When planning a new project the very first step is to determine whether your property is suitable for the type of project that you have in mind. Determining the City Assigned Zone for your property is important but your zoning is only one of many issues that can affect how and what you can build on your property. Many people think that if you just have the right zone you can go ahead with your building plans, get your permit and build away!… Not So, most of the time now in California, since there are many issues that must be resolved before you even think about starting construction documents. A better term for getting permission to build is called ” Entitlements”. In other words you need to go through the “Planning” review process and jump through all the hoops to obtain the approvals from all of the reviewing agencies who will give their permission for you to build your project and then when everyone has given their approval for what you want to do you are then Entitled to build your project. It is a long and arduous process that most people are not equipped to handle.
Burke Design is equipped to handle the Entitlement process because as an Architectural firm we have to deal with governing agencies every day to obtain their approvals. Many of the agencies require architectural or Civil Engineering plans for their evaluations or Design Review Boards want presentations of the design and neighbors want input into the design so it can get very complex. We prepare the plans needed for these agencies, we work with the Civil Engineer on site issues, we work with Landscape architects on site design and other consultants. As the Architect we are sort of the quarterback for the entitlement team keeping everyone on track to obtain that elusive zone clearance stamp of approval that will allow you to move forward with your construction.