By now, we thought that we would have had at least the amphitheater permitted as well as the shade structure. Sadly, we’ve hit a few snags. In the past four months since the last update, we got several large things done. The most important was Cordie Qualle and Kenny Reyes from Blair Church and Flynn‘s pro-bono completion of the grading plan, which we submitted right before Christmas. This was done thanks to Russell Gulke’s pro-bono work on the survey of WestLAND Group (pictured above, and huge thanks). We also submitted the amphitheater, and received feedback on a few fixes we must do with regards to guardrail details.

However, since this is the first submission since we got the survey, it came to the plan-checkers attention that our structures lie on property lines of the three lots of the garden. We were under the impression that we would be able to merge the lots, but it is becoming apparent that the building department does not see that as the ideal solution. As a result, we have a meeting with Karen Thompson of planning to hear the news/verdict. I am incredibly anxious, because there’s a lot at stake. If we have to redesign the site plan, then a lot of the buildings could potentially need to change. The shade structure would have to be completely re-designed.

We also got back redlines for the grading plan and they are exhaustive. We’re being asked to present a geology report even though one was submitted.

In terms of the shipping container structure, we’re still working on the structural engineering and it has not gotten into review. Ali is still at it, but Chris left the project because he was working 10 hour days at spaceX, and unfortunately has t been able to co tribute much since our last update. We are glad to have Kathy Rhee on board with us to lead the engineering of the shipping container structure with Ali.

Mohammad Shaikhsaheb has been working on the electrical engineering for the solar array. Last month Michael Byrd, the service planner for Edison (electrical utility) created the work plan for a dedicated three phase line to be opened up for the educational center. It was hard to reach him and figure out where the power will cone from, but now we have our own transformer planned.

The next steps are to:
-be notified on whether the site-plan will need to change
-finish the electrical engineering for the
–submit shade structure shade structure
-revise the grading plan
-submit amphitheater
–finish structural engineering for shipping container kitchen/clubhouse
–finish architectural drawings for library to start engineering of the rammed earth library