<p>I think 2" from your property is way too close, and they will be digging up your lawn to install the concrete. also, you’d then be responsible for trimming all the branches that come over to your side. Too bad there is not a homeowner’s association that reviews plans. </p>
<p>I have a partial fence on one side of house. I’ve planted hibiscus bushes, put up a trellis in the middle, attached stag plants, etc. In reality, its become a far more attractive area than the large shrubs dividing my house from the one in rear. </p>
<p>If Connie is set in her mind, use your $ to hire a landscape architect.</p>
<p>And, again, this thread illustrates how often the famous lines are misquoted and misunderstood. </p>
<p>This story has little to do with the location, size, or shape of the fence. Hence, this means that logical solutions won’t help. Fences rarely protect as much as they divide. And fences will never make deteriorating lines of communications better.</p>
<p>I have to agree with reflectivemom also, this is a battle you don’t sound likely to win and making an enemy of a neighbor is never a good idea. She sounds like a frightened old woman and the fact is she has a right to have a fence of her choosing.</p>
<p>When you don’t have many acres you will always have issues like this. When we moved recently we very carefully checked what are neighbors could do in the future. You can’t predict everything but you can be sure things will come up. Neighbors can and will do things you consider ugly and that can lower your property value unless the town regulates these things. I suggest you start working with the town council to preserve your neighborhood’s beauty. In an area where 1800 sq. ft. date homes sell for $1.5M, lots of building is on the horizon. Are you seeing buyers tear down older homes to build much larger ones?</p>
<p>My best friend recently went through over 2 years of noise as they built a MCMansion on a lot next door to her half-acre that she had enjoyed empty for 20 years and never thought would be built on as the city had owned it.</p>
<p>Having a good relationship with neighbors is essential IMO. Your kids might need her in an emergency. You may want to sell your half lot if a kid wants med school and need her cooperation.</p>
<p>Focus on making sure the fence is put in the right place so you don’t fight later and choosing how to make your side look beautiful. Even with Holly, you can do most anything if you plant a couple of feet away and she will have to keep it properly trimmed.</p>
<p>I actually do not think it is out of line to be upset when a neighbor takes course of action that devalues your property. And I find Connie’s attitude and unwillingness to consider her neighbors to be setting the negative tone, not NY’s. Since my husband serves on that infernal HOA Board, we see this all the time…people do things without considering the feelings of others which inevitably leads to escalation in one way or another.</p>
<p>In this case, I’d like to see the surveyor/fencing contractor will to stand by a ‘within 2 inches’ placement of a fence. If they make a mistake and put that fence on the OPs property most laws provide that within a certain time frame, that fence will become the OPs property to do with as she wishes (tear it down? ) Surely they plan to take a more conservative measurement than this! We also had a similar situation with one of our neighbors (not the retired couple). We were both under construction at the same time, but they ‘closed’ a few weeks before we closed. Upon final survey, our title company found their fence was, by less than one foot, on our property. The title company called it an encroachment and refused to close. We had to wait until the neighbors’ builder agreed to come in and move the fence before we could close and move in. We ended up spending a month in a rental house since our old house was already sold. We didn’t actually care that the fence was on our property…but it wasn’t our call. Fencing companies don’t like to risk encroachment. It has the potential to queer the deal on any future sales of both affected properties…and they don’t want to risk being dragged into such a problem.</p>
<p>Regarding holly along her side of the fence, NY, you may want to plant a matching holly shrub on your side if she plants hers right on top of the fence. It’s really unsightly when the shrub branches poke through the links…and it’s almost impossible to remedy with trimming. It’s a lot of holly for the eye to look at… but on your side you could create pockets of landscaping beds with specimen plants so that the holly becomes a backdrop…like a frame (hollies) for a pretty picture (specimens like roses, ornamental grass). It’s sad you have to go to the expense…but it will likely be cheaper than buying the wood fence.</p>
<p>BTW…I have to wonder why Connie is bothering with a chain link fence if she planning to plant a holly hedge along it. Why not just put in the holly hedge?</p>
Collegialmom- I think that is “Connie’s” intent!</p>
<p>We had a crabby old neighbor who lived diagonally across the street when I was growing up. He used to yell at us when we were playing in the street, and I remember his jumping up and down on someone’s bicycle that was laying on his curb (it was in the street, but laying down on the stone curb in front of his house). He is long gone and there are owners who have been in that house for years. But it is still known in the neighborhood as “the mean man’s house”. So yes, agreed, relationships weith neighbors become long-standing. That said, I agree with ldmom06 ‘’. In the words of little kids… “SHE started it!!”</p>
<p>Not a fan at all of chainlink fences, but I just realized my next door neighbor has one. (BTW, we have a white picket fence.) Their fence is one of those black ones and they have plantings on both sides of the fence that really do minimize the look of it. They have it I suppose because of an in-ground pool. I guess I never really noticed it for a couple of reasons. The fence is in the back of their property and because we have an acre and half the fence in question is about two hundred feet from my deck. Also, because of some large pine trees that rim our property. Finally, the chain link fence is only on the part of their yard behind and up to house with a high cedar fence facing the road.</p>
<p>Personally, I loathe chain link fences, and can certainly understand the OP’s feelings on this one.</p>
<p>However, having lived through a neighbor who cut down every single tree on his property, bar none (and thus took away all of our shade too), another who had grandsons who constantly spit off the back deck right onto our driveway, and another who placed a fence directly on the edge of our driveway (our properties were very close) so that we couldn’t pile snow on HER side of the driveway, I know that you can’t control the actions of neighbors when they are acting on their own properties. </p>
<p>That’s the deal with private property…people can make a mess of it (in your eyes), but they may feel it is great. I hated the treeless yard…the neighbor liked his sun. Your neighbor might be thrilled with her chain link fence, and in the last analysis, since it is her property, you will have absolutely no say in her choice, as long as she doesn’t impinge on YOUR property.</p>
<p>ldmom, I was wondering what would happen with the holly along the fence. I had thought perhaps it would just engulf the fence eventually? Would she have to plant it a distance from the fence that would allow trimming on all sides?</p>
<p>I do agree that the holly might be a nice backdrop for other plants that I could put in, but there is going to be an awful lot of it. I can’t imagine what a solid wall of holly, 100 feet long, and maybe 6 or even 10 feet high, will look like.</p>
<p>I have nothing against holly and, while it’s true that I would prefer no fence at all, I do recognize her right to put up the fence of her choice. I think a solution could have been found that would have solved her problem, probably at lower cost to her, and satisfied both neighbors. As it is, we are not inclined to be cooperative and will do nothing to facilitate the installation of the fence.</p>
<p>Black chain link fence really is unobtrusive, much more so than galvanized steel, brown or green fencing. And it’s no-maintenance which will be important for an elderly homeowner. </p>
<p>Maybe your neighbor should get some motion-activated flood lights if the mischief/vandalism takes place after dark. It might be a deterrent.</p>
<p>“like a frame (hollies) for a pretty picture (specimens like roses, ornamental grass). It’s sad you have to go to the expense…but it will likely be cheaper than buying the wood fence.”</p>
<p>This is what I was referring to. Personally I think that this is much ado about nothing. Just let her put up the fence and then if you don’t like it, then hide it somehow. I would make sure whatever you put up is kid-friendly, though. And having a neighbor whom you are on good terms with is important, esp when your children are young.</p>
<p>NY, maybe another thing to consider is that this elderly woman with a husband in a facility is unlikely to be at her sharpest. There was probably no harm intended on her part. Why make life harder for her or yourself?</p>
<p>NYMom - I’m not sure about the holly engulfing the fence (we can only hope right? ;)). I suppose it depends on the type of holly and I’m not sure what you all have up there. </p>
<p>Here a common holly is Dwarf Burford and it rarely gets taller than 4-5 feet though it can grow to 8 feet. We have a lot of problems with aphids and mildew here in East Texas and most hollies are very susceptible which kinda stunts their growth. Burford (and Carissa) hollies are less prickly and only have one terminal spine. Common American and Chinese hollies are the really evil ones…multiple spines, can be painful. All are really dense shrubs with firm upright growth that probably wouldn’t grow through a chainlink fence complete. More than likely you would just have branches poking through which would look kinda messy…unless she plants the hedge far enough away from a fence so that someone could get between the hedge and fence to trim without being poked to death by spines.</p>
<p>One way to ensure engulfment is to plant the same on your side. But, wow, 100 feet of that much holly (two parallel hedges…probably 8’ wide by 6’ tall by 100’ long) is a bit much. Frankly, I have issues with hedges in general…they’re very formal. I work with a landscaping committee led by a couple of master gardeners and we try very hard to plant natural beds with native plants and stay away from formal plantings (too much maintenance). But because we inherited hedges along much of the red brick wall surrounding our neighborhood, we have tried to create wide beds full of groupings and specimen plants to soften up the look in front of these hedges. Whether or not you match the hedge, you could definitely soften the look of that big long line by doing the same.</p>
<p>What I think some are not appreciating is that chain link fence, in general, is considered something that lowers property value. This is why most deed restricted neighborhoods prohibit them. What Connie is doing, although she is perfectly within her rights, affects everyone around her negatively. And frankly, I would find that extremely irksome and not be inclined to fake ‘happy’ either.</p>
<p>At this point, NYMom and her neighbors are being forced to spend money to mitigate the negative impact on their properties. I’d do it, or pretty much anything, to make sure my property value is protected. But I wouldn’t be pleased to be forced into that position.</p>
<p>It bothers me somewhat - is that the OP feels she has the right to ‘challange’ what the homeowner of the home wants to do - put up a fence of her choice. Everyone in that neighborhood has that same right - and if it makes her feel safer - or that the fence is deterent to ‘nasty’ kids - so be it - we all have the right to feel comfortable in our own homes.</p>
<p>Sheilding the fence from vew - is the choice of the OP - and the ongoing discussions with this poor elderly lady is - I am sure - causing some stress to her. We all have to deal with things we may not like - so I guess deal with it in a productive manner. If there are no restrictions on ones property - then one has the right to do what they wish. A fence can always be removed - by the next home-owner - in the mean time - find a way to cope with it and find a positive way to deal with what you don’t like about it.</p>
<p>Sorry for the rant - and I don’t mean to be rude - but everyone has the right to do what they need to do - to feel safe - in their own home.</p>
<p>I don’t think NYMom challenged anyone. See post 70 where she recognizes the rights of her neighbor to install the fencing of her choice. NYMom requested dialogue and was turned down flat. So she is left to make the best of the situation. Nothing wrong with being less than thrilled with an unexpected eyesore and unexpected expenditure to mitigate the eyesore. It’s a valid reaction.</p>
<p>Idmom, unfortunately NY took the risk in sharing a lot with the neighbor. Being gracious when we don’t get our own way is also a valid, and healthy, reaction.</p>
<p>NY has had the pleasure of the feel of a larger lot and I feel her pain, but if the neighbor is within her rights they should be the big ones and say we wish there were a way we could all be happy but we understand it’s your choice and leave it alone.</p>
<p>I wonder if other surrounding neighbors dislike the idea of a fence also. If so, perhaps all of the families with kids might promise to keep their kids off of Connie’s property and ask for a period of time to prove to her that it is possible. It sounds like the rear neighbors don’t have control of their children, though.</p>
<p>You have to realize, too, that if you were to live in an area with protective covenants, that might negatively impact “kid” paraphenalia such as open garages, pools, basketball hoops, bikes, etc. I know that I don’t particularly enjoy looking at neighbors’ yards littered with toys, trampolines, pet stuff, etc. Of course I don’t know what your neighborhood looks like, but I’d bet there are other things that some people might find more of an eyesore than a fence. It all depends on your point of view.</p>
) Surely they plan to take a more conservative measurement than this! We also had a similar situation with one of our neighbors (not the retired couple). We were both under construction at the same time, but they ‘closed’ a few weeks before we closed. Upon final survey, our title company found their fence was, by less than one foot, on our property. The title company called it an encroachment and refused to close. We had to wait until the neighbors’ builder agreed to come in and move the fence before we could close and move in. We ended up spending a month in a rental house since our old house was already sold. We didn’t actually care that the fence was on our property…but it wasn’t our call. Fencing companies don’t like to risk encroachment. It has the potential to queer the deal on any future sales of both affected properties…and they don’t want to risk being dragged into such a problem.</p>