[RBS] illegal building--is there a better way?

[Kaminker]

Look, just because someone wants to build and can't get a permit, doesn't
give them the right to break the law.  There is a process that exists here.
First your area has to have building rights in the first place and then you
can apply for a permit, submit the plans and build.  From personally
experience this is fairly painless and not that expensive,  at least not
several years ago when we did it.  People who disregard the rules in this
respect and build as they wish may be doing more than breaking the law.
They could be blocking someones view, building something ugly and intrusive
that there neighbours have to look at or potentially something more
dangerous like compromising their neighbours or their own building
foundations.  I suggest you check into these details with a professional
architect/engineer or the like who deals with the iriya and can guide you.
Good luck.

 

 

  _____  

From: rbs-bounces at cs.huji.ac.il [mailto:rbs-bounces at cs.huji.ac.il] On Behalf
Of Riva
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 12:41 AM
To: rbs at cs.huji.ac.il
Subject: [RBS] illegal building--is there a better way?

 

The Chadash this week focuses on illegal building and how there are so many
Beit Shemesh residents in violation of building code and how the Iriya is
being forced to step up "tzav harisah" and stop illegal building.

 

It has become clear to me that the process of obtaining permits here-and
perhaps all throughout Israel-is so twisted and so full of corruption that I
believe it is an impediment to the average citizen being able to build
legally. In the US, you could apply for a building permit pretty easily, pay
a nominal fee, and get your permit, provided you were in compliance with
zoning laws. Over here, though, just obtaining building permits involves
thousands of shekels, often equal to the cost of the renovation itself! And
a regular citizen cannot get around having to pay these fees to architects
or engineers. Moreover, there is a lot of bribery, buttering up, and
entirely non-kosher stuff that goes into getting permits which makes the
whole system seem highly corrupt.

 

So firstly, I am wondering if I am missing something here. I mean, it just
seems so obvious that people are building illegally because they can't
afford to obtain permits-or even if they are willing to pay, it can take
YEARS to obtain permits, or sometimes the zoning laws are just so capricious
and ridiculous. Of course, there are going to be those people who couldn't'
care less about permits even if they cost a dollar, but I'm talking overall.
So why is no one talking about this aspect?

 

The next thing I'm wondering is.is there anything to do? The same way
cellphone company corruption was finally abolished, can we work to abolish
construction corruption and if so, how?

 

Good Shabbos,

 

Riva

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