So here is a picture of my current garage.

And my two Professional Cars

Here is the plan for the addition and garage

And the elevations
Front

South

Rear

North

And the Pole Barn

Front

South & rear

So the city house goes up for sale in January and our application for the non confirming use goes forward to the Planning Board (hopefully) the end of January. If all goes well I hope to a shovel in the ground in early April. More to come.

 

[cj7365]

Looks really nice, bet your really excited about starting your dreams, hope you sell your house fast as well.

 

[welder4956]

I don't see how the county can rezone your property with a dwelling to commercial without your consent and restrict your ability to improve it as residential property. That *****. Around here the property owner has to request such a change before it can be made.

 

[Sureshot]

Looks like a plan. Only thing I would look further into is the pole building roof sloped to the doors. My addition is like that and I always end up with ice and snow in front of them. My side door to the shop would be dangerous at times to step out of for fear an ice chuck fell off the 16' roof. That door is useless in winter as it opens out and is always blocked. I have a small cover of sorts(proper name eludes me for the moment) on the "list" but seems to keep getting bumped.

You may want to keep that in mind with the walk in door on your front elevation. Plan on putting heat tape in your gutters or some way of getting rid of it. It looks like the roof valley feed to the door.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Cool cars. The first one reminds me of Ghost Busters. Congrats on your impending retirement, planning, and new garage. Very exciting.

 

[hidollartoys]

i don't see how the county can rezone your property with a dwelling to commercial without your consent and restrict your ability to improve it as residential property. That *****. Around here the property owner has to request such a change before it can be made.

it's canada!!!!!!!

 

[PCO6]

... As we have to go to the Planning Board for an approval as we are a non confirming use (the property was rezoned a decade ago or more from agricultural/residential to highway commercial), we are also applying for permission to build a 40 X 60 pole barn at a later date as well.

If the property is deemed to be "nonconforming" that would suggest to me that it is designated "Residential" and/or "Agricultural" in the County Official Plan. If that's the case the County can't deny your rezoning application. When you had the property rezoned to "Highway Commercial" 10 years ago was the Official Plan amended too?

 

[PCO6]

I don't see how the county can rezone your property with a dwelling to commercial without your consent and restrict your ability to improve it as residential property. That *****. Around here the property owner has to request such a change before it can be made.

Under the Ontario Planning Act municipalities have the right to zone properties to bring them into conformity with the Official Plan. If a municipality proposes to redesignate land in a new Official Plan landowners have the legal right to object to that. Some do and some don't. In a case like this the landowner might have felt that a "Highway Commercial" designation made the property more valuable.

 

[tdkkart]

Where do you keep the helicopter??

 

[Big-Foot]

Where do you keep the helicopter??

Dammit.. Beat me to it!!!

Congratulations!!!!

 

[Medix]

Under the Ontario Planning Act municipalities have the right to zone properties to bring them into conformity with the Official Plan. If a municipality proposes to redesignate land in a new Official Plan landowners have the legal right to object to that. Some do and some don't. In a case like this the landowner might have felt that a "Highway Commercial" designation made the property more valuable.

Unfortunate part of it all is that the municipality does not have to notify the landowner of the proposed rezoning. They simply have to run a newspaper ad stating their intention to do so. So if you don't live in the community or do not read the newspaper in which the ad was placed, you are for all intensive purposes screwed. My brother who owns the property next to mine and has lived there for 30 years+, was not even aware it had been rezoned

 

[Kevin54]

Question about the Ambulances....I know that Miller-Meteor and Superior Coach built the Caddy's for years, but who built the Chryslers?

My dad worked at both M-M and S.C. for a number of years.

 

[Medix]

Question about the Ambulances....I know that Miller-Meteor and Superior Coach built the Caddy's for years, but who built the Chryslers?

My dad worked at both M-M and S.C. for a number of years.

While the majority of Professional Car Ambulances (and hearses) were built on Cadillac, Pontiac and Oldsmobile commercial car chassis (a commercial chasis was shipped without any body work with the exception of that from the cowl forward and the body builder fashioned the remainder of the vehicle), there were a number of other smaller coach builders who built on other brands, including Chrysler and Ford. The Coachbuilt website http://www.coachbuilt.com/pro/index.htm lists nearly 150 North American manufacturers of ambulances, limousines and hearses since the late 1800's.

In the case of my Dodge, it was built by National Coach in Knightstown, Indiana. It is one of two Dodges built by National in 1968, the last year that any manufacturer is believed to have built an ambulance on a Chrysler car chassis. Unlike ambulances built on the Cadillac, Pontiac & Oldsmobile Commercial chassis, my 68 started life as a Polara 4 door sedan, police pkg car (440 cu in, 375 horsepower) The factory cut the car in half between the two rear doors and lengthened the body by 20inches. The roof was removed as was the trunk and then a raised roof and rear door added to create the patient compartment.

To learn more about Professional Cars vist the Professional Car Society website http://www.professionalcarsociety.org

A thread on MoPar Procars can be found at http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3696&highlight=Mopar

 

[Aaron P.]

who ya gonna call.....GHOSTBUSTERS.....savage machines ya got....they must take up alot of space....love your ideas...

 

[PCO6]

Unfortunate part of it all is that the municipality does not have to notify the landowner of the proposed rezoning. They simply have to run a newspaper ad stating their intention to do so. So if you don't live in the community or do not read the newspaper in which the ad was placed, you are for all intensive purposes screwed. My brother who owns the property next to mine and has lived there for 30 years+, was not even aware it had been rezoned

It sounds like the municipality passed a new Official Plan then followed it up with a Comprehensive (Town wide) Zoning By-law. That process usually takes 3 or 4 years and involves several stautory public meetings. You're right though that that is a problem for out of town landowners because there is no direct mailing. In cottage communities for example, ratepayer groups are often formed to keep non-residents informed.

Your current use would be considered "legal non-conforming" meaning it was in place when the by-law change occurred. You shouldn't have too much trouble getting permission to expand it.

 

[Sunbimmer]

These beasts are absolutely stunning

 

[wagzilla]

very nice!!!!!

 

[Medix]

Variance passed the Committee of Adjustment tonight unanimously. Means I can move forward with the house in the spring and the pole barn any time in the future I desire. Now to get the house in the city sold!

 

[Big-Foot]

Very cool!! Congratulations!