[QUOTE=Faith;7870942]
I’m sure it won’t be long before they can’t stand you or your horses either. You’re creating your own hell.[/QUOTE]
Yes, and if they don’t like my horses that will be their problem and nothing they can do about it! So do you have suggestion or are you just noisy neighbor?
The pole idea is interesting and I would love to block the light that shines in my eyes. There are some large pines but unfortunately the light has a direct path to the front of the barn. So much of their property is lit up I am thinking that there is not going to be any good way of blocking the light besides waiting for trees to grow 30’ +.
They were cutting down trees all weekend and there is very little in the way of privacy so I think I will have to plant two rows of trees staggered. They have a pretty clear view of our back yard, barnyard and pool. And the back yard and barnyard is where we are when outside. Eventually the trees will block most of the light!
They have yet to clear near the riding ring but will most likely get to it over the holiday weekend. I am wondering if maybe instead of a solid fence on the riding ring if I went with a partial block. Lattice or something like that would give a little privacy but still let the horses see through a little. Only thing is if they build the shop right there the horses will have their view blocked by it, so that will give me the issue of spooky horses because they can’t see.
I hadn’t thought about the light attracting bugs. Hope the bugs stay with them and don’t increase at the barn. So much for the light keeping away wild life! I had a skunk in the barn last night.
Chief2, I love P. Allen Smith great idea. Thanks
OP- you might look more into fast growing hedge bushes to plant and create a visual barrier. I wish I could remember the ones I had planted here years ago. I had them in the wrong place and had to remove them but darn they ggrew wild crazy fast.
In addition to the suggestions, think about wax myrtle. Also makes a good hedge and is an important bird food source. ALso, viburnum and lingustrum, and of course bamboo (be sure to get the clumping varieties, not the running varieties). Many farms here in OCala have huge viburnum hedges on the property line. I have a mix of wax myrtle and bamboo.
Cedar trees. Cheap, fast growing, evergreen.
Australian Pines - will grow tall, block light, help diminish the sounds (and blocks wind).
If you want super fast growing - and perhaps temporary - planter boxes with bamboo.
And I say planter boxes -because if you plant bamboo in the ground, you can NOT kill it!!
You can buy it already quite tall and established - in planters like this.
My father owns 230 acres in VA. 1/2 of the farm is for the horses and 1/2 is for the motorcross track and shop. Motorcyles are always zooming past the fields. We use four wheelers and tractors around the horse farm. We also work with a rescue and allow under weight horses to take advantage of our very lush fields to put on weight before heading off to training. New horses quickly become accustom to the noises. And will quickly figure out that there is always carrots on the four wheelers and coming running when they see them. We hand walk the rescues to work on manners. Often going past the motorcycle shop. Yes, the first time is scary, but they quickly become used to the noises. The trainer loves when he gets rescues from my fathers farm, because they are so much calmer and more desensitized.
As for the light, we have three lights attached to electrical poles. This helps deter thefts. We installed them after a neighbors horse was stolen. I would be grateful for the light.
I know you appreciate your privacy and maybe it’s really not your neighbor you are mad at, but losing the opportunity to purchase the property. I would try and see this as an opportunity to further desensitize your horses. The more they see and hear the better horses you will have. Remember life is all about the attitude you have. If you have a bad attitude you will have a bad experience. Try and see the positive.
[QUOTE=Valentina_32926;7875958]
Australian Pines - will grow tall, block light, help diminish the sounds (and blocks wind).[/QUOTE]
Australian pines are an exotic invasive tree, and it is against the law to plant them in Florida. I do not think they can take the weather north of about Orlando. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/18
Just thought I would post an update as this situation has gone from bad to worse. I have decided on planting Murray Cypress but I have not had the money to buy them yet. I am hoping to plant them in late august or September. They are basically a Leland Cypress without the disease issues.
The light was just the beginning. They had a water line put in on the property and in the process had my other neighbors water shut off for Thanksgiving Day. They had the whole family over and were furious. The following Monday December 1st they rolled a camper onto the property. The whole neighbor hood waited and waited for them to put up a building permit but still none! I noticed that their home in the other county was listed as a foreclosure in January so I am thinking they don’t have the finances to build.
The neighbors are not pleased with the camper which is not allowed under our deed restrictions and my husband volunteered to make sure they are aware that the camper is not allowed and they are not starting off to well with the neighborhood. Their first comment was “we were wondering when someone was going to say something”. Instead of talking about when the trailer will be moved all they could do is go on about how they are having trouble financing and that they are getting dirt work done in a couple of weeks! Well of course there was no dirt work and still no building permit.
The county clerk’s office is not happy with them either because our zoning doesn’t allow mobile or modular homes. The trailers are allowed for construction but this lady pulled a slick one and got the permits for water an electrical to get the trailer live able and never followed through with a building permit. The Clerk’s office is sending them a letter but I don’t think they are going to budge. Only way to get rid of the trailer is a law suit from the home owners defending the deed restrictions. This will put a big financial strain on us as only one neighbor is willing to chip in and we do not have a home a owners association.
To add to the delight of living here the land that was Ag zoned behind us has been rezoned to industrial! I have been hunting for a new home but they are few and far between in our school zone. My neighbor down one house has had all he can take and his house is on the market. I don’t remember if I mentioned the gas line explosion but luckily it was on the farm property and not where the pipeline passes between homes.
Every time I mount my mare she likes to face their property before heading off in any direction. Not sure what the impact of the trees will be but I would rather deal with a spooked horse then look at the light and the trailer and the wood pallet walk way and the endless line of trailers and junk on the neighbor’s property.
[QUOTE=MSP;8185831]
The light was just the beginning. They had a water line put in on the property and in the process had my other neighbors water shut off for Thanksgiving Day.[/QUOTE]
I am confused about how they found a contractor to work on Thanksgiving and why the water would have to be shut off for the whole day. Adding a water service is not a shut down for a huge amount of time thing.
A water line had never been run to that lot. The water department had to put in a new line from the neighbor that has been there for 15 years to the lot. This was requested the week of Thanksgiving and when the water department came out to turn on the water they discovered that there was no line and they must have shut off the water, put in the new line and never put it back on.
[QUOTE=MSP;8185895]
A water line had never been run to that lot. The water department had to put in a new line from the neighbor that has been there for 15 years to the lot. This was requested the week of Thanksgiving and when the water department came out to turn on the water they discovered that there was no line and they must have shut off the water, put in the new line and never put it back on.[/QUOTE]
Ok, so it is not really the neighbors fault that the water was off at the other neighbors, it was the fault of the water department and some idiot who did not turn a valve back on.
If they were not trying to get a utility bill for the month of December, so they can register a relatives kid in the school, they might not have been in such a rush and could have requested it after the Holidays. But as long as they got what they needed who cares what happens to the rest of us.
I missed this thread first time around, but if these people bought the property for less than what you were willing to pay, why not offer to buy it from them for the price you were earlier willing to pay? Then they make a profit and you are happy(er?)
Although probably your best bet is to sell your place before “zoned industrial” becomes actual industry.
They are not interested in selling. And I am looking for a place that is a little bigger and has more land but it is a needle in a hay stack.
I feel OP’s pain I have houses being built right next to my ring but after several months of taking a chill pill, I find my horse has acclimated to everything. I ride when they are nailing, roofing, moving dirt, etc. the kids running on the street…well, that has died down. Honestly, with the horses turned out happily eating while all this noise is going on, they are fine with it when I go to ride. It is more of the vibe they get from me when something spooky is going on. Yes, the riding will attract people to come watch, but that dies down too after the novelty wears off.
Where I live, if you violate zoning laws the county codes enforcement, or building inspectors give you a written notice. The first notice is in person, and is a mandatory court appearance if you fail to correct the issue. The next step is that the building is condemned, and you can’t live there. So if the county or other jurisdiction is following the laws, then they should act about this.
I can see that they have gotten off on the wrong foot with your neighborhood. I’ve had experience with that. From both sides, being the poor folk that didn’t fit in trying to gradually build up - but some things need to happen first, like thinking ahead about lights and what might happen if our need for a water line affected the neighbors on a long holiday weekend - ouch. We got a lot better at flying under the radar over the years.
The home across the street from us seems to be cursed that way, first the folks that couldn’t care for their pets and this latest lot where the gentleman was arrested within months of moving in for drug trafficking. Way to go!
I’ve ridden in a place where the arena was zero lot line, and it wasn’t an issue zoning wise as an outdoor arena as it’s nothing more than a paddock with special footing. It was a great use of the lot but as you see it can come up with problems.
IMO they will go away eventually. Offering to buy them out is actually a good option if the money can be had, BUT if the acreage behind you is going to industrial it might be best to move on as you are thinking.
For short term and/or EZ sale of the property, you say that right now it has become a storage lot for vehicles and trailers, that they have water and are residing there in a camper with no septic? And I suppose they are a little lax with the trash removal and all that, plus the light.
I doubt they had any control over the light, it just got plopped there, we had to pay to have our power poles moved and the light was on one of them, stupid spot for it because the old barn was long gone, so bye bye light. $1500 per pole to move them, if the resident wasn’t right on top of siting the pole for minimum disturbance to the neighborhood then that would be twice the price to them and looks like they don’t have that in view of your other posts.
I think there are some good suggestions in terms of trees. You might try a staggered row of fast growers backed up by slower, thicker growers. Yes you will lose some space on your land. One of the very first things I did here was look into establishing a tree line, instead DH wanted orchards so those went on each side of the house, and now the side neighbors each have a nice view of a half mature orchard plus fence, and all our junk is behind the house and shop.
Noise wise our horses have gotten quite used to loud bangs and fireworks that they can’t see. I have a neighbor that shoots off some really pretty ones just over the ridgeline. If you have stock there that are used to it and don’t react, and you don’t react, then your rescues will soon learn to ignore it. Perhaps lengthening the initial introduction by a week?
If you have to disclose anything about these neighbors, which where I used to live I would have if I’d been complaining to the County about their zoning violations and whatnot, it could make a sale of your property more difficult. Or these people could have the perfect neighbor for themselves all picked out and it could sell right away.
It’s a bad deal and I do understand. I’d think of relocating the arena, putting in a 12 foot wide buffer of trees of various types, fast growers and thick growers, evergreen suitable to your area. If you set it up you could make it a riding area or gallop.
If you don’t want to talk to the neighbor then vertical fencing or a strategically located planting to block the light in your windows.
Best of luck and I wish you peace.
The zoning industrial is a bigger concern than gearhead hillbillies.
My horse boarded for a time at a rural patch in suburbia that, the last year he was there was turned into condos, townhomes, and small-lot homes.
She had five acres surrounded by woods. My horse - who’d come from hundreds of acres of horse property - was schooled on machines that cut, debranched, and loaded trees not 15 yards from his paddock. Never mind earth moving equipment.
He also later learned to deal with density of people/motors/noises.
Later when I moved him to a quiet rural setting and they had work done on an adjacent bldg, they kept commenting how good he was. It was nothing by comparison.
Did you ever ask them to reposition their light?
Might have been easier then than now.
Personally, I’d sell and not because of the neighbors with the light, but because industrial neighbors will make the gearheads look like the amateurs they truly are.
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