On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 17:50:57 +0900, Declan Murphy
<declan_murphy@hotmail.com> brought down from the Mount tablets
inscribed:

>For the last few weeks I've being spending a lot of time with architects 
>designing 20 apartments. We initially decided that for 6 of the 
>apartments, there would be a 3.75 X 2.5 meter covered balcony. Large 
>enough for two people to sit outside, even have a BBQ etc. Then when 
>soundproofing and double glazing issues were considered, we decided to 
>enclose the balcony with glass and make it a sun room. I was expecting 
>the quote today, instead I was told "You can only have 3 instead of 6. 
>The total floor space ratio to total property size can't exceed X%".
>
>Ordinarily I'd have been happy to hear it, but apparently Japan does 
>have some zoning laws afterall :-(

If you look at real estate listings the ratio is usually listed along
with the other info.

A few years ago, some friends built a new home. A big, beautiful,
spacious two-story home. Two stories and a half, actually. But there
was no way to enter the and-a-half part. There wasn't even an opening
in the ceiling or any sort of indication that there was anything
usable above the second floor.

I asked them why this was and they said they were waiting for the
local tax assessor to come out and check the place out. After the tax
rate had been set they called the contractor out to open the ceiling
and build stairs. The tax rate depended on the usable floor space of
the home.







--

Michael Cash

"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."

                                Dr. Howard Sprague
                                Dean of Admissions
                                Mount Pilot College