Now THERE's a question!

Reconciling code officials with traditional building forms has been quite difficult int he past, but is becoming less so.

The most efficient use of your time and money is probably to hire a licensed professional engineer to 'stamp' your plans. The allows the transfer of liability from one insurance company (your town's) to another (the engineer's).

Municipalities have legitimate public interests in safe buildings, even private ones. Professional engineers take a kind of pledge to accomplish the same goal. Your code official is acting in everyone's best interest when he expresses skepticism.

Moving from there to a building permit need not be an expensive or unpleasant transition, since all parties want substantially the same thing.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

You could even call the Guild for a little advice 888 453 0879