A mass of confusion and bitter regret

So...the spray foam insulation is happening next week. The drywallers are supposed to close up the walls the following week, and then hopefully we'll be warm for winter. However...

Just by accident, my husband found out from a building inspector he knows that we were supposed to be involving the Building Department at the Township in all of our work thus far. Um...We thought we have been. No, it turns out that we've been dealing with the Planning Department, and that's separate from the Building Department. I guess we weren't clear on that. Apparently the Building Department has to see the spray foam insulation before we close up the wall (the insulation company's word and invoice aren't good enough). That, or we have to hire ANOTHER ENGINEER to inspect the spray foam and sign off on it, so that when the Building Department is approving the change of occupancy later, they will have record of it being approved. So hubby is spending today filling out paperwork and drawing a floorplan that we didn't realize was needed yet (when we were told about it in 2021, it said the floorplan was to be submitted for building and plumbing permits, and we're not at the permit stage yet). But apparently they would like it now, so that's how he's spending the evening. Hopefully someone can come inspect the insulation next week so that the drywalling isn't delayed. We'll see how fast the turnaround is. It's hard to get tradespeople, and I'd hate to delay them yet again or we may lose them.

May I make a humble suggestion? Could the Township please create a pamphlet that outlines this whole rezoning process in detail, in bulletpoints, laying out what the steps are, what can be done simultaneously and what needs to be done linearly, as well as an explanation of who does what at the Township and who we're to report to? We are so confused about what to do and in what order and who to involve. We think we're done with one thing and then find out there's more and yet more to do. We thought we were dealing with one department when, in fact, we were dealing with two. The pamphlet should also outline all the specialists and engineers and surveyors and consultants that applicants need to hire, just so any poor future schmucks who undertake this process will have an idea what a financial drain they are entering into.

I so wish I could rewind time 2 1/2 years and make a DIFFERENT DECISION! Why didn't God strike me down dead before letting me make such a foolish purchase as this church? I will be 95 and in a nursing home before I get permission to live there. Meanwhile, there are Ukrainian refugees at the airport and homeless people under bridges and a desperate need for housing, and I have this lovely old building sitting empty. If I could move into it, it would free up my city house for someone in need.

The funniest thing today? My husband has to produce a "current floorplan" and a "proposed floorplan." And really, the only difference between them is that we want to move the kitchen sink about three feet to the north. That's it!