My neighbor is violating zoning and property laws.

[OnionPatch]

Both ours and our neighbor's property is adjacent to a wooded county park. In southern California, it's somewhat rare to be able to be so close to a natural area, and this is the reason why we paid extra for this property. It's a somewhat rural area with minimum one-acre lots. We have been trilled to have this secluded, natural lot. Then someone bought the property next door and brought their bulldozer in. First he destroyed our view toward his property with his construction yard, which I'm sure is against zoning in the first place. But it's his property, and he's been very nice to us, so we planted trees and tried to forget about it. But now, he's trucked in thousands of dollars of fill dirt to extend his lot out into the forest at least 150 feet. He's denuded the vegetation not only behind his lot, but it's creeping into the forest area behind our lot now!! And he's parked his giant motor home on it, so now, instead of looking at a forest, we are looking at a parking lot with a giant RV in it.

This man has been very nice and generous to us. He's given us some excess building materials and such that he no longer needed. We've been on fairly friendly terms with him, but this is starting to be too much. We want to turn him in, but we are the only people who can see what he's doing, so he'll know it's us who turned him in. I'm so worried that this will start a horrible rift and make our lives hell. This man is going to lose thousands of dollars he's spent to create his little parking lot and he's going to be fuming if he has to clean it up and restore it. But also, he's ruining our property value and the visual aesthetics of our property. (Not to mention the constant noise of the bulldozer.) What would you do? Should we leave an anonymous tip for the park ranger? Maybe the ranger can say he found it when he was walking a nearby trail? What would you do?

I didn't know where else to post this. I just wanted an outside opinion. Do we sacrifice our view and property value to keep peace with the neighbor? I'm leaning toward no.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. You want the county out to your property

to define or redefine boundaries. Your neighbor knows what he is doing is wrong but does not think there is anything wrong with it. It's just that way. The gifts of building materials is a form of grooming ,that's just what they do. He thinks your getting something out of it so you will go along with it.

Understand this, he will not stop until he is stopped.He wants what he wants and cares about nothing else.

If he were respectable, he will have shown you the building plans long before construction began. What you got next next door to you is a predator. Tell him I said so. The county surveyors will determine just how far he crossed the line. And he is no doubt working without all the proper permits and most likely filed bogus building plans ,which means he is no doubt in violation of multiple code violations.

This matter may very well belong in front of the city attorney or the county attorney. There is no doubt that there are very many state violations involved. Remember, he will not stop until he is stopped.

If you are in doubt, ask him to show you the building plans in blue print along with all building permits. He is obligated to do that upon request.
And further obligated to explain it all to you in a language you can understand.

Remember this, groomers are lier's.And if you have any questions ,just ask.
Have had my fair share of battles with that type in the construction industry. It's about law and conscience. Lying groomer predators have no conscience, and no regards for law . For them it's not about right or wrong ,what is legal or not ,or even what is way too far. It about what they want nothing more. They take what they want.

OK so, check it out first, than do what is necessary and of good conscience. And remember ,groomers are professional lier's, they only show you what they want you to see.

Unless of course you think his not telling you up front in a honest way what his intentions are was a just a little over site !

Building plans with full detailed verbal discripion of his intentions and all building permits. You want to see his surveyors report of the boundries and have him show you the stakes in the ground marking the parameter of his lot, that must be in direct line with county or city records.,along with his buildinmg permits.

If he ask's you to bear with him on this, Just say no ! Than turn around and turn him in !!

That's the L.A. answer!


He's a smog miser, he's trying to choke you out.

[OnionPatch]

2. This is what my husband says, exactly.

(Is that you, Honey? ;))

I have to admit that I'm a little worried about retribution, but what can he do? My husband could make chip chop ham out of him if it came to that, and the law is not on his side.

I just don't understand why he thought this was acceptable. He invested this money in bringing in all this fill dirt, assuming we would do nothing.

My husband is going to talk to someone at the park. He knows a ranger over there. I hope this works out ok.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. Your neighbor has far more

to worry about than you do about that. Never under mind the land grabbing predator. If you think that, the predator no doubt rely on you worrying about retribution, least you would about his hidden fears about that. Oh, he Kidd's himself about it no doubt,but he moves forward with his building plans each day taking more and forgetting his worries about it the day before.

The last land grabber I took on had added to his back yard three times over the years. His property boarder-ed privet property and a public trail a stretch of land known as the Burk Gilman trail , a hiking path belonging to the public. At the time I worked for a developer who owned the property the land grabber stole. That land is to be donated to the university ., or be transformed into a public park.
The land grabber thought the property that he stole was his to take because he thought the owner was to old to remember!

The land grabber lost half of a very sizable back yard! I took it back!
And I cut down a tree with a very rich looking tree house in it to start the show!
Than I cleared all the over growth on the developers property. AKA buffer zone for some very rich people who's homes are at the top of the embankment.

Oh I had state patrol,sheriffs department people ,city police ,parks police ,building inspectors, anywhere those people could think to call and complain.

And the developer had a army of lawyers standing ready to sue all the home owners on the hill for stealing his land ! All the cops ran away! One name, JACK ! That was one interesting summer !

[OnionPatch]

4. Well, the wheels are in motion to stop this guy.

The park ranger was livid when he was told about this. He checked it out this afternoon and he's going to report it. He seems quite determined that this will be stopped. And he promised anonymity for us. It's sort of a lucky coincidence that a group of park workers were clearing brush from a trail not far from the neighbor's little operation. It will very much seem like they just happened upon it during their work.

It's just unbelievable to me that someone would invest so much money in such a risky adventure. Surely they must realize how high the chances are that they will be caught and fined and all their work gone to naught. Heck, even if someone didn't turn him in, the county would be able to see the bulldozer scars on Google Earth eventually. They have a pretty good GIS department that they keep updated regularly. Where do people like this get off thinking they can just take public lands? :grr:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. Thats a start.

stay on top of progress.The parks department is one aspect of the many violations you neighbor is no doubt committing his crimes around. You must be prepared to round his clock. Is he just destorting your view,or does he aim to make your view his own only ?

[OnionPatch]

6. He's distorting our view. Not all of it, just some.

But still, my property is more valuable than other homes in the neighborhood because it borders this forested park area, and every foot of the park view is added-value to my property. He's stealing value from my property because the parking lot (or whatever it is) he created is bulging out into the park behind our property, too. But hopefully we can stay out of this and the park can stop him, since it's their property. They would have more concerns than a view. This particular park property is a riparian area and also a wildlife corridor. He's filled in a small dry creekbed that will create silt and runoff into the larger, permanent creek below. So there are environmental concerns as well.

Well, thanks for your input. I'll post back when something happens. I guess the rangers can't talk to anyone higher up until Monday.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Parks is the state of California.

And that's the big E. This explains the grooming where he figures you get something out of it so you will go along with it. He won't come right out and ask you to say nothing about the land grabbing thing.

Distorting your view is a different thing. He should have and by law if I am not mistaken demonstrated his plans to you ,showing and telling you exactly what his building plans are and how it will effect your property or the setting.There are building code violations involved .No doubt the state will investigate further into what your neighbor is about.

I would guess you will be receiving some confidential phone calls on the subject line.

Best of luck.

[OnionPatch]

8. It's a county park.

So it would be a county matter. But I can't imagine the county will allow this man to take their land any more than the state would. Heck, you can't even go in there without paying an admission fee.

We'll see how it all pans out. He's still down there pushing the dirt around with his bulldozer. :mad:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. His building permits have to be on file

with the county . Are you in city limits or rural ? This construction going on entitles you a look at his building plans ,you should call land permits and building permits ,talk to a building inspector over the phone and inquire about having a look at those proposed building plans and permits connected to those blue prints. That's not the same as filing a complaint. You will be anonymous talking with the county licensing ,and building permits and inspection services.

Has that man even bothered to tell you of what he is going to build ?
I'll keep an eye out for what comes out of this.
And if you have any construction associated questions,feel free to ask.

[goddess40]

10. he smiles to your face and stabs you in the back

My guess if he finds out you don't like what he's doing you'll see the real him emerge. Leave the anonymous tip and see what happens.