As I’ve mentioned in passing in other posts, this is the season for my shop build at our new home. The rent on my current space is nothing more than an anchor at this point, and has been since I closed my business, and having all my “stuff” 40+ minutes away from home is really starting to wear on me. I finally lined up a building contractor (Top Gun Construction out of Medina) and my decision was based on more than just price. He seemed to be the most responsive and personable of all the companies I tried to work with and I had a hell of a time getting people to respond. It appears the pole barn industry is more than overwhelmed these days.
I hit a “bump” with the local building department. Based on my zoning, I was allowed up to 1,200 SF. My original design was closer to 1800 SF and the covered overhang off the back was also considered in their calculations so at the variance meeting, they told me to back it down, or they would deny it completely. I moved out here and pay some of the highest taxes in the area and still can’t build what I want. The answers they gave me, and the guy there before me, were basically “non-legal” responses and the “it doesn’t fit with the neighborhood in my opinion” answer is a load of shit, if you ask me. Anyway, I don’t have time to hire an attorney so I scaled down the size a bit and dropped off the overhand idea, for now 
This is a pic from my third floor window of the general area it’s planned to be erected.
When I poured my driveway a couple years ago, I left a little “branch” off to the left to allow for future extension of the driveway to the left of the house. Got just a few trees to get out of the way but somehow most of the really big ones will fall outside the area I need.
General Overview:
-49’ x 33’ with 12’-6" ceilings, to accommodate the lift.
-(2) 8 x 10 Raynor Relante garage doors at the front and (1) 8 x 8 Raynor Relante garage doors at the back. All insulated with glass at the front doors only. All three to receive Prodigy jackshaft openers to eliminate ceiling mounted clutter. Height extension kits to bring the doors as close as possible to the ceiling. I’m considering upgrading all the tracks and rollers to the “coated” option to prevent rust over time. I think I’ll also order the internet gateway so they can be operated from my smartphone. Nice feature if you want to leave something for someone and just open the door remotely when they come to pick it up.
-Fully insulated R-19 walls with R-38 ceiling.
-Attic style trusses for a little extra storage above.
-Drywall / painted interior. I looked into the metal interior option and it simply seemed way too expensive.
-Got a smoking deal on Andersen casement and picture windows from my boss on a misorder sitting in our warehouse from years ago. All brand new, still in boxes.
-Basic electrical wiring, high output ceiling lighting, and some exterior access / utility lighting. Will run some conduit for future considerations and will more than likely pull data cable out there as well. I have one more camera for my security system available and will be running that out there as well.
-I spoke with the the HVAC contractor we use at work and he thinks a single ceiling mounted unit will work well. I’m also going to entertain installation of a wood burner in the future. God knows I have the fuel available.
-Using the same concrete finisher I used for my driveway and I was hugely impressed with his work.
-Roofing is going to end up being Architectural shingles. I simply wanted to change the aesthetics and with the number of trees around me, I could see the metal getting “dented” up pretty good with the frequent falling branches.
-Exterior metal colors will be a combination of tans and dark browns to hopefully help blend with the house.
Here’s the most recent drawings with the “reductions”
I’ve already started clearing some trees and I meet again, hopefully for the last time, with the variance board on 6/10. That said, I hope to have things started by late June / early July with completion well before the fall. More to come.
