A developer just bought the property next door

[clanter]

@HPFarmette

I’m so sorry. I actually have nightmares about this happening near my farmette.

it can happen, easliy

we looked at one property in a rapidly growing area (Keller, TX for those who know north Texas) that border a ranch

really nice property,had just the barn we would need and a lot on nice stuff… but that open ranch land had me concerned… it was not developed into a trailer park but the school district bought it building a district football stadium …the parking lot extended to the fence line of the property we looked at… around here high school marching bands are a big deal, they start practicing in July at about 6am or will practice at night under the lights that make the darkness disappear

[JanM]

If this development actually goes through, and you want to sell, maybe that developer will be your best prospect for buying your place.

[trubandloki]

If you plan to go to the zoning board meetings and such now is the time to learn how your town/county/village/whatever notifies people about what is going on at the meetings.

Some people posted here that their part of the world sends out a letter.

In my part of the world all they do is put up a sign that says the property is going to be discussed at the zoning board meeting. It is up to you (general person seeing the sign) to figure out where that is and when that is, etc.

[walktrot]

What is it zoned now and what does it need to be for apartments? And what zones can apartments be built in? If your property is in a rural or farm type, why should the next door property be rezoned for a business or commercial property? Does the town have a comprehensive long-term development plan? I’d go to the zoning office and find out as much as you can about ordinances and the entire process for getting approval before you get a notice for a hearing. Also, find out what impact an apartment complex will have on the value of your property.

[cutter99]

@HPFarmette

I’m so sorry. I actually have nightmares about this happening near my farmette.

I think it is a fear of every farm owner. I am in Middle TN, in a holler in the middle of nowhere. The farm across from ours just went on the market last week, and there has already been a developer out looking at it.

Now, I wouldn’t mind if say Blake Shelton or Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman bought it to live there, but over 100 homes going in is a real worry for me!

[poltroon]

Go to every single zoning meeting. Engage the planning department. As the adjacent neighbor, you have a fair amount of influence over what happens next in many places, depending upon the underlying politics of your area. Talk to your other neighbors. Projects like this can be stopped, or made so expensive that the developer walks away.

Now, because you do have the power to slow or possibly even halt the project, this means the developer may be willing to deal with you in terms of things like getting fences you do or don’t want, etc. Think about what is important to you.

They on their side may consider you a nuisance so think about what you want to keep your activities from impinging on them after the developer has pocketed the bucks and run away.

Development isn’t necessarily bad for you. It probably will raise your property value, if you want to sell. If you do boarding, it might be a place clients or your staff want to live. If it’s well done and upscale, it can be pretty nice; if the developer is going to build something shoddy and going to take your water source, it will probably be a nightmare. Take the control you can get and the more of you and your neighbors become a fixture with the people who will be doing the zoning changes - both staff and elected officials - the more leverage you will have.

[SLW]

@HPFarmette

I’m so sorry. I actually have nightmares about this happening near my farmette.

Heck, it doesn’t take development to make things different out in the country, just new landowners. One new neighbor beside us has their city grandchildren come out to visit, 13 & 15 year old boys with their city friends. So everything you can’t do in the city they do in the country like shooting, 4th of July fireworks and racing ATV’s & Gators up and down the fenceline. Ugh. A neighbor who’s place backs up behind us built a shooting range right there. It’s all approved and safe but dammit it’s loud. They seem to pick serene spring and fall weekend days when we have our windows open and they spend 2 or 3 hours shooting with their friends. And on 4th of July they do a two hour fireworks show that rivals any small towns display. Double ugh.

[OverandOnward]

@clanter

…
we looked at one property in a rapidly growing area (Keller, TX for those who know north Texas) that border a ranch
…

I know of Keller, some. I can’t imagine that any nice quiet bit of land is going to stay that way! From there to north of Denton, it seems. But hey, you’ll definitely have plenty of Friday night football games you can go to, if you are into that. :winkgrin:

[ASB_Stars]

Lots of great information already…

If you are not the only land owner who is contiguous to the parcel that’s been sold, engage those folks, and put together a homeowners, or landowners group. It is easier to spread legal fees out amongst a group, and, it is not a bad idea to be represented at the zoning board hearings.

You should also take a look at the storm water controls that are required for the new development. You would be amazed at how much impervious cover, and added slopes, can do to change the impact of storm water on your property.

There should be adequate setbacks for the buildings/improvements, but take a look at what is required, and see how it affects you. You might want a to pursue floating a variance. That’s when the lawyer can be useful, as well.

[clanter]

@OverandOnward

I know of Keller, some. I can’t imagine that any nice quiet bit of land is going to stay that way! From there to north of Denton, it seems. But hey, you’ll definitely have plenty of Friday night football games you can go to, if you are into that. :winkgrin:

it was the early 80s when we look at that house… I just did the google satellite of it … I was wrong about the football stadium being next to, the stadium is across the street next to new high school, the tennis courts back up to the property along with the baseball field … and a few thousand houses …it was all open ranch land back in the 80s with cattle

the place we bought I have an overhead photo taken in the late 50s, the street was then gravel few trees around… ranchland that was being developed… now about a million people hanging out around here

[Dressagelvr]

Your best bet is to try to sell to the developer now.

Sure, you can go to hearings, make your voice heard, etc. But the bottom line is that you can’t compete with the $$$ the county will get as the area is developed. So you will lose spectacularly.

It is tragic and disgusting the way greedy developers eat up the land, but it is unstoppable.

I really, really suggest a move. Why? Sure, the construction is problematic, buy your real problems begin when that first tenant with a kid who loves ponies moves in…or someone who hates horses moves in.

There will be trespassing. There will be feedings of god knows what. With a mean kid, there will be worse.

I hate this for you. I really do.

[Guilherme]

@alteringwego

10 acres next door to my mini home and farm just sold out of the blue to an apartment development company. No site plans and will require A LOT of $$$ to make work but guess it will happen.
What can I do to protect my mini farm? And if it’s built, what kinds of things should I ask for in terms of privacy. My ring is within 50 feet of the property line and I hate to think of all the spooking possibilities. The property in question will have to be re-zoned and is currently totally undeveloped. My neighbor says that we should be able to make some demands for privacy fences/berms/or something but I’m totally at a loss. Any ideas? Wish it wasn’t so.

What is your long term goal? If it is quiet, country living then you should probably start contacting realtors. If it’s to keep your present property at your present level of use then you should hire a lawyer and find out what you can and can’t do and what your new neighbor can and can’t do. You don’t note your location except by a description that suggests a low regulation place. If that is so then you’re quite likely well and truly screwed. You can fight hammer and tong but if they have more money than you do then they will likely win and you’ll have the Worst of All Possible Worlds: a hostile neighbor who will NEVER do anything voluntarily to help you deal with problems they have a hand in creating.

Some may find my views dark and foreboding and maybe even cowardly. My advice comes from having had personal and professional “neighbor” disputes as well as having had many years of cordial relationships with neighbors. Development as you describe means more tax dollars for the county (and/or town, township, city, etc.). It means employment for local workers. It means revenue for utility suppliers. It means more customers for grocery stores, gas stations, furniture companies, etc. It is, and will be seen as, a net positive for the local economy. You might disagree on some particulars but that’s how The World will generally view it.

I agree that this puts you into a really unfair situation but it’s unlikely that your claimed right to keep the status quo will trump your new neighbor’s ability to utilize their property in any lawful way they choose.

Best of luck to you as you go forward.

G.

[scrbear11]

@LauraKY

Double fence, hot wire and start planting evergreen screens now. Make sure you get a survey to establish property lines.

Do make sure you have a “Caution Electric Fence” sign somewhere to cover your ass.

I like this idea. My husband and I are doing this on the lot we just purchased. We are private for now, but the lot next to us is still for sale. Perimeter fence that is electric, and an evergreen natural barrier.

[LauraKY]

@scrbear11

Do make sure you have a “Caution Electric Fence” sign somewhere to cover your ass.

I like this idea. My husband and I are doing this on the lot we just purchased. We are private for now, but the lot next to us is still for sale. Perimeter fence that is electric, and an evergreen natural barrier.

Yes absolutely. Many jurisdictions have a requirement for spacing…one sign for x number feet of fence. Make absolutely certain you follow the law.

Personally, I would have preferred a moat with pirahna or gators.

A hedge of thorny bushes makes a great barrier too, in addition to the electric fence.

[clanter]

@LauraKY

Yes absolutely. Many jurisdictions have a requirement for spacing…one sign for x number feet of fence. Make absolutely certain you follow the law.

Personally, I would have preferred a moat with pirahna or gators.

A hedge of thorny bushes makes a great barrier too, in addition to the electric fence.

the city I am in prohibits electric perimeter fencing … so check before it is used a default.

the moat would require a special permit plus becomes another attractive nuance along with the pet gators …

we ended up with a large… a very large… dog whose nickname was Lots of Teeth

[LauraKY]

@clanter

the city I am in prohibits electric perimeter fencing … so check before it is used a default.

the moat would require a special permit plus becomes another attractive nuance along with the pet gators …

Go ahead, ruin all my fun!

we ended up with a large… a very large… dog whose nickname was Lots of Teeth

LOL, I used to buy my hay from an alpaca farmer. He had a pack of Great Pyrs to protect his herd. The sign on his gate said, “My Great Pyrenees can get to the gate in 39 seconds. Can you?”

[SonnysMom]

@Guilherme

What is your long term goal? If it is quiet, country living then you should probably start contacting realtors. If it’s to keep your present property at your present level of use then you should hire a lawyer and find out what you can and can’t do and what your new neighbor can and can’t do. You don’t note your location except by a description that suggests a low regulation place. If that is so then you’re quite likely well and truly screwed. You can fight hammer and tong but if they have more money than you do then they will likely win and you’ll have the Worst of All Possible Worlds: a hostile neighbor who will NEVER do anything voluntarily to help you deal with problems they have a hand in creating.

Some may find my views dark and foreboding and maybe even cowardly. My advice comes from having had personal and professional “neighbor” disputes as well as having had many years of cordial relationships with neighbors. Development as you describe means more tax dollars for the county (and/or town, township, city, etc.). It means employment for local workers. It means revenue for utility suppliers. It means more customers for grocery stores, gas stations, furniture companies, etc. It is, and will be seen as, a net positive for the local economy. You might disagree on some particulars but that’s how The World will generally view it.

I agree that this puts you into a really unfair situation but it’s unlikely that your claimed right to keep the status quo will trump your new neighbor’s ability to utilize their property in any lawful way they choose.

Best of luck to you as you go forward.

G.

Thankfully some of the counties/townships/municipalities in my area see developments like this as a huge drain on their resources. Unless they are 55+ type communites the apartments tend to have a number of school age children that need to be educated. None or virtually none of those children will go to private schools. The cost to educate the children and bus them tends to far exceed taxes received from the project. They tend to be lower income so not much of an income from income tax. Additional traffic so possibly more paving, traffic lights, accidents etc… if the school district is already close to capacity it may mean building or expanding the elementary schools. Additional drains on the police/EMTs/Fire etc…
In our area it is rare to see new apartment buildings being built. I can think of 1 in the last 10 years. You do see high end townhomes/condos- some of those are rentals most are privately owned. The biggest thing being built in our area are 55+ communities and assisted living/personal care facilities.

[HungarianHippo]

If you’re thinking that dense development would be really upsetting to you in the long term, or would significantly devalue your property, the time to sell is now, before the developer has filed plans that become public. It’s up to the new buyer to do their own research on the county master plan, find out who owns the surrounding properties, etc.
Or if you want to stay put, I agree with investing in thick screening plantings and thorny bush barriers now. I would not wait for the developer to pay for it, unless they’re asking for a rezoning or variance, which would give you a little more leverage to make such demands.

But in general, if you want to control what happens on the land all around you: Buy. More. Land.

Sorry, but it just bothers me when people buy properties that are too small to insulate them from the activities of their neighbors, or buy land where there are no zoning laws, and then get outraged when these decisions come home to roost. I have no problem with demanding that development be done in a way that does not infringe on your property rights (such as water rights, setbacks, etc). But as long as a neighbor is conforming to the zoning rules (and/or they follow the legal process to adjust those zoning rules, which gives you and others the right to provide comments in opposition), they have the right to use their property as they see fit. Just as you have the right to put your horses right up near their property line (even though your new neighbors may view them as stinky, dangerous farm animals that attract disease-carrying flies).

[clanter]

@LauraKY

Go ahead, ruin all my fun!

LOL, I used to buy my hay from an alpaca farmer. He had a pack of Great Pyrs to protect his herd. The sign on his gate said, “My Great Pyrenees can get to the gate in 39 seconds. Can you?”

our GSD got his nickname from a pizza delivery dude… dog would set behind the kids when they answered the door, he was huge, setting he could see over top of youngest daughter who wanted to pay for the pizza… she handed the guy the money and all he could say was “that dog has lots of teeth”

[LauraKY]

@clanter

our GSD got his nickname from a pizza delivery dude… dog would set behind the kids when they answered the door, he was huge, setting he could see over top of youngest daughter who wanted to pay for the pizza… she handed the guy the money and all he could say was “that dog has lots of teeth”

Hahahahaha. My delivery guys all ask, “Do they bite?” My answer is, “Not unless you try to come in uninvited.”