Frequently Asked Questions

 

(Click on Photos for More Detailed Information)

 

 

What is the architectural process?

    Our design process begins with a client meeting at the project site. At this meeting we begin to develop a program for their home or commercial project.

    Once a concept is established a set of preliminary drawings is done to fully explore the possibilities of the design.
From this point the process progresses into Design Development where key elements are refined to express the original concept down to the detail level. As we move into the construction drawings and permitting phase, the drawings are refined to a point where they can be  used to generate both the pricing, and specifications necessary for the physical building of the project. Throughout this entire process we periodically meet with the owners, consultants, and contractors to keep the lines of communication open and ensure the completion of a successful project.

What Style House Do I Have?
The following list is a set of common definitions of typical house styles.  There are many different variations for all houses, and your specific house may or may not fit into one of these neat categories.  Please see the following list: HOUSE STYLE DEFINITIONS

How long does it take to get a Building Permit?

This question is sometimes the hardest to answer.  There are many variables that must be looked into.  Here are a few examples:

 

1. Location of Subject Property:

   Is it located in a township, or inside an incorporated village.  All of the townships & villages have their own way of doing things, and they all have different procedures.  Along with different procedures, there are different timetables for permit approval.

2. Does the project need a Variance:

   A variance is when you are asking the municipality to legally break it's own zoning laws.  There is usually a board of zoning appeals, which holds a public hearing on each specific project.  The process usually involves first getting an application denied by the building department, then filing with the board of zoning appeals, at which time you are assigned a hearing date.  This date can sometimes be months in the future, according to their caseload.  At the hearing the board can either approve or deny your application.  Most boards do not give any indication of approval or denial at the time of the hearing.  These decisions are usually made in an executive session either after the hearings, or at a later date.  At this time, the board has to vote on all of the approvals, and have them read into the register at the next scheduled meeting.

3. Is the subject property located on the water, or wetlands:

   Waterfront property has it's own different set of rules to follow to acquire a building permit.  A number of different agencies come into play for these projects.  These may include the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the US Army Corps of Engineers, County Health Depts., Town Environmental Agencies, and the list is endless.  Most waterfront permit processes can usually take about a year to get final approval, as the building dept. is the last place our application will land.