Do any of you live in an area where a development or new construction had to adhere to increased set backs or the developer had to buffer the property because your were agricultural? My point to the aldermen has been that it puts an undue hardship on agricultural farms to buffer themselves because of their size. However, when the developer has to build the buffer, in the grand scheme of construction costs, it’s nothing. Also trying to get the town to require increased setbacks when dense developments go in next to ag properties. Currently, with this zoning classification, they only require 25 feet. Not to mention that my home is only about 15 feet from the property line and has sat there since the 1940s.
If it’s adjacent to your property, consider selling if the developer will give you the right price. Living next to a subdivision of 37 houses, on a third of an acre each doesn’t sound good at all.
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One of my friends starts a petition every time they plan to use the property across the street for something other than intended. Put out on Facebook, she usually gets the required number of signatures and so far, she’s won.
Good luck!
You can try another tactic, which worked in my moms neighborhood. The original developer wanted to come in a build 90 homes on a small area of land. City council was all for it because they wanted the tax dollars. My moms neighborhood worked together to try and halt it. They didn’t get anywhere because the city wanted the money. SO what they were able to do was get the City to restrict the amount of homes being build. So the original developer pulled out because it wasn’t enough to make him rich. Eventually a developer did come in and build. But it was less homes and much more reasonable. Maybe you could try that tactic. Get the city to restrict the amount of homes to be built. That might turn off the developer. Or the development may go through but with less of an impact on the surrounding area. Just a thought.
Living next to a subdivision of 37 houses,
lot just a street away is to have 46 townhouses on less than five acres… the “buffer” is to be an eight foot high masonry wall… the townhouses are two stories tall, so much for the buffer.
fight against the development was intense but sweep aside since the city is eyeing the $20m dollar property’s potential taxes
as I set in the middle of all this redevelopment I am just biding my time as evidently an offer will be handed to us that we can not refuse
yesterday while hanging Christmas lights we were stopped twice by passing motorists … Do you want to sell? We had our German Shepherd Dog on leash … talk to her she owns the place we are just servants here
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Yes.
In most places, you can find out exactly what is required based on the zoning of the property as well as the adjoining property(s)… and there is usually a public process around re-zoning efforts. It is a very hot topic where I live, and there are almost constant battles here to preserve the current zoning (which currently supports farms and homes on larger lots.) We are on the edge of the area considered reasonable commuting distance to the city, and with the vibrant growth in the economy here, developers see this part of our county as super attractive, particularly as our taxes are lower than the surrounding areas (mostly due to so much land being zoned / used for agriculture.)
We have a very active, organized citizen group that monitors and engages in all the “conversations” locally regarding zoning issues. We have a very active FB group as well as an email system used to share updates, coordinate our opposition, and make sure everyone knows what is going on. We show up at public meetings, zoning board hearings, Board of Commissioner’s meetings and so on. We are a very loud voice and we are also VERY active when it comes to voting, and this has helped a great deal to ensure that we are listened to when we voice objections or concerns.
If you have not done so already, get a copy of your area’s zoning rules, which will almost certainly include required setbacks, buffers and so on. Often, those are dependent not only on the zoning of the subject property but also the neighboring properties, as well as adherence to any larger Land Use Plan that exists. You may want to find out if there are conservation organizations in your area that can also assist you. Learn the different zoning categories. You have to know what the difference is between R20, 40, 80 and so on. Learn the options for conservation designations and research what variances have been granted or denied in the past… it will help you understand what you are up against.
Issues that will sometimes sway zoning decisions include things other than just property tax. Will the roads, schools, hospitals/emergency services for the area support additional development? We had a developer here recently propose to put 250 houses on 120 acres that is currently zoned AG. He wanted to “adjust” the zoning to R40 conservation - the conservation sounds good, right? But what it really means is high density with a small area of the property set aside “as conservation area” (think buffer.) Our group rallied, insisted on a traffic study which showed there would be over 650 additional car trips on local roads, the cost to the local middle school would be over $200K a year to handle the additional student load (in a system already over capacity) and so on. We were able to convince the board to deny the request for the variance.
In your case, it may be that the process is too far down the road to alter the development much. However, most of the time there are things like detention ponds and so on required … you may be able to have them locate those “passive” uses of the property where they benefit you, such as near your house. If you haven’t see the proposed development map, see if you can get one ASAP. They typically have to be filed along with any variance request.
Then I’d start thinking about what I could do to screen my property, protect my privacy, etc. Good luck!
When I lived in Colorado, new subdivisions of thousands of houses on former ranch land that required infrastructure resulted in higher taxes for the new residents to pay for schools, sewer and water installation, streets, etc. So the developer didn’t care at all. However, many people didn’t realize this, especially because we had so many people new to the area, and would buy and then get their tax assessment, with the extra tacked on. It was shocking to many of them.
Our group rallied, insisted on a traffic study which showed there would be over 650 additional car trips on local roads, the cost to the local middle school would be over $200K a year to handle the additional student load (in a system already over capacity) and so on
I believe you need a new consultant … my school district just had a bond issue pass. to build two new middle school on ground that is already owned $58,218,628 and a second $62,791,345
total bond program that voters passed was $252.8m
There will always be change. It’s just how the timing and direction works out - in our favor, or not so much.
OP, be wise about this. Don’t look just at your personal property situation. Pop your head up above the burrow and climb a ladder to get a hard, cold overview look at your entire community.
Which way are things going, generally?
Employment.
Growing or shrinking business environment.
Traffic and road building.
New people moving to the area and staying.
Trends in income levels generally ( that is, what your future community and neighbors will be like based on their financial resources, as lower incomes mean much more instability from that’s-life financial issues).
I live in a community that has grown 300% in the last 30 years, and is projected to grow even faster over the next two decades. Much of this growth is due to a rapidly expanding large employer in the area. But it is also happening because of demographics generally in a high-growth part of the state. In a situation like this one, I probably wouldn’t see much point in the angst and stress of fighting the inevitable, a fight that will continue for years and likely not have the outcome I want.
On the other hand, if your community doesn’t have major growth impetus and this is just a case of a developer who found someone who will sell at the price he/she is interested in, you might be able to influence how it works out. Or just make it so contentious for the developer that it isn’t worth it to keep going with the project. It will take a relentless will of iron on your part, but if you can keep the pressure on through the community, as well as personally, you might come out ok.
There are no magic bullets. There is nothing anyone can suggest that has a guaranteed outcome. Just many great ideas, but ideas that need a lot of effort, time and perseverance on your part.
Only you can say whether this is worth the fight, or not. Based on the broader view of where your area is going, what’s inevitable and what might be subject to change based on your influence.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
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In this area, they would not build a new school to support one development. The overflow is typically accommodated in trailers, which I would imagine are rented. Of course, there are some additional costs for salaries, etc. In this particular case, because part of the housing was for seniors, the estimate of additional students was modest. Hence the $200K price tag. Still something that the county didn’t want to entertain.
We tried to fight development in our community. The citizen’s Association put thousands of dollar and thousand of hours into the unsuccessful fight, which rezoned a parcel of flood plain from 2 allowed homes to 20 allowed homes. Other parcels in the neighborhood are also up for rezoning. Taxes skyrocketed. We moved. I am so glad we moved.
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I dislike condos or townhomes. My nephew lived in one. They had a no-rent clause, which was great. They didn’t increase maintenance fees as needed and eventually shut down several facilities, such as the tennis courts. Poor management team! They eventually allowed condo owners to rent their condos and the neighborhood went straight down. Fortunately, the outlying areas of home have stayed steady in their value and still look great! I’m sure all condos/townhomes are different!
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Water (supply and use) is my battle in my town. 15 years ago I started learning and making presentations to the town council on what I learned. It’s getting through, other people have taken up the banner. 37 homes on 10 acres ! That’s about 10,000 sq ft per house. If the homes are to be served by well and septic systems, your problems are immediate.
Since you are on a private road, there must be easements and covenants for its use and maintenance. Otherwise explore state maintenance and conditions required for the number of homes served.
In short, I would explore water and access road aspects and their impacts to you.
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The county I lived in until last year not only would allow houses with septic tanks and field on 1/4 acres lots, but had a rule that allowed one septic tank, with several houses using it. So a place that’s as developer friendly as that county was is making rules that allow maximum density, and don’t care about losing farmland, because they want the taxes.
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A 10 acre parcel is really not very big for any kind of full scale development.
Generally, anything like that ^ has to allot so many acres to Green Space, ponds etc.
Also, there are set backs from property lines, and developers usually have to plant trees around the property, and before, the setback areas.
Maybe it was acquired as a green space for a larger development plan nearby?
I would research the county property website and find out the zoning, pay attention to any scuttlebutt as to future development plans, etc.
Good luck
37 homes on 10 acres ! That’s about 10,000 sq ft per house.
the new development near me that is taking over a TB horse pasture is to be 46 dwelling on five acres with 30% be green area. The only areas of this development to have green space in view will be the areas that adjoin public areas/streets… the parts that adjoin private residences will have an eight foot high masonry wall
the structures are not detached but in blocks of seven or eight grouped together in row housing units
But this is not a rural development as we are in the middle of the city (have sidewalks, public transportation, light rail commuter service, all utilities in place)
It is hard to say no to a developer who is willing to purchase the land by the square foot… the money starts pilling up rather quickly
Since you are on a private road,
I am pretty sure the USPS will not deliver mail on a private road, if the development is on private road the mailboxes will be of the type used in an apartment complex and its location will have to approved by the postmaster… or the residents would need to have a post office box
A killer to many of these developments on a private road is the standard required by the fire marshal that the road must be designed to support the apparatus (usually between 19 and 30 tons) and not be dead ended without turn around space
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Also ask about light pollution if they plan parking lot lights and floodlights and security lights. A church where I used to live planned new lighting for its parking lot until neighbors in nearby houses complained. That is why the church has such a dark parking lot – but it’s worth it! Especially as some of the people in those houses go to that church.
If some of the people I saw next to in 6th grade, or 5th or 7th, were on the town council OK with some things, I would want to move away too.
We live in a town with a lot of surface water. The water from the development across the street goes under the county road and then onto our property. When we had the Natural Resources and Conservation Services people here, they said the pipe under the county road was undersized and perched. The water runs 10 feet from the county road then under our driveway. We have exactly the same pipe. The difficulty this causes is that the small pipe (about 5’ in diameter) doesn’t allow the sediment through so the water runs fast, which tears up the sides of my creek. The creek is now about 10 feet below the ground - strange. The County Soil guy told me at one point in history (who know when) it was the same level. Be careful of developments and do what you can now. Good luck!
