FChat OT: Need help! New construction obscures lake view!

I was on the other end of this problem a few years ago. It did end amicably and we built somewhere else. However, as we found, there was absolutely nothing the other land owner could do. It was our land and as long as the structure fit existing local codes, he was SOL.

I am willing to bet you are, too. Even though you may be able to sue and delay the action, you would almost certainly loose as your right to a view will not be greater than his right to use his land. And if it were me and you really pissed me off, I would just clear cut and work on your view then.

Your best bet is to try what I call "personality based interdiction." In other words, make friends with the guy and hope he will see reason. Or you could make an offer and just buy the tract of land. This, in fact, is the only sure way to end your problem. Otherwise it will always hang over your head and view!

Hope this helps.

 

Do you have another view of the lake you describe? No offense but that picture shows what looks to be a man made section or pond.(it looks pretty squared off) You may want to check with planning and find out what they are allowed to build. Then check with the current owner and see what's up. He'll know as they're staking off his property. If it's something that is not allowed then you could make a fuss. These days planning departments are pretty strict with what you can and can't build, how close to the water, sewage restrictions etc. Yea, it's a tough one but if you don't own waterfront to the lake then you run the risk of this happening some day. Good luck.

 

Lake? It's a stock tank.

Anyway, as always the advice boils down to "talk to a good local attorney." Most likely, you're just SOL. Sorry.

 

SOL (sorry)

You should have bought His lot also.

 

...similar situation from the opposite side when I built. My humble little share croppers shack (5k ft. brick French- country W/ 1k ft garage) blocks the view of the Grand River basin and west view of those glorious Lake Mich. sunsets. To quote my slime b....... um, I mean ,lawyer..."he should have opened his wallet instead of his mouth" SOL indeed. Jerry

 

Not to sound too offensive but it sounds like you are really overdramatizing this. Your psychological well being is tied to having a view of the man-made pond??? That sounds a little ridiculous.

Anyway, one thing I have learned is that you CAN NOT rely on your neighbors not to do something that it is their right to do. If you want to 'own' the view from your window to that water, you need to own the land. There is nothing else you can do.

If your neighbor owns the pond and the land next to it, you gotta have some serious gall to think he should be prevented from building on that land.

Here's your solution - your home appraised for $$$$ you say, and a big part of the value is the view... well, take out a home equity line and go pay the guy to own the land. If it contributes to the value of your home, you should want to buy it to preserve that.

Failing that, you are SOL and he will build a big house that blocks your view, and you will suffer psychological distress, apparently.

 

It's not your land, so either buy it or quit crying about it.

 

Reason with him. I don't know a single law in the history of the world that will support you.

Explain and appeal to his inner good.

If that doesn't work... I know what I would do.

 

Not to me, you paid good money for a purpose now it might be going out the window.

Tough luck and best of luck with the neighbor.

 

It looks more like a pond than a lake.

 

Erect some hideous statue or similar to scare off any potential buyers. Let us know how it turns out?

 

You cant own a view and therefore someone cant take it away from you. You have no case. Tie it up in court you will eat all their attorney's fees plus damages. I wouldn't even consider it.

 

Sadly you have no control without Title......we had an adjacent tract purchased recently..

They hauled in illegal fill diverting sheet flow runoff to our property, cut seven magnificent 100' 30" caliper oak trees...

Then blocked up a double wide modular home 5' off our common property line.....

Our view of the daily sunset is now replaced by 330' of 8' 0" tall wooden fence constructed at my fiancee's expense, and my back breaking personal labor.

Work continues as I am able, on huge cuts of swale diverting the runoff.

The letter from our lawyer was met from one from theirs....not worth the effort.

Good luck with a person to person effort, in our case they are very agressive rude people from another country........oh yea, they removed the land from the tax roles...reclassifying the double wide as a 'church'.......

 

Appeal to your new neighbor, there's no telling how cooperative he might be before you ask.

I had a similar, but much smaller problem with my new neighbor.

Went over, talked about it, and he put his obstruction elsewhere.

Unless the pond/lake is integral to the structure, he may very well move it.

Offering to help mitigate the cost may help too.

DM

 

Throw big loud parties when the potential buyer is near.

Paint your house bright orange.

Install a speaker system and play rap music, death metal, or just yell made up stuff as though ordering your wife around via speaker.

Invite every Harley rider you know over to cruise up and down your street when buyer is over in exchange for food.

BUILD YOUR OWN DAMN POND....er LAKE!

When buyer is in site...run naked down the hill and jump into the pond yelling "IT'S MINE! IT'S MINE!!!"

 

I can't see the pictures you posted links to but is the lake you refer to one of the reservoirs up there in the Washington park area? I'm sure there is some commie dictatorship branch of METRO that you could probably get involved if you really wanted to try and block it but that could also bite you in the ass. Talking nice to them would probably be your best solution... In my experience "views" can be a temporary thing if you do have a bunch of firs around. Place I grew up used to have a great view of Mt Hood that is now completely obscured by the trees. Short of going crazy with a chainsaw there is nothing really to do about it, accept that things change.

 

BT,

As I hijack yet another thread, please forgive me.

Sounds like the perfect spot to build that new dyno and lift garage you've always wanted. It would back up nicely to their double wide.

I also suspect that 6 AM Sunday tune ups and muffler-less dyno runs would do wonders for the inter-neighbor relations.

Dave

 

You do not 'own' a view unless you 'buy' it.
Sorry.

 

Personally, I think that you should have no say in what your neighbor intends to do with his own property but I am glad to hear it all worked out in the end.

Reminds me of problems in many Northern New Jersey towns as of late. A lot of neighbors of wealthier individuals are attempting to influence or stop builders of mini-mansions. Neighbors claim it is a "quality of life" issue.

 

sneak over at night and move the flags. chances are the owner is using a general contractor who will hire subs to do the work. they won't question the location if the flags look right.

 

Must be based on future inflationary values fueled by wildly inflated real estate markets driven by imaginary mineral rights, because that view only looks like a $37,852 view to me.