Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Asking "permission" to put up a Skyshed POD.
I think this will be a lot easier than modifying my existing shed - will they allow more than one "shed like" structure though....
And that way I can keep other house-necessities like lawn mower, etc in the shed too.
I made a Word document showing pictures of the POD and the dimensions - with the "minimum footprint 3-bay option" being just a hair under 10'x10' so maybe I won't need a township permit for it.
I reassured them that I would NOT be ordering the glow in the dark version  and that I would not be pouring concrete - I might put it on a wood deck but this way the structure is not techincially a permanent one... Let's see if they agree!!!!!
I will start out with the RCX tripod, and later on move onto a metal pier with sand, no concrete. Not the ideal pier but best compromise I think.
Wish me luck....... 
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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 5684
Loc: Inner Solar System
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HOA - bah!
Good luck, though.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Joe, Best of luck in moving forward with your plans.
Be sure to let us know how things are going!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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GeorgeDuke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1592
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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Once you get approval for the POD and set it up, you can make modifications like pier etc inside without any problem.
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George
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SkyShed POD XL-3
LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, 2" SV Dielectric and Orion Prism Diagonals
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 3299
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I agree with George....Once the POD is in place, it might be a simple matter of digging a hole for a pier and pouring concrete with the top just below ground level, add a metal pier and surround it with soil and seed.
Of course, this will mean you will have to make wine bag shaped tubes of cloth to place inside your pant legs, fill them with dirt and surreptitiously distribute said dirt in your garden, shuffling your feet as you go to mix the dirt in to the garden dirt.....MMmmmmmmm.......oh yeah....I remember now,....The Great Escape with Steve McQueen......Yeah, that's just the ticket.
And, as in all similar endeavors....many images are a must!
Best Wishes for a Happy POD!
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
"Nobody get's in to see the WIZARD, Not Nobody, Not Nohow"
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5572
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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What's an HOA?
Where I am, you just throw up whatever construction you want.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction 
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3531
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Doug.....Sounds more like OHA(Ozark Homeowner's Assoc.)dripping down to where you live. 
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Well it's not one of the extremely restrictive ones, the dues are only $100 a year (no benefits or clubhouses though) and since they don't take care of the outside of your property like in communities where you'd pay a high HOA fee, they can't say well our lawn guy isn't going to want to maneuver around that "thing" or some other excuse.
Crossing my fingers, regardless.
Did anyone here pick up their POD at NEAF to save some shipping costs? I will call and ask if that is a possibility.
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GeorgeDuke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1592
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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I saved the $800 shipping cost to Florida by finding a used POD for sale right here in Florida! It was a 4 hour drive but well worth the trip.
You might advertise in Classifieds and swap & Shop and on AM if you have an account there.
I am sure there must be other situations like mine. The POD owner bought a larger scope and needed a bigger observatory so I "helped him out" by buying his POD for less than half of what it would cost me from the factory.
With all the home foreclosures and job losses there may be someone near you that needs you to "help" by buying their POD for half price!
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George
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SkyShed POD XL-3
LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, 2" SV Dielectric and Orion Prism Diagonals
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thj
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/07/06
Posts: 578
Loc: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I know our HOA would most likely not approve something like this so I'm working out some plans to build my own "observatory" that's just an inch or two lower the wall around my backyard.
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Thomas
(My Astro Photos)
--
N 33° 09' / W 111° 33'
Orion 10" Newtonian
Orion 102mm F/7 ED
Atlas EQ-G
Stratus 21/13/8/5 mm EPs
Orion 32mm Q70 EP
Plössls in many shapes and sizes
Celestron NexStar 114GT (for "Grab-n-Go" moments)
Canon Digital Rebel XSi (a.k.a. 450D)
Edited by thj (10/15/09 02:12 PM)
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Heh, we can't have privacy fences though, oddly. Not even if you have a pool. Post and rail fences only, with chicken wire to prevent the odd wandering toddler from getting into your pool (I don't have one) and drowning.
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skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 601
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Hello Joseph,
Congrats on the decision to realise your objectives there  Fingers crossed that your application will find favour with your (had to read up on what this is) HOA.
Good luck!
Regards,
skybsd
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Got an answer requesting some clarification from the HOA president:
Are you replacing your existing shed with this one?
Are you putting up the pod in addition to your current shed (This is my hope)
and my favorite question, "Are you putting the pod inside your existing shed? (and converting the existing shed into a roll-off roof)"
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oldsalt
Astro Philosopher
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 8677
Loc: Pa - between starparties
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Joe, I'm a little confused as to why you would need the HOA approval for the POD. It isn't a premanent structure. You aren't placingit on a pad, or building a deck for it either. It would be akin to one of those kids "playschool houses or castles you see in peoples backyards.
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There are no winners in war, only bigger losers.
Jim
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Some HOA's are very restrictive. When I lived in town; you could not even have a clothesline in the yard, in our neighborhood. A little tight-knit group ran the HOA, and no one bothered to get them replaced, with more lenient individuals.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Quote:
It would be akin to one of those kids "playschool houses or castles you see in peoples backyards.
I'm sure the backyard playground two houses down needed approval as well.
Playground sets are "what suburban houses are supposed to have" in their backyards, while shyshed PODs, well, "what IS that thing?!?" is probably the most common response among the non-astro-knowledgeable members of society (and that's 99% of them).
If they don't approve the POD they should be more lenient on me modding the existing shed - since "looks" is all the HOA cares about.
While I would rather keep the shed as is, to house the lawn mower and other stuff that doesn't belong in the basement, I'll manage it, if in the end I get something to permanently keep my telescope in (and actually getting to USE it would be nice!). If going that route I would definitely buy skyshed plans from them (same company) as Wayne has been quite helpful with my questions so far.
A rolloff roof will look like the shed that's been there for a while, with posts and rails next to it. If an inquisitive dogwalker asks, I will say I am building a pergola or whatever those things are called.
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Edited by Joseph Gillman (10/16/09 12:08 PM)
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Joseph,
My heart really bleeds for you and everyone else that has the misfortune to have bought in a HOA development. I have been there and had to sell my property. There are lots of officious, autocratic, bureaucratic people with nothing better to do in life than walk around the neighborhood with their clipboards telling people how they know better how you should live your life.
I wish you well in your project.
Richard
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Don't shed too much blood for me. I'll be okay either way as I do like the house and neighborhood (mostly) otherwise
Absolute worst case I will sell my RCX 12" and get something more portable, but I sure would miss that scope which as of now might not be easily replaceable in the future.
I think they only go around with the clipboards every year or two (from what I heard) so they aren't the most restrictive HOA ever. But lets hope they see the (star)light so to speak.
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skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 601
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Wow! 
I guess you learn something everyday.
Good to know of some of these experiences..,
Regards,
skybsd
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1194
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Go for it!!, Joe!...and may the force be with you!!!  
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GeorgeDuke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1592
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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The town I live in here in South Florida, Davie, was originally established for horse owners. The minimum lot size was one full acre and just about every home had a horse barn and a large garage for tractors and boats and such. Then there is usually a corral and riding area etc. so no one pays much attention to small sheds.
I always say it is best to check out the area before you buy a house.
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George
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SkyShed POD XL-3
LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, 2" SV Dielectric and Orion Prism Diagonals
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StarmanDan
sage
Reged: 08/27/07
Posts: 392
Loc: China Spring, Texas
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This is why I live out in BFE. No one cares what you do with your property.
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"Starman" Dan Doyle
Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
Central Texas Astronomical Society
8" LX200GPS w/ST80 guidescope, Canon 350D+DSI Pro
150mm f/8 Sky Watcher Refractor
10" f/4.5 Homemade Dob
RV-6 Criterion Dynascope
http://darcstar.wordpress.com
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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To get a house in as nice condition, similar age, in a similarly decent area, similar price and similar property tax bill, but without the HOA, would've required a much longer daily commute from the county next door. The list above trumped the need for an observatory. Around here I don't think there are any 15 year old or younger houses that aren't in an HOA-development.
The observatory was not my #1 priority, more like #5 or 6, and it certainly wasn't the wife's #1 either
But it would be real nice....
Worst case I will put a pier on (or better, through) my deck which won't be visible from the street and make a little roll-off enclosure for my big scope and not tell anybody. But I am trying to go through the proper channels first in order to get something better than that. On the deck, 50%+ of the sky is blocked by the house next to it.
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Edited by Joseph Gillman (10/16/09 08:28 PM)
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Well my brother owns a home in the Historic District in town.......
He can not even paint his front or back door without getting permission from the HYSTERICAL (not historical society) for what color he wants to use...
So HOA are or can be a pain bad BUT there are worst things.
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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BluewaterObserva
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/04
Posts: 4968
Loc: Zuni Mtns, NM
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Sounds like it will get OK'd in some form or fashon.
HOA's probably add more value and do more good than bad in most all cases.
I'm crossing my fingers for you here!!!
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Quote:
I posted to share my experiences as they unfold, not to elicit "told you so, shouldn't have bought a house in a HOA development if you wanted an observatory" posts.
Yep; the interest here is getting approval so you can move forward with an observatory; and we are all hoping this happens for you! 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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GeorgeDuke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1592
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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I am sorry Joseph that you took my comments personally.
I thought it would be OK to post my own personal experiences.
There was no intention to criticize you or say "i told you so", which of course I did not.
I am sure you spent a lot of time on the house buying process.
Please accept my apologies for any misunderstanding.
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George
--------------
SkyShed POD XL-3
LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, 2" SV Dielectric and Orion Prism Diagonals
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Sorry if I over reacted. Thanks for sharing your experences and I hope to be a fellow XL3 owner someday.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5572
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Doug.....Sounds more like OHA(Ozark Homeowner's Assoc.)dripping down to where you live.
No, no, you got it wrong! It's the CHA (Cajun Homeowner's Association) running up your way!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5572
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
This is why I live out in BFE. No one cares what you do with your property.
Same here, and there's a few around to prove it!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 376
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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I ultimately didn't have any trouble with my HOA. But I made sure I designed for the standards, and it added cost.
It did turn out nice though.
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Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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montymorris
member
Reged: 09/30/09
Posts: 23
Loc: Media, PA
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Joseph, I am new to the forum and astoronmy in general. I am, however, you neighbor (sort of!) I live in Media and tried to convince my wife a house in Chester Co. would be a good idea, but she talked me into Media. We hav a HOA that is not restrictive at all. I wish you luck in getting approval, and if you need help with the construction, I offer my assistance as a laborer.
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Great!
A few friends, that I met through CN actually, observe regularly in Garnet Valley. I join them from time to time, he lives in a restrictive-HOA/retirement-community, but there is a nice RV Lot that gets all the way to the high 4's in magnitude visibility on a good night without the moon.
I lugged my RCX there a couple times, and it was a chore but worth it for the views. But I would really like to keep it in an observatory, obviously. Send me a PM if you are interested in joining us.
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Doug Culbertson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/06/05
Posts: 1353
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OK, so this is OT, but I just wanted to mention that my wife is from Brookhaven, and her father moved to Aston where he stayed until he passed away a few years ago. I love that area, and can't wait to get back to Phil and Jim's for a decent cheesesteak!
Good luck with your HOA. It sounds like yours is at least willing to entertain the idea, which is more than I can say about my one experience with one. The POD appears to be a great observatory, and is one of the ones on my short list.
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Doug
Midway, FL
NS11GPS/Feathertouch/Starizona Virtual View
100ED/Giro II
Some eyepieces and a barlow
1 ThermacellŽ
Life's too short to drink cheap beer
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Welcome to the CN forums, and what a nice offer, to a fellow member!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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FirstSight
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 3898
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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QUERY: If you lived in a neighborhood with a HOA with catering to night-sky friendliness as one of the objectives of the covenants (full cutoff lighting, etc)...and welcome tolerance for observatories, so long as they were within certain generous guidelines, would that mitigate your objections toward at least this particular use of a HOA type governing structure? How do they do it at Chiefland Astronomical Village in Florida?
Back OT, I sincerely hope Joseph's HOA proves flexible enough to work with him on something that is acceptable to all concerned, even if it means he might need to modify some of his ideas to meet them part way. The people on the board of my local HOA are decently reasonable (two of them live within a block of me), and more or less blew off the lady in charge of the "aaachatectural committee" on an instance where she was being too prissily insistent on exactly-by-the-book at the expense of practicality. So long as I built an observatory-type structure as an architecturally harmonious addition to my house, it wouldn't violate any prohibitions. The real problem would be that they'd never let me cut down a wide enough swath of trees to provide enough open sky to make it worthwhile (because I'd have to basically cut down a small forest in my back yard).
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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The HOA Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are only as good as the current Board of Directors, the CC&R's only give you something to bring suit over and the courts typically will side with the BofD's. The owners in the development may very well be different next year and also the B of D's and there will be new interpretations of what was an accepted practice.
In my HOA experience the BofD, among many issues, would not approve of a wheel chair ramp to my house so my wife could get into and out of the house. Clearly illegal but my only recourse was to file suit. Unfortunately my wife died in that house before a judgement could be rendered. I hope her ghost is giving those a......s nightmares every night.
Goodluck with your experiences with HOA's.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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[OT]
Quote:
Well my brother owns a home in the Historic District in town.......
He can not even paint his front or back door without getting permission from the HYSTERICAL (not historical society) for what color he wants to use...
So HOA are or can be a pain bad BUT there are worst things.
Bob G.
I don't live in a historic district, but I do live in a "historic overlay zone" (Highland Park, the largest HPOZ in Los Angeles). We bought a Victorian home on a hilltop precisely because it is an LA City Monument and is on the National Register. We love this old house. In our overlay zone, people get cited for grievous things like stucco'ing a clapboard-sided home or putting aluminum or vinyl (tupperware) windows in place of the original wood sash (I can repair my 120yr old wood sash windows, but the so-called forever aluminum and rubber ones have to be replaced in about 25 years).
We had a fire at our house 8 years ago set by the roofer while using "torch-down" roofing on the veranda. The entire attic and roof had to be rebuilt. We had a historic architect help us select a new paint scheme that met with everyone's approval and is close to the original.
Our house is visible from all sides, and yet I'm more likely to be concerned with the appearance of an observatory in my yard than the HPOZ will be. Heck, the house originally had a water tower that was about 40 feet tall. I've been told by my HPOZ that if I wanted to build a replacement and put an observatory on top, they'd approve it (I couldn't afford to, though!).
All I needed for a permanent installation was a larger hatch cover in the flat roof, which was approved:
Hatch Observatory (named for the original owner of the house, Judge Hatch, not the door! 
So, sometimes it can be fun working with the powers that be.
[/OT]
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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So I was observing out in the yard last night for the first time in a long time I set up my RCX 12. Rolled the JMI case out of the shed, and the tripod.Not a bad night though seeing and transparency were not the greatest and there was a halo around bright objects that isn't there on a better night.
The shed I have is quite big, and I would not mind if I were allowed to convert it into a rolloff observatory instead. I think I would still have room to keep my lawn mower in there as well as my RCX and an atlas mount too.
Someone on astromart has an auction for a C14 which he mounted on a heavy cart. I asked him about it and he said it weighs about 250 pounds, and it was from a surplus Air Force bomb carrying cart!
If all else fails I would be able to keep everything set up on a heavy cary like that and just roll it outside when it's ready to observe. Not ideal but still better than having to pick it up out of the JMI case and plop it onto the tripod.
--------------------
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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I put most of my mounts on dollies I made out of 2x4's in a "T" and with swivel casters on all 3 corners. Some of the casters have locks, but most don't. Since I do most of my outdoor observing on grass, I haven't had a problem with the scope moving on the non-locking casters.
My 8" Springfield is on one of these dollies (about 100 pounds), and moves quite easily.
I have a Tak EM-500 mount that I put on one as well, but it's kind of frightening moving that thing around without the OTA mounted. It's just too tall for the width of the base (which is limited by the door I have to go through).
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Why would it be worse moving it without the OTA mounted?
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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I really can not believe any HOA could/would deny a wheelchair ramp into a home FOR ANY REASON...
Personally I guess I'd get myself in a heck of a legal trouble (I do not get mad but I do tend to get even)...
That ramp would have been build...and let the HOA take me to court..
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Bob,
Unfortunately a true story. I did the "Go To H..l" approach on a fence that was not allowed in the CC&R's. Our house was on the edge of a 300' cliff and my wife had a form of Parkinson's and to keep her from falling over I wanted a safety fence, which was disapproved, the BofD recommended that I dig a big hole in my backyard so she couldn't get out, a truly creative, sensitive group. The BofD just didn't think that someone with her condition should be "degrading" their idea of their lifestyle, they suggested I put her in a nursing home. This was all nearly 15 years ago and it still causes me grief.
Richard
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Quote:
Why would it be worse moving it without the OTA mounted?
My mistake. It's not. I didn't even try to move it with the OTA on. I'd be afraid of pushing it over!
But even without the 5 ft Cass OTA, the mount without counterweights weighs over 200 pounds and is about 5.5 feet tall on the dolly, so it's kind of scary to push it around.
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Hi Richard!
I saw your post about the Byers mount last week. Boy! What an absolute BEAUTY! Isn't that the mount that was first packaged with the Questar 12? The Ap is cool, too.
Biggest factor on the EM-500 is that the pier is spun cast iron and pretty tall, with rather short legs. Good news is I can get it through my basement workshop door (27" clearance). Bad news is that it's hard to move without risking pushing it right over.
For a while last fall, I left it outside with a desert storm cover over the eq head. I haven't used it since I put it on the dolly, because I'll have to take it apart first! Getting old and fearful pulls a good vacuum!
your post was deleted while I was typing this. ??
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Tim,
I deleted it because I had the wrong photo and was trying to find the correct one to repost. My pallet is aluminum and weighs 185#.
Good luck,
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Tim,
Here's the photo I was looking for, I hope.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1411
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Post deleted by Scott K
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Folks, while unimaginable things happen, let's go back to the topic of this thread; awaiting permission, so our member can start an Observatory; rather than turn the thread into a HOA thread.
Thanks!
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Carol,
You are right, I will get off the HOA thoughts. When the subject comes up it brings back so many unpleasant memories I try to share so that others might have some different questions when they are looking for a new home.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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I started researching alternatives in case I get a NO on the pod, looks like skyshed also has plans I could use to modify my existing shed.
Would rather keep my shed as is, to keep other things in there, but the shed is roomy insde (I just keep hitting my head on the door, ) so it wouldn't be the end of the world to use that.
I found piertech's website thanks to their astromart ad saying $200 off their movable pier, and it said contact us for the price of a roof to place on your existing structure. While it is an elegant design that does not require support posts like every other rolloff I have seen, the cost is prohibitive (Personally I would rather spend that money on an AP1200, if I had that much spending money).
Oh and the shipping charge is higher than the cost to import a POD from Canada!
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LateViewer
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 790
Loc: Westchester NY
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The roll off is nice and I love mine but, there was a lot of work for even the small little building I put up.
A Pod is quick.
One thing you might consider is contacting Wayne a few months before NEAF when he is bring Pods down and hook up there. That will save some freight if you are within in striking distance to Suffern NY.
That was my plan until I decided a Pod just was not the way for me to go.
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12.5" Discovery Mirror String Truss Dob
DSV-1 Alt-Az Mount
WO 66mm Petzval
Orion 127mm Mak with WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
C9.25"
Celestron CG-5 GoTo
8.8, 14, 18, and 24mm Meade UWA Series 5000 EP
32, 40mm Orion Optiluxe EP
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Great idea Albert, but I'm one step ahead of you.
Unfortunately it was indicated that Skyshed won't be at NEAF themselves, (or at least they won't bring their wares if they attend) as they have vendor represenation now which saves them some trouble (especially at the border!).
Maybe I will see you at NEAF next spring. My wife is from Dutchess county so we stay there, but for various reasons the only NEAF I've ever attended was 2007. I am recognizable (looking the other way of course) in Astronomy Technology Today's maiden issue, in one of the NEAF photographs. They started out at NEAF 2007 I think.
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Well good news is the evil (not really) HOA didn't say NO to an observatory and they didn't say "Don't you dare put that 'thing' on your property!" 
However they said they discussed and researched quite a bit and while the HOA documents do not say anything about having multiple "sheds" on your property, my township only lets you have one outside structure.
So I guess I might have been better buying a house WITHOUT a shed so I could start from scratch.
They said as long as whatever modifications I make to the existing shed are okay with township guidelines, I can have a modified-shed rolloff-roof observatory....
OR......
Knock down/sell the shed somehow and then put up the POD (or another suitable structure).
I would like to keep the shed and have space for my lawn mower and other stuff for the winter. I will take some pictures inside and out of my shed and see what you folks think vis a vis modify-ability.
It is roomy inside, I can keep my scope and a lawn mower in there, and then if I had people over just move the lawn stuff outside temporarily.
The other downside is that the shed is located about 100 feet from my main electricity box in the basement, so powering it will be costly. I could have maybe put the POD about half that distance so maybe the cost difference there is not too much anyway.
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2586
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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I think you will be happier (and your fussy neighbors as well) with a roll off shed observatory. Much more room and can be automated as well as a full sky view. I don't really have an answer for a dual-use garden shed/observatory though.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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How does your township actually define a structure? any mention of foundations, square footage etc...
Is a dog house a structure?
Is a swing set/sliding board a structure?
To be honest I think I would just modify your existing shed by putting an addition on it.
What I had in mind was Just an attached deck elevated a few feet off the ground that would hold a Pod...
We have to play by the rules but sometimes we sure can bend them a little ...
Bob G
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5572
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Yeah, adding on is what I would do also. But then I would never live where others can tell me what I can have on my property.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Quote:
lawn mower in there
I would be concerned keeping a lawn mower in with my scope. Gas fumes, etc. might not be the best for your equipment. 
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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No gas. It's a black and decker cordless. Not the strongest lawn mower out there, but no fumes and doesn't take up too much space.
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3961
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Joe,
In your situation I'd probably build the most appropriate roll off structure and then put a commercial shed for the lawn stuff on the north side of the roll off under where the roof rolls off (have to assume enough vertical clearance for this). Butt it up against the north wall of the roll off then paint both structures the same and call it all one large shed.
Or if you're really particular about the visuals simply design a shed extension out of the north wall of the roll off. Match the roofs (but the shed's will be slightly lower) and just extend the roll offs roof supports out past the front of the shed a bit.
Putting a dome into an HOA controlled neighbourhood (no matter what it looks like and even when they said that you could) is just like poking the bear with a sharp stick. Sooner or later it's going to bite you. The roll off is simply going to fit in better ... plus I personally like the experience of observing from a roll off better.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Quote:
Joe,
In your situation I'd probably build the most appropriate roll off structure and then put a commercial shed for the lawn stuff on the north side of the roll off under where the roof rolls off (have to assume enough vertical clearance for this). Butt it up against the north wall of the roll off then paint both structures the same and call it all one large shed.
I can't have more than one outside permanent structure - see prior post.
Also my north wall is adjacent to the property line unfortunately so the roof must roll off to the south. I will need an adjustable height pier but that can be done later.
The current shed is close to the maximum size allowed (by both the township and the HOA)
so I have to hope that the posts that hold the sliding roof support beam don't add to the legal "footprint"
they would know that I made a second structure, rather than modify my current one. A possibility would be to sell the current shed and put up a new roll off roof shed observatory but I think modding the current shed is most cost effective.
Max size is 10x10x12 (they don't specify which dimension is which so technically you can have a 10x10 that is 12' tall) and current one is probably about 10 feet long as it is - need to measure this weekend.
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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If you can't have outriggers, consider making something like the Pier Tech roof uses. My roof Hatch Observatory uses big industrial full-extension drawer slides that don't stick out beyond the roof (and so are also covered when it's closed), but allow the roof to roll all the way off the opening. When I looked online a year or so ago for these, I found they come in sizes up to 5 feet, so a 10 ft roof would need to split down the middle and each half roll off in opposite directions. The good news is that you could open either one part way and use the opening like a slit to block out light and wind. The bad news is that unless your shed is in the middle of your north boundary, the roof halves would need to roll off to the west and east.
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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That means sawing the roof in half which I hope I don't need to do but it is an option. For looks purposes I hope to keep the shed (paint matches house and has shingled roof) the same. If I need to maybe I can get a newer light roof but put shingles on that or make it "look" shingled.
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skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 601
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Hi Joseph,
Quote:
Well good news is the evil (not really) HOA didn't say NO to an observatory and they didn't say "Don't you dare put that 'thing' on your property!"
Excellent news! Good for you!
Quote:
However they said they discussed and researched quite a bit and while the HOA documents do not say anything about having multiple "sheds" on your property, my township only lets you have one outside structure.
So I guess I might have been better buying a house WITHOUT a shed so I could start from scratch.
Indeed - what's a "township", exactly? Is that your locally elected local government body - sort of like the local council here in the UK that own planning permissions for buildings and other structures?
Quote:
They said as long as whatever modifications I make to the existing shed are okay with township guidelines, I can have a modified-shed rolloff-roof observatory....
OR......
Knock down/sell the shed somehow and then put up the POD (or another suitable structure).
Might be an idea to see how far your luck runs and contact your township thingamajig for guidance on how best to proceed based on your intentions and requirements - you never know 
Regards,
skybsd
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Yes I am trying to get in touch with the township engineer , who has a regular dayjob and who knows when I will hear back.
Township is a local government which makes all the rules vi a via building codes, etc, then on top of that if you want a house under 20 years old in this area chances are it is in a development with a home owners association which makes their own rules above and beyond the local govt's but as you can see each one is different and some are more evil I meant restrictive than others.
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Tim
Do you have a link to the big industrial full-extension drawer slides?
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 601
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Hi Joseph,
Ahh, thanks for clarifying.
Well, let's hope you hera back from the township engineer before too long, and also hope that they smile on your proposal / enquiry
Congrats once more - Good luck going forward! 
Regards,
skybsd
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Somewhat related, I helped a friend move today (in the drizzle boy am I exhausted!!)
and he might take our shed for his new house if I decide to and am allowed to put up a new rolloff roof in its place.
--------------------
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montymorris
member
Reged: 09/30/09
Posts: 23
Loc: Media, PA
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Joe, If you need assistance with moving the shed if it come to that, I have a friend in the towing business that would help with his flat bed. Just may have to be on a Saturday.
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Quote:
Tim
Do you have a link to the big industrial full-extension drawer slides?
Richard
There are others, but these were the first ones I came across when I looked this evening:
Accuride industrial full extension slides
-Tim.
--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Thanks Tim,
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
Edited by Timber (11/06/09 01:45 AM)
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Thanks for the offer. Turns out my 10x10 shed is too big for his HOA to allow it (dumb).
Anyways after 10 days of not hearing back from the township engineer, I called the township office again today and this time they put me through to the building code person. I just need to make some drawings of my plans and we'll go from there. I'll see about borrowing AutoCAD from a friend.
--------------------
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Joe,
I just seems you are making it much too difficult to worry with AutoCad, for small projects like yours my county code/plans checkers (and I presume yours) will accept hand-drawn freehand sketches on a piece of notebook paper, in fact I have sketched a drawing while sitting with the code person, they really are only concerned with the items that are code related, like setbacks, septic system clearances, beam sizes, post depths, (egress windows for bedrooms), make things simple. The inspectors usually are not very concerned about small buildings except for setbacks.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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|
Ok duly noted. I'm an engineer by trade (not civil though I work in aerospace) so the cad stuff comes more naturally than sketching by hand. It might be easier to sell the shed and go with a new structure that will have a lighter roof.
--------------------
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Joe,
Good luck. Sometimes approaching the code people as an unsophisticated innocent will garner more sympathy and slack.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3997
Loc: Bolton, MA
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here's another thought:
typically (you WILL need to check), "Permanent" structures are defined by their foundations... if you don't have the "shed/observatory" on concrete foundation supports, it isn't (by definition) a "permanent" structure...
At least that is what the codes are here...
IF that is the case, then you can just build a rolloff on those concrete floater/footers (which is what I did)... then you have your (Steel!) pier bolted to a concrete footer that is BELOW GRADE (i.e. Invisible and "erasable")...
Voila: no permanent structure...
Plus, it has the advantage such that you CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU if/when you ever move...
You will have to read very carefully how they define things like: "Permanent", and "structure"; but I'm guessing there are possibly "loopholes" that you can exploit...
Good luck!
clear enough skies
--------------------
Dave
Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS
Visual: XT10i RTP
TV: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom
Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8
Guider: SBIG STV eFinder
Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor
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