The new Swan sled..

[Giulietta]

Dispute between neighbors - this is a true story. (or so I was told by an American friend)

A city councilman in Utah , Mark Easton, had a beautiful view of the
east mountains, until a new neighbor purchased the lot below his house and built a new home.
The new home was 18 inches higher than the ordinances would allow, so Mark Easton, mad about his lost view, went to the city to make sure they enforced the lower roof line ordinance. The new neighbor had to drop the roof line, at great expense.
Recently, Mark Easton called the city, and informed them that his new
neighbor had installed some vents on the side of his home. Mark didn't like the look of these vents and asked the city to investigate. When they went to Mark's home to see the vent view, this is what they found...
(see pictures below) ..

































If this guy sails....I will crew for him...what a man....

[sailaway21]

I like the moxey of individuals such as that and am drawn to them as friends for some odd reason. Yet I'm also puzzled why the neighbor would build a new non-conforming house and then expect the neighbor's to just eat it. The great expense was probably borne by his builder who was either too lazy or ignorant to check the plat restrictions found in the city building code. The code was probably written to prevent asses just like him from building willy-nilly blocking everyone else's view.

That being said, I have a friend in New York who painted his house what can only be described as "FU yellow", a truly awful color to behold. His sole purpose was to offend his neighbor. Needless to say, this is a fellow who is relentless in the prosecution of his grievances and not someone you want to get on the wrong side of. His friends sit in amazement at not only the imagination but the lengths he'll go in prosecution of his grievances. It wouldn't surprise me if he was raising moles in his yard in the hope that they'd wander into his neighbors!

[PBzeer]

Sway - I'm puzzled when you say, "his friends". Or is it a whole little cadre of Volvo driving, bumper sticker thinking bunch of liberal victims?

[sailaway21]

No, PB, he's actually pretty liberal himself in most areas. I think the house-painting occurred because he was drying laundry on a clothesline in the back yard in violation of a community ordinance against the practise. Rather than discussing it with him, the neighbor called the cop's ordinance officer. The laundry line came down and the paint went up. (g)

[artbyjody]

That was hilarious thanks G-man

[uspirate]

heh heh, dont like the old view? how about the new one?

[senatorcongressman]

Lovely. Sometimes those height restrictions are seemingly arbitrary and depend of the finished grade around the house. I've seen builders get around this in N.Va. by dumping fill dirt near one side of the house, raising the grade and thereby lowering the roof height without re-construction.

snopes.com: Middle Finger Cactus Vent Cover

[TrueBlue]

Actually senator, municipal Zoning Departments adopt language in their ordinances that describe the starting point of measurement as "existing finished grade" - meaning whatever natural grade existed prior to development of the property.

Many areas however, such as in my city, take the average grade around the existing or proposed new foundation. This is good for building owners building on a parcel sloping down from the street - which would otherwise have a serious height hardship.

On the other hand, lots with backyards sloping up from the road, could build much higher than their neighbors downhill from them. To adjust for this, the average height is measured just at the front of the building.

Funny thread Giu - must have missed it last week.

[Plumper]

It just reinforces the notion that paying for a view is silly unless there is no way anything can ever be built between you and what you want to see.

Height restrictions = uncontrollable sprawl.

[Stillraining]

I take it they wont be exchanging holiday cheer..

I go above and beyond to get along with my neighbors after living next to one who I crossed once years ago...it never got repaired....life is too short.