EPA madness...my story with them
 

I bought 20 acres of land in Citrus County Florida. There are thousands of trees, there are some protected wetlands, there is approximately 1/4 mile river-frontage on the Withlacootchie River. I have applied for my building permits with the County, which is an expensive and detailed process. Everything was going along smoothly, until this past Tuesday. In June of 2012, the County adopted the new EPA rules concerning "Water-front lots". My building will be 1200 feet from the River, 400 feet from the wetlands. Because I may someday wash my car in the drive-way, where some oil may have leaked from an automobile onto said drive-way, I have to have an "Engineered Storm Water Drainage System". I have to have a Civil Engineer draw up a plan, calculate the rain-water run-off from the roofs, then have it approved by the County Engineer, and then build it. The Civil Engineer has to come back out and do a topographical survey for elevations, not cheap, he has to draw the plan and stamp it with his Florida Seal, at a cost of over 2000 bucks.. I have to dig a retention pond and add a berm all around the cleared land where the buildings will be. The EPA has no common sense at all. Both Engineering companies that I sent my site plan to stated that it is absurd what they are demanding. I agree.

They have given you nothing but a hard time from the get go. Have you considered selling this land and going somewhere else ?

That was the OTHER property that I had. It was the HOA that gave me all the grief there. After dealing with attorneys on that ordeal, the HOA finally agreed to let me build, but the garage couldn't be as many square feet as I wanted. I sold that 3 acres and bought this 20 acres.

Are you sure you want to be in Florida ??? Just asking. :)

Damn Tony, was hoping you were done with all this crap.

I just want my own place in the middle of the woods, with no neighbors around me. I want to be able to open any door or window and fire a gun. I plan to spend part of the winter there.

I really thought that I was done with all the BS. Then this little weasel of an Engineer, six months out of school, thinks that riverfront property is the same as a riverfront lot. There isn't anything written in the EPA rules to differentiate either. Stinking government. Obama loving clown is what he is.

Wow, maybe you and Florida aren't meant for each other. Along with engineering costs that's going to cost quite a junk to do what they want.

Hank, I'm supposed to get the Engineered drawings on Monday or Tuesday. Depending on what it says, I may pull the plug again on Florida property. I can sell the 20 acres and make a pretty decent profit. I'm not going to spend thousands more on their ignorant EPA bullshit.

So, I was thinking, it happens sometimes and I have no control over it. You want to build on a riverfront lot so you have to follow this rule/law. Doesn't matter what size your lot is or where you're building, it has riverfront so the rule applies. Sounds like one of those brilliant one size fits all laws our gubment comes up with.

What if there is one lot with riverfront and wetlands and you built on another lot that bordered that lot but didn't have riverfront/wetlands, what then? Could you subdivide your property into 2 lots and build on the one without riverfront and avoid this law? I don't know, a few beers and this crazy stuff just comes out but it might be worth looking into.