Had the Wetlands Engineer out to the place

Timber · Oct 4, 2006

Well the Wetlands Conservation comity had the Wetlands Engineer come out to look over my property to approve my in ground pool. He was not a very happy guy. It seems the wetlands are supposed to start 10 feet out my back door. He came through the front door and out the back and freaked out. Seems the guy that built the house filled in about 4 acres of wetland. I have owned the place for a year and he said well you certainly didn't do this. He was like how that barn out there and the paddock. I was like I bought it this way. So last night I had to go in front of the Comity. Well they saw what happened and were not happy. The Engineer said well it doesn't matter now the wetland is lost so he sees no reason the pool is a problem. Because I didn't destroy it I don't have to restore it. They said I was fortunate I went through the proper channels or they would have made my give some back. They also said I am lucky I decided to put in a pool now because in 10 years the probably would believe I didn't fill it in

MossRoad · Oct 4, 2006

Sounds like your were fortunate to have an undestanding committee. What a nightmare that could have turned out to be.

Timber · Oct 4, 2006

Well I am an environmentalist myself. I'm not exactly thrilled with the loss of wetlands myself. I do however have no intention of giving my farm up but I will preserve the rest of it. It has changed my view of my property a bit and some of the plans I have. It also alters how I go about moving forward on the things I would like to do. It could have been real ugly though. I did keep my tractor out of sight and made no mention of it to anyone. Nothing like trying to pull off you views on conservation with an excavator in your back yard

N80 · Oct 4, 2006

I'm not an environmentalist but would consider myself a conservationist (and a naturalist; I'm a biologist by training). And I feel strongly about private property ownership. I support a number of conservation oriented groups and tend to 'conserve' and preserve my property as best I can. I suspect we have less intrusive governmental oversight here in SC, at least since I'm not on the coast. I'm all for wetland conservation but there are wetlands groups that want to classify as 'protected wetlands' exceedingly large boarders around anything 'wet' such as ponds, drainages, ditches, pot holes and ruts in the road. I have a hard time supporting (or tolerating) the efforts of such groups.

3RRL · Oct 4, 2006

Timber,
So last night I had to go in front of the Comity. Well they saw what happened and were not happy. The Engineer said well it doesn't matter now the wetland is lost so he sees no reason the pool is a problem. Because I didn't destroy it I don't have to restore it. They said I was fortunate I went through the proper channels or they would have made my give some back. They also said I am lucky I decided to put in a pool now because in 10 years the probably would believe I didn't fill it in
Consider yourself blessed. ANYTHING could have happened in that meeting and that is about the best outcome I have ever heard of. Out here, for sure, you would be putting things back ... regardless. Your committee seems to have some common sense and you should thank your lucky stars for that. I wish we had more of that out here.

gordon21 · Oct 4, 2006

Timber: Get all this good news in writing ASAP. A verbal OK from the council is all and good until they change their minds unless there is an official record of it. Was there minutes taken of the the meeting by a stenographer? If so, get a copy of the minutes. Nothing is more valuable than written correspondence from a govermenent agency several years down the road. You will eventually sell that land and this may not come back to haunt you for another 20 years. Guess what? No one will remember anything about those conversations in 20 years. An official letter on county stationery will be your get out of jail free ticket in 20 years.

Harrygoodwrench · Oct 4, 2006

gordon21 said:
Timber: Get all this good news in writing ASAP. A verbal OK from the council is all and good until they change their minds unless there is an official record of it. Was there minutes taken of the the meeting by a stenographer? If so, get a copy of the minutes. Nothing is more valuable than written correspondence from a govermenent agency several years down the road. You will eventually sell that land and this may not come back to haunt you for another 20 years. Guess what? No one will remember anything about those conversations in 20 years. An official letter on county stationery will be your get out of jail free ticket in 20 years.

Excellent advise by Gordon21

Birdhunter1 · Oct 4, 2006

gordon21 said:
Timber: Get all this good news in writing ASAP. A verbal OK from the council is all and good until they change their minds unless there is an official record of it. Was there minutes taken of the the meeting by a stenographer? If so, get a copy of the minutes. Nothing is more valuable than written correspondence from a govermenent agency several years down the road. You will eventually sell that land and this may not come back to haunt you for another 20 years. Guess what? No one will remember anything about those conversations in 20 years. An official letter on county stationery will be your get out of jail free ticket in 20 years.

DITTO!

If the NRCS ever gets their paws on this information you will be very frustrated dealing with that group of trash!

HomeBrew2 · Oct 4, 2006

Timber said:
Well I am an environmentalist myself. I'm not exactly thrilled with the loss of wetlands myself. I do however have no intention of giving my farm up but I will preserve the rest of it. It has changed my view of my property a bit and some of the plans I have. It also alters how I go about moving forward on the things I would like to do. It could have been real ugly though. I did keep my tractor out of sight and made no mention of it to anyone. Nothing like trying to pull off you views on conservation with an excavator in your back yard

By far, this is the most revealing post that I have ever read on any forum!!!

An "environmentalist" gets a COMPLETE pass on past violations AND a total waiver on a further encroachment upon an "environmentally sensative" area. UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE !!!! Or is it? AND, the "environmentalist" has reported NO intention of mitigating any prior damage that the rest of us would be prosecuted or fined heavily to remedy.

Timber, you are not the only one that is thinking differently about certain things now. Cherish your private property rights for the short time that you will have them.

Timber · Oct 5, 2006

HomeBrew2 said:
By far, this is the most revealing post that I have ever read on any forum!!!

An "environmentalist" gets a COMPLETE pass on past violations AND a total waiver on a further encroachment upon an "environmentally sensative" area. UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE !!!! Or is it? AND, the "environmentalist" has reported NO intention of mitigating any prior damage that the rest of us would be prosecuted or fined heavily to remedy.

Timber, you are not the only one that is thinking differently about certain things now. Cherish your private property rights for the short time that you will have them.

I don't understand this response at all, What makes you think I have a waver on any future encroachments. The big difference is I didn't go in front of the committee looking for a fight. As far as the rethinking of my future plans has more to do with restoration of my existing wetlands. You also have no idea the details of my current situation. There is a way to deal with people and institutions you have no choice to deal with. I have been very pleased with my local government since I moved hear but I have been very personable and like-able. You know the saying you get more with honey and vinegar. Some people just don't get it.