Combative Neighbors
- Thread starter dougmac
- Start date
I’d come up with a plan that was congruent with the existing buildings and properties.
The OP tried that and the neighbor would not discuss options.
If that wasn’t feasible, I’d move.
Please pardon my disbelief of that statement! You really expect me to believe you would uproot because the neighbor thinks your property is his front yard/view/or whatever else!!!!!!!
Personally, I wouldn’t want a garage that looks like it was stuck on the neighbor’s front porch… that’s not my idea of a dream garage.
In that statement lies the problem. It ISNT the neighbors front porch. It IS the OP's backyard. Not to mention the OP effectively blocked the neighbors front row seat to every private family activity they may have wanted to have on their own property.
guess that’s normal out wherever this is… my guess, out east somewhere.
It would be normal in central Texas. The OP tried to include the neighbor but in the end the neighbor would not cooperate, therefore, play by the rules.
The neighbor was/is the problem. A mistake(property/building site) compounded by hard headedness should not require a property owner to abandon his property/plans. That is true in the East, West, North, and South.
The OP tried that and the neighbor would not discuss options.
If that wasn’t feasible, I’d move.
Please pardon my disbelief of that statement! You really expect me to believe you would uproot because the neighbor thinks your property is his front yard/view/or whatever else!!!!!!!
Personally, I wouldn’t want a garage that looks like it was stuck on the neighbor’s front porch… that’s not my idea of a dream garage.
In that statement lies the problem. It ISNT the neighbors front porch. It IS the OP's backyard. Not to mention the OP effectively blocked the neighbors front row seat to every private family activity they may have wanted to have on their own property.
guess that’s normal out wherever this is… my guess, out east somewhere.
It would be normal in central Texas. The OP tried to include the neighbor but in the end the neighbor would not cooperate, therefore, play by the rules.
The neighbor was/is the problem. A mistake(property/building site) compounded by hard headedness should not require a property owner to abandon his property/plans. That is true in the East, West, North, and South.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I agree that your neighbor was stupid for building there, but you gave him a choice between a kick in the nuts or a poke in the eye.
I dont know how spiteful your neighbor can be, but this can get real interesting.
You know, that neighbors house would make an excellent halfway house to reintroduce people with chronic mental health disorders, or bad criminals back into society. The Fair Housing Act would make it 100% legal to do and no one (including your town) can legally stop him.
It would also make a great clubhouse for the local chapter of the Hells Angles, or Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle clubs. If he decides to rent it to them at a greatly reduced rate, Other than you calling the cops to complain about the hell raising a few times a week, there is probably nothing you could do about it.
I don't know the ethnic mix of your neighborhood, but I think it is time it had a drastic change, don't you.
Something tells me that this is far from being over. Keep us posted on what happens next.
Chris
I dont know how spiteful your neighbor can be, but this can get real interesting.
You know, that neighbors house would make an excellent halfway house to reintroduce people with chronic mental health disorders, or bad criminals back into society. The Fair Housing Act would make it 100% legal to do and no one (including your town) can legally stop him.
It would also make a great clubhouse for the local chapter of the Hells Angles, or Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle clubs. If he decides to rent it to them at a greatly reduced rate, Other than you calling the cops to complain about the hell raising a few times a week, there is probably nothing you could do about it.
I don't know the ethnic mix of your neighborhood, but I think it is time it had a drastic change, don't you.
Something tells me that this is far from being over. Keep us posted on what happens next.
Chris
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Did you setup some stakes to simulate where the bay would be and try it? From the look of the pict, it would have been tight but doable IMO.
Uh. I don't think so. Clubhouses and halfway houses are likely not permitted in that area by the zoning ordinance. Again, the neighbor has no recourse.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Uh. I don't think so. Clubhouses and halfway houses are likely not permitted in that area by the zoning ordinance. Again, the neighbor has no recourse.
Look it up. The fair housing act prohibits towns from blocking halfway houses. If they only have around 5 people in the house it is still considered a residence and zoning can't touch it. I had friends that had one move right next door, and there is nothing they or the town could do about it. Blocking a halfway house would be the same as trying to block another ethnic group from buying a neighbors house.
I don't think outlaw gangs register their clubhouses. One guy rents the house and his friends just visit him allot. Still little you can do.
The point I was trying to make is that the neighbor can still get even in a 100% legal way. There are always options.
The ball is in the neighbors court, and now I'm waiting to see what they do next.
Chris
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yellowgt1vert
Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2010
- Messages
- 20
I think dougmac did the best he could with the situation at hand. You just can't satisfy everyone all the time. My contractors told me that one of my neighbors stopped by last week to "see what was going on"...once they found out I was building a new garage they said to tell me that I was "ruining the house" and walked off...
Oh well, guess I'll "ruin" my house... I didn't see anyone in the neighborhood rushing to buy this home as it sat on the market for 3+ years vacant and barely cared for...none have rushed over to offer to pay my mortgage or mow the lawn... I guess since my wife and I are paying the bills on this monster, we will build our garage. The funny part of it is that in the block that our garage is going on (four houses in the block, two on either side of the street, 1/2 block (140') deep for each lot), there are three (one home has two driveways of the three) driveways and sides to all four of our homes...no one faces the block I'm building on, but yet I am "ruining" my home by adding a fourth driveway and a garage... My original garage is on the front of my home and is literally about as far away as you could make it as it is on the west front of our lot and the garage is on the east side of our lot.
Oh well, guess I'll "ruin" my house... I didn't see anyone in the neighborhood rushing to buy this home as it sat on the market for 3+ years vacant and barely cared for...none have rushed over to offer to pay my mortgage or mow the lawn... I guess since my wife and I are paying the bills on this monster, we will build our garage. The funny part of it is that in the block that our garage is going on (four houses in the block, two on either side of the street, 1/2 block (140') deep for each lot), there are three (one home has two driveways of the three) driveways and sides to all four of our homes...no one faces the block I'm building on, but yet I am "ruining" my home by adding a fourth driveway and a garage... My original garage is on the front of my home and is literally about as far away as you could make it as it is on the west front of our lot and the garage is on the east side of our lot.
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
chances of any of that actually happening are slim to none...i would imagine the people that own the house should they ever decide to rent would be picky as to who they rent to since they dont want their house destroyed.I agree that your neighbor was stupid for building there, but you gave him a choice between a kick in the nuts or a poke in the eye.
People her are giving you neat ideas to **** the neighbor.
The way I see it, Now it is the neighbors turn to return the favor.
I dont know how spiteful your neighbor can be, but this can get real interesting.
You know, that neighbors house would make an excellent halfway house to reintroduce people with chronic mental health disorders, or bad criminals back into society. The Fair Housing Act would make it 100% legal to do and no one (including your town) can legally stop him.
It would also make a great clubhouse for the local chapter of the Hells Angles, or Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle clubs. If he decides to rent it to them at a greatly reduced rate, Other than you calling the cops to complain about the hell raising a few times a week, there is probably nothing you could do about it.
I don't know the ethnic mix of your neighborhood, but I think it is time it had a drastic change, don't you.
Something tells me that this is far from being over. Keep us posted on what happens next.
Chris
Liberalism.....it's a mental disorder. I rest my case.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
At this point I dont think trashing the house would lower the value too much more. Most of the value of that house was destroyed as soon as that garage went up. The most offensive photo was removed, but in it you could see that the garage appears to dwarf the rear house, and was literally right in thier front door, blocking half of the house.
If the peron in the rear house does not try to get even in some way I would be suprised.
Chris
mikester
Well-known member
If I was in this situation I would have built the garage in the opposite corner facing the neighbors house. I understand there was a problem having a second driveway. I know it would have added to the cost but I would have torn up the original driveway and put a new one on the other side of the yard next to the neighbors driveway. Dont know if that was an option but I would have done everything I could not to mess with my neighbors property value and view. Ive lived in my house since '82 and when I wanted to add on to my garage I asked every family around me if they would have any problems with me doing it. If one person would have had an issue I would have come up with a different idea. But thats just me.
The guys on here saying that they would change their plans or move are so full of it. Get real, no one is buying it.
I mean really, you would move because your ******* neighbors bought a lot ( at a reduced price probably) and you didnt want to obstruct their view of all of your land? Or how about spend another $20k-$30k digging up an existing driveway, redoing the yard, then pouring an even longer one on the other side?
Im sure it was a tough call, and from the sounds of it the OP tried his best to compromise with the neighbors on what he would do with his own property. Personally if I was his neighbors, I would get ask the OP to plant some nice shrubs and enjoy the privacy...when faced with a shop or a giant concrete parking lot, I would take the shop.
I had several neighbors raise hell when I was building my garage, its not a pleasant situation, but at the end of the day Im not letting the neighbors dictate what I can do with my own property. I told them to go live in a HOA if you want that ****. Now they stop buy to get air in their tires or have me look at their car for a funny noise. Funny how things work out.....but I still make them feel guilty about being aholes while I was in the planning stages of my shop.
I mean really, you would move because your ******* neighbors bought a lot ( at a reduced price probably) and you didnt want to obstruct their view of all of your land? Or how about spend another $20k-$30k digging up an existing driveway, redoing the yard, then pouring an even longer one on the other side?
Im sure it was a tough call, and from the sounds of it the OP tried his best to compromise with the neighbors on what he would do with his own property. Personally if I was his neighbors, I would get ask the OP to plant some nice shrubs and enjoy the privacy...when faced with a shop or a giant concrete parking lot, I would take the shop.
I had several neighbors raise hell when I was building my garage, its not a pleasant situation, but at the end of the day Im not letting the neighbors dictate what I can do with my own property. I told them to go live in a HOA if you want that ****. Now they stop buy to get air in their tires or have me look at their car for a funny noise. Funny how things work out.....but I still make them feel guilty about being aholes while I was in the planning stages of my shop.
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
not much the neighbor can do about it..they had a chance to make a better choice to not have it in their front yard but in the end the garage meets all zoning and building codes so they have no grounds to be bitter. always buy your house knowing what could possibly happen in the future...he could have put up a fence and had the same issue, its right in the neighbors front yard but its his property to do as he pleases within the law all the way up to the property line.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
No grounds to be bitter? Did you see the photo from the driveway that showed just how close these buildings are? Until I saw that photo I didn't realize just how bad the guy got screwed. The garage is not in his front yard, it is right in his front door. For some reason that photo was removed from the Op's website.
There is always something you can do about it. Look up Marvin Heemeyer to see how he settled his Zoning Dispute. Im not saying that the neighbor is a Marvin Heemeyer, but just showing that there are options.
I hope the OP keeps us posted.
Chris
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CenTex52Chevy
Active member
The neighbor chose to buy the house he did knowing that his front door was is mear feet from the properly line, He has no right to complain at all.
All you guys that say the OP was wrong to build where he did on his property should think about this. would you want someone to build their house 50 feet front you back door, staring in you back door watching your every move in the backyard. No I didn't think so.
If I was the OP I would have build a fence or at least planted shrubs the moment that house was being built. I enjoy my privacy (SP).
All you guys that say the OP was wrong to build where he did on his property should think about this. would you want someone to build their house 50 feet front you back door, staring in you back door watching your every move in the backyard. No I didn't think so.
If I was the OP I would have build a fence or at least planted shrubs the moment that house was being built. I enjoy my privacy (SP).
Auzivision
Well-known member
Isn’t this rather amusing…
Hi Mr. Combative neighbor, I have a choice for you today. Work with me here. Would you rather a sharp stick in the eye or trauma to the groin? Okay, have it your way… can’t say I didn’t try.
Let see if I have this right. If you find an opportunity to take advantage of someone legally, make sure you do it to the max. Then to make yourself feel better about it, find a few like minded people on the internet to back you up. Oh yeah, and if anyone doesn’t agree with you, just start calling them names to show your superiority.
Then again, maybe the OP is really beginning to understand he should be ashamed of his actions. Why else would he take down the incriminating photos? If it wasn’t so obvious and blatant, why not just leave them up?
Hi Mr. Combative neighbor, I have a choice for you today. Work with me here. Would you rather a sharp stick in the eye or trauma to the groin? Okay, have it your way… can’t say I didn’t try.
Let see if I have this right. If you find an opportunity to take advantage of someone legally, make sure you do it to the max. Then to make yourself feel better about it, find a few like minded people on the internet to back you up. Oh yeah, and if anyone doesn’t agree with you, just start calling them names to show your superiority.
Then again, maybe the OP is really beginning to understand he should be ashamed of his actions. Why else would he take down the incriminating photos? If it wasn’t so obvious and blatant, why not just leave them up?
LAROKE
Banned
Have you been taking your meds?
I don't know about you, but I'm amused. Amused at how ignorant his neighbor was. First in his land purchase, and then his negotiating skills.
Is this photo "incriminating" enough? It's on page three of this thread.
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
Took advantage of the neighbor by building a 100% legal garage on his property that he owns? thats just ridiculous, the guy did nothing wrong by building his dream garage on HIS land, too bad the rear neighbor bough such a **** property with his front door 5' from someone elses property line. the guy should not have to move if he wants to build a garage because of the neighbors poor decision to buy and build on such an awful lot.
BRIANBB
Well-known member
The garage could have been placed where that red truck is with a concrete pad on the back side. It looks to me like there was lots of room to put the garage in the other corner.
mdbeck1
Well-known member
I've been watching this thread for a while now and have to ask the question another way...
What contractor in their right mind would build a house with the front door so close to the property line? Did the land owner INSIST upon that location or is the parcel of land that small? Could the house have been oriented differently or moved back further on the property?
What contractor in their right mind would build a house with the front door so close to the property line? Did the land owner INSIST upon that location or is the parcel of land that small? Could the house have been oriented differently or moved back further on the property?
Please read the thread before you offer up your 2 cents. This guy has been put through the ringer, and it all could have been avoided had people simply read all his explanations.
Welcome to GJ...
Auzivision
Well-known member
Yes, I saw that photo. It’s not as bad and is still posted several places on this thread. It’s the ground view from the neighbor’s driveway that really portrays the real story that mysteriously ‘disappeared’. Maybe the OP should man up and repost for all to see. What’s he have to hide?I don't know about you, but I'm amused. Amused at how ignorant his neighbor was. First in his land purchase, and then his negotiating skills.
Is this photo "incriminating" enough? It's on page three of this thread.
I never agreed that either of the builders did the right thing… not the second house, not the OP. I already stated that it the second house shouldn’t have been built like that. I also stated that two wrongs don’t make a right. That’s what’s happened here. Legally right by all means, but wrong from an aesthetic and moral perspective. Now that’s just my opinion (as well as a few others that have posted), and your opinion of the situation may differ… nothing wrong with that.
Why would I be willing to move? Well first of all, I wouldn’t be so stupid as to buy a lot where someone could build a house in my back yard… that’s just common sense. I looked at many lots before selecting.
There is not a snow ball’s chance that anyone is building anything between me and the creek because most of that land is on or under flood plain. Oh yeah, and a well manicured par four with a long pond between me and the golfers is a perfect buffer.
Now when it comes time to build my dream garage, it will be on my dream piece of property too. I would have been looking to move as soon as that second house went up about 15 years ago. Again, that’s just me… by my standards; I like to things right or not at all!
I'll try to be a diplomatic as I can in my option. I can understand both side. The garage is a large structure that is in essence on their door step. This is a possibility that the owners of that land should have informed themselves of before buying the property. If you look at my crappy image of the property without the garage, it’s still a half *** peace of ground.
http://jaybiddle.com/****/empty.jpg
If it where me after finding out thr property lines I would have thought twice about buying that.
Now, despite some of the other comments I did consult with my surround neighbors before building my garage. I did not however have a similar circumstance as I have a larger lot. I don’t think that building it in another corner would have helped any!
http://jaybiddle.com/****/switched.jpg
Better? I think it might have been worse.
Either way it’s a hard discussion to see a right and a wrong, since there isn’t really one. It’s your property so you have the ultimate say as building code permits. I can't say that I would have built it because I would never live in a place where I was that confined to my neighbors and would probably be moving somewhere that I wouldn’t have to worry about confrontation, cause this is going to be going on until someone moves. If I was the people in the back and I knew about the property lines I would be more mad at myself than anything else!
http://jaybiddle.com/****/empty.jpg
If it where me after finding out thr property lines I would have thought twice about buying that.
Now, despite some of the other comments I did consult with my surround neighbors before building my garage. I did not however have a similar circumstance as I have a larger lot. I don’t think that building it in another corner would have helped any!
http://jaybiddle.com/****/switched.jpg
Better? I think it might have been worse.
Either way it’s a hard discussion to see a right and a wrong, since there isn’t really one. It’s your property so you have the ultimate say as building code permits. I can't say that I would have built it because I would never live in a place where I was that confined to my neighbors and would probably be moving somewhere that I wouldn’t have to worry about confrontation, cause this is going to be going on until someone moves. If I was the people in the back and I knew about the property lines I would be more mad at myself than anything else!
Auzivision
Well-known member
I don't know about you, but I'm amused. Amused at how ignorant his neighbor was. First in his land purchase, and then his negotiating skills.
Is this photo "incriminating" enough? It's on page three of this thread.
Yes, I saw that photo. It’s not as bad and is still posted several places on this thread. It’s the ground view from the neighbor’s driveway that really portrays the real story that mysteriously ‘disappeared’. Maybe the OP should man up and repost for all to see. What’s he have to hide?
I never agreed that either of the builders did the right thing… not the second house, not the OP. I already stated that it the second house shouldn’t have been built like that. I also stated that two wrongs don’t make a right. That’s what’s happened here. Legally right by all means, but wrong from an aesthetic and moral perspective. Now that’s just my opinion (as well as a few others that have posted), and your opinion of the situation may differ… nothing wrong with that.
Why would I be willing to move? Well first of all, I wouldn’t be so stupid as to buy a lot where someone could build a house in my back yard… that’s just common sense. I looked at many lots before selecting.
There is not a snow ball’s chance that anyone is building anything between me and the creek because most of that land is on or under flood plain. Oh yeah, and a well manicured par four with a long pond between me and the golfers is a perfect buffer.
Now when it comes time to build my dream garage, it will be on my dream piece of property too. I would have been looking to move as soon as that second house went up about 15 years ago. Again, that’s just me… by my standards; I like to things right or not at all!
Auzivision
Well-known member
I agree 100% with what you say and wish I possessed your diplomatic skills… that basically what I’ve been thinking all along.
bdkruger1
Banned
Above is my original post. After seeing the pics I now disagree with myself. There's absolutely no reason that shop couldn't have been put in the corner where the red truck is. You've got to back the camper down the driveway either way. The building could have been reconfigured to make this very simple, and yes, I would have done this if it were me.
Not only did you screw your neighbor, I think you screwed yourself also. I wouldn't buy your place with that set up.
I still think the neighbor is a dumb *** for building there, but you definitely made it worse.
Were you ever given the opportunity to buy that lot 15 yrs ago?
LAROKE
Banned
The site is not flat, fellas. Consider the topographical contours when you look at the aerial. The OP 'splained this earlier in the thread.
I understand that. The point is either way no matter what it’s a boned situation. bdkruger1 also has another point. If it was a cheap lot, why didn't the OP buy it? My lot is a double, that I purchased years later so that I didn't have another house there. From the look of the property I'd say he could have afforded it. Then he could have built an even bigger garage!
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
pretty simple answer to that question, either spend 50k to aquire land or spend 50k on a garage, i doubt he could afford to do both
Im sorry, I should not assume income or property value in his area. I guess I was going by what a lot like that would go for around me.....not much.
blkhonda1991
Well-known member
right, i am only assuming numbers myself as lots that size can go for 100k around me and im sure that garage could have topped 50k but i guess my point was still taken
scott37300
Well-known member
There are 2 views of this story. First and foremost the nieghbor bought a lot that was in my opinion not buildable. I would never have bought that lot, knowing very well that my house view would be of someone else's backyard-whatever may be in that backyard. The guy built a house with a very small view, he took a gamble that the OP would never do any improvements on his own lot. My guess is he got a good deal and took advantage of it. The advantage ran out. In this day you are limited enough by what the city says you can and can't do on your own land that you paid for. Let alone worry about if you are obstructing your neighbors view, when he was the one that choose to build his house where he did-no body made him build his house there. Point being the neighbor knew very well what the lot lines where and setbacks were when he built. If he didn't want anyone to ever build anything that close to his house then they should have bought a different lot.
Was it a very smart thing to do of the OP to build his garage there, not really-but that was his land and his choice. Coule he have built it in the other corner? Probably without any problems, like mentioned the camper has to be back in either way. As far as the site not being flat I can't see how the garage being in either corner would matter to that. Plus the OP could have added fill or excavated to level it out a little.
But bottom line is it was the neighbors choice to build there knowing very well what could happen. And it is the OP's land and he has a right to build on it within the regulations of the city. We live in an age where neighbors worry about everything we are doing and want to argue about everything instead of being friends and helping each other out. Neighbors used to help each other build barns, bail hay, have dinner together, and now they get upset if one neighbor parks a car on the grass because it lowers their property value. Life is to short to worry about the little things. I don't worry about what my neighbors do as long as it doesn't carry over onto my property. I have one neighbor that I"m pretty sure is a crackwhore with four kids running around and she likes to scream all the time. She keeps her yard mowed(and does it in a very nice outfits) and house kept up. What she does on her property is her deal, the day she says something about me working in the garage at midnight is the day I will complain about here deals. I just make sure my garage is locked up tight! One neighbor across the street is also into cars, have only talked to him a couple of times but he likes to party and does some monster burnouts in his driveway with his drag cars. Doesn't bother me because he keeps it on his property. When I first moved in I had a leaky basement and had to dig down to the draintile to fix. My yard was torn up for about a year, was all dirt piles with no grass anywhere and some weeds growing and holes all over, and none of my neighbors said anything to me. I got it all done and my yard is probably one of the nicest in the neighberhood. My neighborhood isn't trashy by any means and my house is on the higher end of the houses. I am not going to come home from work and spend my free time worrying about what my neighbors are doing on their property-I have much better things to do.
Was it a very smart thing to do of the OP to build his garage there, not really-but that was his land and his choice. Coule he have built it in the other corner? Probably without any problems, like mentioned the camper has to be back in either way. As far as the site not being flat I can't see how the garage being in either corner would matter to that. Plus the OP could have added fill or excavated to level it out a little.
But bottom line is it was the neighbors choice to build there knowing very well what could happen. And it is the OP's land and he has a right to build on it within the regulations of the city. We live in an age where neighbors worry about everything we are doing and want to argue about everything instead of being friends and helping each other out. Neighbors used to help each other build barns, bail hay, have dinner together, and now they get upset if one neighbor parks a car on the grass because it lowers their property value. Life is to short to worry about the little things. I don't worry about what my neighbors do as long as it doesn't carry over onto my property. I have one neighbor that I"m pretty sure is a crackwhore with four kids running around and she likes to scream all the time. She keeps her yard mowed(and does it in a very nice outfits) and house kept up. What she does on her property is her deal, the day she says something about me working in the garage at midnight is the day I will complain about here deals. I just make sure my garage is locked up tight! One neighbor across the street is also into cars, have only talked to him a couple of times but he likes to party and does some monster burnouts in his driveway with his drag cars. Doesn't bother me because he keeps it on his property. When I first moved in I had a leaky basement and had to dig down to the draintile to fix. My yard was torn up for about a year, was all dirt piles with no grass anywhere and some weeds growing and holes all over, and none of my neighbors said anything to me. I got it all done and my yard is probably one of the nicest in the neighberhood. My neighborhood isn't trashy by any means and my house is on the higher end of the houses. I am not going to come home from work and spend my free time worrying about what my neighbors are doing on their property-I have much better things to do.
I kinda like where the second house is, the garage blocks it from the road, nice and quiet hidden from view. put a wooden fence and some nice plants alone the garage wall and it be nice. It wouldnt bother me at all the way it sits
archirelic
Well-known member
Some of you are making comments w/o reading through the thread in its entirety. The OP has already posted an analysis on why the location wouldn't work elsewhere on his property b/c of his trailer amongst other things.
And I reiterate my initial point...the neighbor who moved in after the fact...shouldn't have built his home facing the backyard of the OP. The neighbor could have oriented their house with the side resting along the OP's property line...but they chose to literally look into the backyard of the OP, so they got what they had coming to them. Even if the OP had put up a fence and even if the garage had been situated elsewhere on his site...the neighbors were bound to lose their precious view at some point and time.
The blame is on the neighbors...not the OP.
And I reiterate my initial point...the neighbor who moved in after the fact...shouldn't have built his home facing the backyard of the OP. The neighbor could have oriented their house with the side resting along the OP's property line...but they chose to literally look into the backyard of the OP, so they got what they had coming to them. Even if the OP had put up a fence and even if the garage had been situated elsewhere on his site...the neighbors were bound to lose their precious view at some point and time.
The blame is on the neighbors...not the OP.
monkeyplasm
Well-known member
My neighbors tried using the county to stop my construction but didn't get very far. Luckily, in my county you need to have a legal objection before the county will interfere. I did everything by the book and was very cooperative with the building department and had no problems there.
Ok .... here is the layout. You can see what a bad deal this was for them.....
Here is an overhead.....
Here is what I was proposing to prevent from having the shop right in their front windows. This would have required an easement on their driveway. They refused to even consider it and decided fighting was the best way to handle it.....
It looks like you could have very easily built the garage in the corner with the red vehicle and run your own driveway parallel to the neighbor's driveway.
EDIT:
Having read the remainder of the thread, I think the current orientation may be the least ******..but still ******. IMO, The OP has a nice garage awkardly placed on an awkward lot.
This will get many of y'all riled up, but;
The OP stated that this is a scaled down version of his 'dream garage'; e.g. this is *not* his dream garage, merely something he had to settlr for. Furthermore, the garage and driveway 'as built' are not great...merely 'workable' for 40'+ trailer combo, etc.
With this in mind I would very seriously looked at moving to a better property instead of making do with the current property and lesser garage.
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archirelic
Well-known member
Perhaps there's stipulation in his zoning or whatnot which prohibits him from having two disconnected drives? I've also examined that same layout you just spoke of...and there still exists the issue of 'what if the OP then decided to put a fence up...the neighbor still loses his view...?
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Shoot, I'd have a real tall board fence or a tight row of Cedars along that back and side line, long before the garage. Dang sure would not want the neighbors watching every move I made on the deck and back yard. The neighbors didn't buy a "view", they bought a house and a lot, a real crummy lot at that.
Charles