The World encroaching? Move your driveway!

[bigpete]

It wasn't so bad that the twenty-something grandson inherited an acre of his Granpop's virgin timber across the road from my homestead. Most thinking folks with a wonderful legacy inheritance would scratch their head for awhile and consider all the long-term options and try to make Grandpop proud. At least that's what I think most folks would do. It isn't so bad that the grandson can only get part time work right now. We've all been there. At least I have when I was young. The good news for the grandson is that land values have soared around here and his acre could fetch well over $100 K right now. The bad news, in all of this, is that he has no patience and no common sense!

So what does the grandson do with his Granpop's legacy? He finds a gypsy logger to rip out every single tree all the way to the stream and rolls a double-wide in in a matter of six weeks. AHHHHHHG! What could possibly happen to make it worse, you ask? He centered the mobile home in the middle of my driveway where it is perfectly framed from every window in my house, as well as my family's favorite feature of our house: the front porch.

So, what to do. After fuming for awhile scratching my head a bit, I decided to move my driveway and plant a grove of various evergreens. The paver just finished his work. Attached below are a series of pics. In my deal with the paver, I removed the old asphalt and piled it for him. He showed up and removed the rubble, scraped the 6"-deep bed for the new "S" curve, dumped the topsoil where the old driveway was, and did a beautiful job of sculpting a new hotmix drive for me (6+ inches of crusher run and crushed concrete; two runs of hot mix: 2"+ base compressed and 1 1/2 inch finish mix compressed for the new "S" run, and 1 1/2" finish overlay for the existing pad next to the house). I am doing a couple of drywells for proper drainage this weekend and will start the landscaping, tree planting, and grass seeding next week.

the probelm

Lifting the Old Asphalt

More Excavation

Rubble Pile

My first stage done. I saved about $1,200 by just lifting the old asphalt:

Phase I Complete

Progress

Paving done. The rest is up to me:

Paving Done

Edit: Some imbeded pics converted to links...sorry guys /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Edit - changed the rest of the pics to links...

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Pete, first, I pity the people with slow dial up modems who try to view this thread with all those imbedded photos /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif but you sure did some creative thinking to come up with your plan. It will be very effective when the new trees grow in. Too bad the kid didn't talk to you first about where to plop down the new house, he could have saved you a lot of work!

 

[firtol88]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif These pictures look to me like the epitome of frustration, good luck with your hedge row/tree stand.

Class move on the solution it would have been much easier to make the feller some bonfire money off his home owners insurance.

 

[ronjhall]

I would not have put a double wide on that property. But would have selected the same location. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Your house is the view that most people would like to view from their porch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JD2210MAN]

Wow, that is a big project. The pictures really helped because I would not have imagioned how he placed it... He sure did put it perectly in front of you. My brother-in-law is doing one of these no-thought as fast as he can pre-fab houses on our family land. Nothing but a mess!

I am scared to ask what this driveway has cost you. You have a great looking lot and very nice house. I hope your trees grow fast and very full!

 

[getut]

I hope you're not the type that is looking down on him just because he is living in a mobile home. He has as much right to be there as you do.

I do agree about the pristine land though... I despise seeing people clear cut beautiful natural landscape in the name of lawns just to show off to neighbors.

Just pray he doesn't sell the rest of the land for a development if he inherited that also.

 

[SCB]

So let me get this straight. A guy owns a piece of land. Puts a brand new redidence on it in the middle. Clears the trees to have a lawn. Assuming all local codes were met, I don't see where he did anything wrong. You have been fortunate enough to have a view of trees from a peice of property you did not own. If you wanted that view permanently maybe your house should have been placed to view your own property. However, I do admire your solution. Great thinking. I wish your trees a quick growth.

 

[bigpete]

<font color="blue"> I hope you're not the type that is looking down on him just because he is living in a mobile home. He has as much right to be there as you do.
</font>

You obviously didn't read the narrative of the post...Even his Grandfather, who has been my near-neighbor for 8 years is frustrated. In fact, he's embarrased. Grandpop gave him his inheritance for the future and he used no common sense in clearing, building, and placement. Every man has a right to do what he wants to with his land. Every thoughtful man will consider how it impacts the environment and the nearby landowners.

<font color="red"> So let me get this straight. A guy owns a piece of land. Puts a brand new redidence on it in the middle. Clears the trees to have a lawn. Assuming all local codes were met, I don't see where he did anything wrong. You have been fortunate enough to have a view of trees from a peice of property you did not own. If you wanted that view permanently maybe your house should have been placed to view your own property. </font>

I didn't say he did anything "wrong." I said he displayed no common sense or patience. The State won't allow him to move in now becasue his septic is too close to the stream. The State is saying he did something wrong.

Would you really embrace this situation in any more of a civilized manner than I have if you were in my shoes?

 

[bigpete]

Here's a view top the south for a little more perspective. All of the area residents are shocked that he was allowed to build anything there becasue it is right on a stream, which is hard to see in the pics. Edit: The mobile home is 90 degrees to the right (West) of the perspective of this picture

South View from Roof Peak

 

[kennyd]

Great looking driveway BigPete. I am sure you will appreciate the privacy when those trees come in.

 

[Henro]

BigPete,

Other than getting used to the new view, I can't think of a better solution...too bad it cost some bucks to implement. I think doing what you did is a healthy thing. Many would let the situation eat at them for years, complaining endlessly the whole time.

here's hoping for rapid tree growth!

As an afterthought, I am going to offer an alternative to the trees, or maybe a supplement. Have you considered bamboo? It is evergreen and makes a very dense screen. Trouble is it only comes up once per year. But it can grow 15 to 20 feet high in my yard...here near Pittsburgh, PA.

If conditions are right, it is super and almost weed like in its growth. You might want to consider it, as it comes up hight in a short time, and what you see is what you get till the following year. Different than a tree...you get whatever it offers immediately, and that is it. Just a thought...

 

[SCB]

Pete,
I think you were as civilized as could be. No offence meant. But you did sound offended in your original post and made no mention that he did this illegally. I just don't think people should be offended when someone uses their land legally. I kind of thought that his placement was logical if the cleared area represents his property lines. I would have placed mine similar.

 

[JDFANATIC]

BigPete, even I have been impressed with your impartiatiality and wisdom, and after this go-around, those impressions have only been substanciated... From long distance, it is hard to imagine the dynamics that would spark such discourse between family members, but I know they could very easily be there... Therefore any credible solutions, can only fairly be ascribed to those closer to the the situation. So, that said, I like your property, I like your solution, and most of all, I like your outlook! Many kudos to your sense of stability and maturity! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[bigpete]

Guys: I was frustrated before I knew the septic was installed illegally. There will be a work-around for that infraction. I never really said anything about being offended and really still don't read my original post that way, but I understand how one might assume a guy was offended by such a situation. I admit I was for a while when it first happened. Not in a arrogant way, but in a way one feels when one is not shown courtesy or respect.

I spent the first ten years of my marriage living in apartments, paying tuition, and working part time. I know what it is like to live day to day and would gladly help this fellow out if he needed. But that's not the point.

He's a lucky young man to have been given such a gift. His grandfather worked telephone lines for a living until he retired 20 years ago. He had saved his money since the late '30s and bought a 60 acre piece of land where he could build a bungalow and retire with his wife. He has three grandsons. He told me he has no money, but has always been proud to be able to pass along land.

Each got an acre. One buillt a modest home to the South (can't be seen in the picture) with a treed buffer between the home and the stream. He left some strong hardwoods and cleared a nice lawn. A very nice and thoughtful use. The second grandson put his acre in a land trust for his heirs. The youngest, my new neighbor, was asked by the grandfather to wait for a few years before doing anything wiht the land. The grandfather knew this kid wasn't ready for this and now regrets even naming him in this gifting stage. In fact, he did tell the kid he would pass along the land when the kid was older, and the kid whined about his brother already getting their gift

When the land was cleared, the logger disappeared. The boy borrowed granpa's Ford 8N and dragged a landscape rake over the soil for an afternoon. Three days later the mobile was "installed" on piers on unprepared soil. One end of the mobile sank (visibly) after two inches of rain later in the first week it was there. The mobile home "retailer" showed up and put a block foundation around the perimeter of the trailer without pouring a single ounce of concrete for a footer.

It will be a disater. It will affect property values in the immediate neighborhood. Yes, that is a factor of my frustration. I have earned all that I own. The site has affected the clarity of the stream as runoff from the lot silts up the flow as it crosses under the road 1/2 mile downstream. As to why I am frustrated, I'm sure its now obvious. Have I judged my new neighbor? Yes, but only as lacking in the areas of common sense and respect. Is it his fault? Yes and no. First, grandpop is kicking himself for an error in judgement becasue he knew this boy would make an error in judgement, too. Second, the County and State have virtually no restrictions on the placement of mobil homes. It's a checklist. It is about as rigorous as the process of getting a dog license. Third, inland wetlands protection is virtually non-existant in the State unless you are building on "tidal" waters.

Steve, I see you have 3 acres in Washington, which I am sure is beautiful and hopefully private. Try to imagine your worst possible scenario for land development in perfectly clear line of sight of your privacy. I sincerely hope it never happens. If it does, I hope you are as lucky as I have been to have some options.

Regards,

 

[Dachshund]

Dunno - Nothing wrong with the whole deal. Grandpop gave him the land to do as he saw fit. He decided to put up a house. The problem is on the other side of the road. When we bought our farm (101 acres of my family's farm), we didn't ask the neighbors how they wanted it to look, or if they approved. Wouldn't even THINK of doing it - nor would it be expected. As long as everything is code and legal, nobady should have a say in it. At one time or another your side of the road probably needed clear cut. You did a great job on the drive! Sorry if I ruffled feathers - just my opinion! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bigpete]

I'll be happy when my trees are in. Grndpop and the rest of the family will not. The land we are on was cleared in the late 1800s for farmland. It's not a problem for you becuase you aren't any of the people in the story /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[getut]

Same sentiment from me Pete. With the additional information of your other posts, I totally misinterpreted your first one also.

I could potentially be in the same situation if the farmer around me decides to sell in years to come. My nightmare would not be mobile homes. In fact, i would prefer 10 or 20 mobile homes on 10 - 20 acre parcels than I would 150 $500k homes on 1 - 2 acre parcels. I don't want the rat race and street lights near me. Give me a good old country boy for a neighbor and I'll be happy (or leave my 5 acre parcel right in the middle of that 200 acre farm as is).

 

[LBrown59]

the County and State have virtually no restrictions on the placement of mobil homes.
==============
Which is exactly as it should be.

 

[Dachshund]

Wouldn't be a problem for me if I WAS one of the player's in the story! His land, his to do what he wants. Ya don't have to like it, but you DO have to live with it. You came up with a solution that covers your part - you decided what you wanted to do with your land, he deserves the same /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

 

[firtol88]

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif From that south view picture you and your neighbors might be better off pooling your money and trying to buy it from him. As is he has already cost all of you more money in property value than it would likely cost to buy from him twice. Maybe make it a public park or something.