HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter 8-22-19331 Tropical Isles construction
Pierrette Guenette
Thu 2019-08-22 4:30 PM
To: huffa@stlucieco.org <huffa@stludeco.org>
Sent from my i Pad
August 22, 2019,
Good afternoon Angela,
In response to your e-mail dated August 6, 2019. The permits were for a cement slab, carport
and garage ( shed ). Tropical Isles Board members of 2017 came to our house to inspect what
we were planning to build before the cement slab was approved and poured. A plan for the
construction was provided to the 2017 Board members and was unanimously signed and
approved by the 2017 Board members. In order to be approved for a building permit we were
required.to provide written, permission from Tropical, Isles Park. Your, office should. have. a copy
of this signed approval along with a sketch of the proposed construction which was also
provided to Tropical Isles Board members of 2017.
The cement slab was poured on March 26, 2018 by Carlos, a Tropical Isles maintenance worker
after receiving a permit from St -Lucie County ( permit # 1801- 0407 ). The cement slab was
inspected and approved in April/18 by St -Lucie County Building Department. From the time
the cement was poured to the .time the construction on the carport and shed began in 2019
there was never a complaint from the Tropical Isles Board as to the size or measurements of
the cement slab.
* As to the location of the posts and beams for the carport, they are according to the building
plans. We had to hire an Architectural Engineer before being issued a,building permit.
Multiple inspections were done -on the construction process and every time there was an
inspection, the inspector asked to see the Architect plans and therefore the posts and beams
were inspected and approved according to the Architect plans. We also recall that you, Angela
informed us that a carport is not a structure and that the posts can be erected on the property
line. Our tarpon: posts are 1 foot from the property line and our shed is 12 feet from the
neighbours house and 2 feet from the property line and that was all on the sketch given and
approved by the Tropical Isles Park.
* Concerning the closed breezeway and the door at the back of the breezeway. We
temporarily closed off the breezeway with a door to lock the shed because we are away for 6
months. There wil I be a 4. feet breezeway which will follow the Architect plan.
* The breezeway will be.4 feet wide. The sketch for the shed (garage) and carport were
provided to the 2017 Tropical Isles Board members and signed and approved by those
members and they never asked for the dimensions of the shed (garage) or carport or the
building materials. Those members were more concerned that we didn't go out of our
property line with the cement extension. The cement extension is 6 feet wide on the
County Docs_000005
Y
neighbour's side and measures 17 feet wide in line with the back of our house. We did not
alter the cement size from the time of the pouring back in March, 2018. Contrary to the
accusations from the 2018-19 Tropical Isles Board members we did not alter or expand our
cement. Towards March,2019, as per the Architect plans, We had to cut our existing cement
slab into six (6) -24" X 24 " square holes and each 24" deep to put rebars in and pour cement
over them for more carport post reinforcement. This cement pouring must have confused the
2018-19 Board members into thinking that we had altered the size of our cement slab.
* We asked the Architect for a letter to modify the plans for the splices in the carport area. A
letter will be provided.
* As to the Tropical Isles minimum required setback of 7.5 feet on the side yard as you
mention. Tropical Isles never told us of this setback when they verified and approved our
construction plan back in 2017 nor did we see this rule in their Rules and Regulations ortheir
Prospectus. Did Tropical Isles provide your office with a copy of this setback and if so can you
e-mail us a copy please?
* We feel that we are unfairly caught between arguments involving decisions made by the
2017 Tropical Wes Board members and the objections from the 2018-19 Board members as
to the approval of our construction. If the present Board feel that a .bad decision was made at
that time, they sho.uldn't have us pay for it, The Park should have clear and precise Rules and
_ Regulations for. new_construction and make them_publicly available.especia.11y_-. -P Board.___ _ .......__
members can change every year.
As to the St -Lucie Building Department, they demanded Architect plans before giving us a
building permit. We hired an Architect and those plans were approved by the Building Dept.
The•construction process was inspected and approved by your Building Dept. inspectors as
the construction work carried on. Those inspections were done and followed diligently
according to Architect plans. Now that 90% of the construction work is done, both Tropical
Isles and the St- Lucie Building Department is accusing us of wrongdoing and are asking us to
pay the cost of modification to our construction. This is unjust and unfair.
Thank You
Pierrette Guenette and Lionel Guenette
County Docs_000006
Sincerely,
Lionel Guenette
Please Note: Florida has very broad public records laws. Most written communications to or from County officials
regarding County bustness, are public records available to the public and media upon request. It is the policy of St.
Lucie County that all County records shall be open for personal inspection, examination and / or copying, Your e-mail
communications will be subject to public disclosure unless an exemption applies to the communication. If you received
this email In error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete all materials from all computers.
Please Note: Florida has very broad public records laws: Most written communications to or from County officials
regarding County business are p
ublic records available to the public and media Upon request. It is the policy of St. Lucie
County that all County records shall be open for personal inspection, examination and /
or copying. Your e-mail communications will be subject to public disclosure unless an
exemption applies to the communication. If you received this email in error, please notify
the sender by reply e-mail and delete all materials from all computers.
Please Note: Florida has very broad public records laws. Most written communications to or from County officials regarding County business are public records
available to the public and media upon request. It is the policy of St. Lucie County that all County records shall be open for personal inspection, examination and !
or copying. Your e-mail communications will be subject to public disclosure unless an oxemption applies to the communication. If you received this email In error,
please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete all materials from all computers.
County Docs_000009