There's no perfect formula to making a home achieve harmony with nature.  But when it doesn't, it can be pretty bad.  Some poeple are fooling themselves into thinking they got it right.  Lucky for me, the make it easy by providing the evidence.

This one claims in the headline that it "blends seamlessly with nature."  Seriously?

Oh look, a tree!  Really, I don't think I've ever seen a naturally occurring rectangle in the wild.  The article has more pictures, none of which with any more nature.

Here's one that's even worse:

 At long last, I've filed the mass of documents to request a lot division, forming the flag lot that will become my home.  I noticed from my notes that my consultation with the city to get the project un-stuck was in June of 2010.  So, the question: Why did this take so long?

Reason #1: Not my day job.  Not only do I have other stuff to do, but I've never done this before, and I actually like where I live now.  But that's just why I haven't put much time into it, setbacks not withstanting.

Reason #2: Trying to do too much of it myself.  Cost is a big reason for that, as is the goal of learning enough to be self-sufficient at repeating the process.  Reason #1 got in the way of the latter, but there are some things you have to pay someone else to do anyway.  Like a licensed surveyor.  At least I avoided the overhead of paying a general contractor for the prep work.

Two different things held up the progress with dividing the lot: my current property taxes, and putting the water system plans together.  I submitted the documents for my appeal of the assessed value of my condo, because units in my building have been selling for less than I'm being taxed for.  Worth looking into these days, with the collapse of the real estate market.

I'd been trying to put together plans for stormwater management that I could give to the surveyor to complete the lot division documents, and started to doubt I can do it myself.  After asking around a bit, I happened to meet a civil engineer who does just what I need!  They're working on a proposal for the last bit that I expect to have to pay for.  Then I'll finally be able to file, and start the clock on that wait.

This has been such a challenge to navigate that I'm going to have to celebrate when it's done.

 Wave power generation crossed my mind, and I was reminded of something I'd heard about small "damless" river power generators.  Then I realized it would be fantastic if I could get a small underwater impeller to use river current and supply a little bit of power for a floating home, 24/7.

In the back yard of the existing lot, there is an old apple tree.  I grew up with this tree, and have fond memories of climbing it and eating the apples.  It doesn't fruit generously every year like it used to.  There are some dead sections, including one that broke off dramatically about 15 years ago.  My parents have thought ever since then that the tree was unhealthy, and expected it to be removed in preparation for the new home being built.  I had to get an arborist report anyway, and they gave the tree a look.

After reading over more rules for dividing a lot, it looks like a surveyor's sign-off is mandatory.  Considering what they do, I figured now is the time to hire a surveyor.  It's more money going out, but I have to have it done and they just might get me considerably closer to filing the lot division.

I now have reports for stormwater drainage and tree health. There's a bit more research and planning to do to put together the site plan and application for lot division, but it shouldn't cost any more money. Next, I'll tackle getting utilities mapped, and designing the landscaping.