The World encroaching? Move your driveway!

hobbyfarm · May 10, 2005

pz ( zoning law that forces people to put up a privacy fence for junkyards )

Bird ( In most cities, that's true, but out in the country in Texas, no restrictions. )

Down here there are restrictions, but, enforcement is left up to the County Health Department. As it is a health problem due to the rodent problem. Let's see, 4 precincts, 4 officers, and a county larger than Rhode Island. And it is bursting at the seams in all directions. We are turning TEXAS' best darn land with the ultimate agricultural climate into houses and streets. Unscrupulous landowners turn large sections of land out for sale here and it sells like hotcakes. They call them colonias. Most of the time, there are no utilities, etc. This unregulated growth is what's keeping the counties and cities people busy, and for a long time they were fighting a losing battle. I've seen people buy a lot, take the camper cap off their pickup and live there in a sleeping bag - until told that they can't. Some of them only do this until they build a DIY type cinder block home. Codes /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif, Zones /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Permits /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ({spit}, we don nee no stinkin permits /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)What's that?? That is a problem living close to the border with Mexico. Workers come with legal work Visa, and eventually get tired of fighting the three-hour wait at the bridge to come to work everyday and just find a way to stay. Some day, I'll hang a tortilla on my antenna and drive north til someone asks me what that is - and I'll have found a new home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That's the true waste.
Sorry to ramble on.

Jagmandave · May 10, 2005

Well, we were lucky enough to be the "last ones in" in our neighborhood, in fact I'm sure a few of my new neighbors are wondering what kind of house MY wife and I are going to be putting up! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Fact is, things will change over time, so you just have to be ready and react, as he did by changing his driveway and planting a screen. And good for him that he's already planning to help the guy with his lawn and driveway, maybe the kid'll learn something. Could be good for both of them....

HuckBB62 · May 10, 2005

( pz ( zoning law that forces people to put up a privacy fence for junkyards )

Bird ( In most cities, that's true, but out in the country in Texas, no restrictions. )

Down here there are restrictions, but, enforcement is left up to the County Health Department. As it is a health problem due to the rodent problem. Let's see, 4 precincts, 4 officers, and a county larger than Rhode Island. And it is bursting at the seams in all directions. We are turning TEXAS' best darn land with the ultimate agricultural climate into houses and streets. Unscrupulous landowners turn large sections of land out for sale here and it sells like hotcakes. They call them colonias. Most of the time, there are no utilities, etc. This unregulated growth is what's keeping the counties and cities people busy, and for a long time they were fighting a losing battle. I've seen people buy a lot, take the camper cap off their pickup and live there in a sleeping bag - until told that they can't. Some of them only do this until they build a DIY type cinder block home. Codes /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif, Zones /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Permits /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ({spit}, we don nee no stinkin permits /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)What's that?? That is a problem living close to the border with Mexico. Workers come with legal work Visa, and eventually get tired of fighting the three-hour wait at the bridge to come to work everyday and just find a way to stay. Some day, I'll hang a tortilla on my antenna and drive north til someone asks me what that is - and I'll have found a new home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That's the true waste.
Sorry to ramble on. )

No, you're not rambling. I feel your pain. While developing our land, I had to sit for hours in the planning department waiting for the other "citizens" to do business. The department was being CLOGGED with Notices of Violation people. They were all latinos wondering why in the world they couldn't put as many trailers on their 1/4 acre lot in town (it is their land after all!?) The obviously even hired people to be translators, on the taxpayer's dollar!

My advice to the office was this: Why not start a separate department, one staffed by the funds of those that paid for it. The Notice of Violations office if you will, instead of clogging up our planning department? I'm sure since 95% of the violators are hispanic, it'd be looked upon as racist.

I see this post being deleted too. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

CLinton_in_FL · May 10, 2005

John, I did not know that you lived in Jacksonville, The tractor guy said you "lived around here" which I thought me Starke. I would like to know your opnions on the restrictions. Since I am young, I would like to find out before I build a house on my land. Shoot me an email if you would like. stockandquick@hotmail.com Thanks

hobbyfarm · May 11, 2005

( ....the violators are hispanic, it'd be looked upon as racist. )

Huck,
Sorry to imply racism, I'm not. We are all god's children, but some need a good shaking, some just need hug and understanding. The gorgeous Mrs. hobbyfarm is hispanic, and a true angel who's tolerated me for almost 30 years. The tortilla line...just venting. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I love this area of TEXAS, but it is a shame to see it abused.
This thread got off topic - it's about the project and not why he saw fit to change his driveway. Bigpete did an awesome job of fixing his driveway. I've always liked a curved drive.

rcrcomputing · May 12, 2005

BigPete,
I'm sorry this thread took a few turns that were unpleasant. However, as always, people always come away from such discussions with better understanding of other viewpoints. This is a good thing!
I wish you well and hope all turns out good for you and your new neighbor.

JSUnlimited · May 13, 2005

BTW bigpete, have you by any slim chance wanted or offered to buy any of the property that the "no patience and no common sense" grandson was given? Whatever your answer, I've made a new post to read. It seems you have struck a sour note with me.

Tom_H · May 14, 2005

I designed and built my own luxury log home on a small knoll overlooking a broad meadow. It is to my good fortune that the house is worth over a million dollars now. In the last 5 years, the meadow property sold and there are 2 doublewide trailers there. The people who live in these homes are some of the most goodhearted and nice people that I know. They have done nothing illegal, immoral, or wrong in any way. I enjoy visiting them in their homes and they enjoy visiting me in mine. It is my belief that the true value of a man is measured not by the possessions and money that he has or has not, but rather by what is within his heart.