Robert’s Renovation – Update

Many of you know I am not a fan of nonsensical rules whether it’s from New Home, our healthcare system or government agencies. I love simplicity and although creating both a bathroom and bedroom out of a garage isn’t completely simple, it seemed easily doable. After all, millions of garages must have been converted into living spaces over the years.

Apparently, not always with the proper permit.

Okay, okay. I have a confession to make before going any further. In the interest of full disclosure, my Hubby and his brothers actually constructed a wall in the garage a few years ago when Hubby thought having space for an office in which to do homework for him and the kids (he’s in school too) sounded like a good idea (and no, like thousands of other families, we didn’t get the proper permit for it). The “room” was created but without finished flooring, ventilation or heating and air. There were, maybe, two months out of the year comfortable enough to be in the room so homework was back inside the house being done at the dining room table. The “room” evolved into a work out space (for about a minute) to its current use as a storage space for all puzzles and games and crafts and party supplies and old furniture and (oh, yeah) exercise equipment that I knew ONE DAY I would use again.

Finishing the room and adding a bathroom seemed like a natural solution when we decided to move Robert in with us (not to mention an excellent excuse to sell off that exercise equipment). We don’t have a shower or bedroom downstairs in our house and Robert can’t manage stairs so this seemed like such a simple solution. How hard could it be to finish the room by adding a/c, plumbing and cable?

Apparently, pretty darn difficult if you live in the city of Rancho Cordova, California.

Hubby decided to help out the contractor by investigating the permit fees for garage conversions. He was quickly told garage conversions are not permitted unless there is also covered parking provided for two cars.

Gee, that sounds a lot like my garage. That I’m trying to convert.

I tell Hubby not to worry. I’m sure it’s simple enough to get an exception to this rule (I have since found it is called a “variance.”). Hubby went to the Building and Safety Department today to ask about variances for garage conversions and explains we are creating a space for his wife’s disabled brother. He even explains Robert has epilepsy and that he needs to be cared for and he can’t go up the stairs and we would like to provide a room for him in the garage (Hubby probably told them even more than that because he is a pretty friendly guy).

He’s told it doesn’t matter why we’re doing it. It’s not allowed (and I’m sure they are not nearly as friendly about it as my Hubby). Can we put a cover over our driveway and call it covered parking? Nope. The covered parking cannot be in front of the house; it has to be on the side of the house. Oh, you mean where two sheds, our garbage cans and a good sized tree are? And we have to dodge the fire hydrant in front of our house to get back there? Is that what you mean? Yep.

Hubby asks for the reasoning behind the regulation. It’s so the City of Rancho Cordova can reduce street parking. Well, guess what! It doesn’t seem to be working because our neighborhood is full of cars parked on the street. Drive down any street in our little city and, unless it’s a gated community, there will be cars parked on the street. This regulation doesn’t appear to be solving any parking issues the city has.

How about coming up with a regulation that will keep people from parking on their front lawn (as my neighbor tends to do)? They didn’t convert their garage but they certainly don’t use it to park their cars. If people can store whatever they want in their garage, making it necessary to park in their driveway (or even the street) what is the point of this rule banning me from transforming my garage into a livable space for my disabled brother? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in favor of the government telling people they can’t use their own garage for storage but I also don’t want to be told I can’t create a bedroom in it either without jumping through unnecessary hoops.

I don’t think I should have to go to the extra expense of paving my side yard and installing a car port which will ultimately go unused because we park in our driveway anyway (conversion or no conversion)!

There are thousands of disabled adults on waiting lists across the country to get into a care facility or group homes. Many more are not yet on a waiting list but currently live with family members. Robert is in a care facility now but I am willing to care for him at my house which opens up a space for someone else. I can’t do this until I can provide a suitable living area for him. I cannot do this without a permit (well, I could but it’s risky because the city could actually evict me from my own home for doing so).

What is the simple solution to the simple question of where can my brother sleep and bathe?? There may not be a simple answer but I will not let this go and will not go away quietly. We’re going to appeal as much for Robert’s sake as for the sake of other families struggling with the same roadblocks.

We will file a formal request to convert our garage without providing the additional covered parking and then, if denied, will file an appeal. We can take it to court if that appeal is denied. It’s time to raise a ruckus and I’m ready for it.

And to begin my protest I may just park on the street tonight!