When you have lots of money, you can build whatever you want

EDITOR: I read with great interest and irony the fabulous column
by Robert Mitchell in the Sept. 9 edition of The Times:
“Morgan Hill’s new claim to fame – math”). His accounting of Mr.
Fry’s construction project reinforces the fact that when you have
lots of money, you can build whatever you want.
EDITOR:

I read with great interest and irony the fabulous column by Robert Mitchell in the Sept. 9 edition of The Times: “Morgan Hill’s new claim to fame – math”). His accounting of Mr. Fry’s construction project reinforces the fact that when you have lots of money, you can build whatever you want.

This is not the case for Maria and Juan Diaz who purchased their home located between a 24-hour 7-Eleven store and Advance Cleaners on Main Street here in Morgan Hill. As the article from the Sept. 19 edition of The Times reported, they had hopes of being able to easily obtain the proper permits. They thought they could have a business similar to Carl’s Barber Shop down their street. Maria is a licensed cosmetologist with dreams of having her own studio attached to the front of their home.

The published article said $23,000 in fees” but my math computes to $38,865.

Their original list of requirements included:

• provide a separate fire service with double detector check valve

• provide a separate sewer lateral

• provide a separate domestic water service with backflow

• provide a separate irrigation water service with backflow

• remove existing driveway and replace with standard curb, gutter and sidewalk

• replace all cracked and damaged curbs, etc…

• provide an on-site detention pond to detain increased run off

• provide underground utilities

• install a city standard street light

• pay impact fees

These are some of the other costs required by the City of Morgan Hill:

Use permit: $2,493

Site review: $2,201

Environmental assessment: $400

A site review: $1,781

Conditional use permit: $2,017

Environmental review: $372

Application costs: $924

Arborist: $200

Water fee: $588

Backflowing inspection: $138

Sewer Fee: $2,857

Engineering inspection fee: $2,160

Traffic impact fee: $5,592

Police impact fee: $1,132

Fire impact fee: $5,564

General city facilities: $546

Undergrounding utilities: $9,900

There are also unknown building plan check fees, building permit fees, plumbing permit fees, electrical permit fees, sheet metal permit fees and the cost of replacing the street light.

As of August, the City of Morgan Hill seems to have backed off on the street light (Juan and Maria’s home is perpetually illuminated by the neighboring 24-hour 7-Eleven store and its street light) and if I am reading the City Council staff report correctly, a study is being made to examine the impact fees, undergrounding of utilities and fire sprinkler requirements: “… Amendments are needed to remove barriers to owners wanting to convert their residential units for commercial use.”

This list is just some of what the Diaz family has been asked to do so that Maria can have her own beauty salon attached to her home. Can you even imagine how long John Fry’s list would have been had he gone through the proper channels?

Robert Mitchell, keep up the good work. Your column is outstanding.

Bonnie Bedford-White,

Gilroy