who knows- according to the experience of others above, someone is likely to complain about their view being obstructed by said arborvite.</p>
<p>IMO, the OP and Don initially each tried to open a polite, cordial dialogue with Connie, who, if we are to take the OP at her word, was rude, close-minded and otherwise unfriendly and un-neighborly. Why are you beating up on the OP and Don, who approached the issue appropriately? Maybe you don’t think they were within their right to even open such a dialogue (I don’t know- and I don’t want to make assumptions) but it sounds to me that the OP and Don were indeed initially neighborly and cordial. Connie was not.</p>
<p>OK - the fence ended up on MY property - not on hers - when it was obviously surveyed to be placed on her property - so big difference there - she was in the wrong completely - not like the OP situation - it was pretty obvious - and we were very aware of the 6’’ rule/law in this town long before this incident. We had to do a survey to fix/replace a fence already.</p>
<p>Yes - we did manage this in a cordial manner on our part - it was actually pretty comical - I did not drag the lady to the town hall or to court - the town did - all I did was to inform the right parties at the town hall - and they took over from there - simple as that - get lots more with sugar than with salt - when one talks to the right folks :)</p>
<p>So - yes - We have been on the same side of the fence - so to speak and no pun intended - as the OP - just a different circumstance.</p>
<p>OO and thanks for spelling - I always spell that word wrong LOL - even tho I know the meaning of it :)</p>
<p>OOO and forgot - the wonderful neighbor neglected to obtain the permit required - so ya - the town was not happy at all - ooo and unliscensed dogs as well - we found that out later :D</p>
<p>This is why my husband and I looked for a deed restricted neighborhood with a property management company. Can’t get mad at your neighbor when it’s the property manager enforcing a deed restriction. That disinterested third party is worth every penny. </p>
<p>We still have the occasional conflict…and we’ve had people move away in a snit. (Like the homeowner who moved into our heavily wooded neighborhood only to realize that pine trees shed pine needles. His property backed up to the common areas, including a shaded neighborhood playground… and he wanted our Board to remove every pine tree (about 40) that might possible shed a pine needle in his pool. Or the people who were astounded the architectural control committee wouldn’t approve a two story addition that would have put his roof line within 10 feet of his neighbor’s roofline. They moved too…and their neighbors practically shed tears of relief…)</p>
<p>I never thought I’d say this…but I love deed restrictions. ;)</p>
<p>PS ldmom06
Good luck with the trees tomorrow! I remember when my older s was 5, he was hysterically crying because some neighbors were cutting down perfectly healthy living trees! He was truly beside himself!</p>
<p>I am just going to be so sad tomorrow. You all would not believe how huge this oak is…the trunk is the size of a small room. And it’s coming down because of a failure of the previous Board of the HOA to care for it. If they had called an arborist 5 years ago, we would be looking at a beautiful healthy tree. </p>
<p>The good news is this tree situation prompted an ‘overthrow’ of the old Board and the formation of our Landscaping Committee. The bad news is the tree’s life had to be sacrificed.</p>
<p>And Jeepmom-
Do you mean the beautiful flowerbeds that I smashed my toes on when I was running back up the yard after the post-prom party and almost broke a few toes?? Those flowerbeds (or should I say the edging of those flowerbeds) don’t deserve no stinkin’ fertilizer! (pun intended)</p>
<p>JYM ooooo dear - now that is NOT a good thing at all - hope your toes survived and you didn’t mash all those purdy flowers to bits in haste.</p>
<p>ID - I hate to see trees downed as well - they are what mother nature has provided for beauty and other wonderful things in nature. Sorry you are loosing your wonderful tree.</p>
<p>Our new neighbors next door - stripped all the trees from their yard a year ago - had to leave the green space behind them tho - I was sad to see them go - and now they are moving out - wonder if they considered it progress…</p>
<p>Lovely image, Jeepmom. I think I need to go hock a lougie, as they say.
I guess you might not have read the “post prom party” thread that described the events leading up to my smashed toes (the flowers survived, so you can breathe a sigh of relief). If you want a good laugh, go read that thread. I will pull it up for you and post it in another post.</p>
<p>Goodnight all. And for the record- we like our neighbors. They have a pool. We get to reap the benefit when invited over. They get to deal with the maintenance and cleaning !</p>
<p>Wow! I’ve spent the weekend taking my son to CTY, many hours on the road, getting him settled, etc., and return to many pages of comments, and many attacks on me. Thank you for defending me in my absence, ldmom and jym!</p>
<p>I’m too tired to respond to everything, but some clarifications, and some history, seem to be in order.</p>
<p>First, I’m sorry to say that the juvenile delinquents are only about 7 and 11 (obviously, the older one is worse). Connie has talked to us periodically about the kids. At one point, when her house was empty (she was trying to sell and had already moved out), I chased the kids out of her yard several times. The first incidence of vandalism occurred while she was still there. She talked to the parents and got nowhere. My husband suggested that she bring in the police, but she was adamant that she didn’t want to do this. The kids are unbelievably bold. I would see them come up (the street behind us is significantly lower); the first time, I told them quietly that they were not allowed on Mrs. X’s property. The next few times I was more forceful, and after several times, I threatened to call the police. They would always leave when I told them to, but always came back. And they probably came into her yard 10 times unobserved for every time I saw them. This was a while ago, and we have not talked about the kids often since then. Connie has moved back in, but is hardly ever outside.</p>
<p>They do not really threaten my younger son, but the older one intimidates him and he doesn’t like him being around. He has made friends with the younger one, and with the girl in the family (younger; not a problem). The kids also keep coming up into Don’s yard to play with some things he has there. He politely asks them to leave, but they always come back.</p>
<p>“The next few times I was more forceful, and after several times, I threatened to call the police. They would always leave when I told them to, but always came back. And they probably came into her yard 10 times unobserved for every time I saw them.”</p>
<p>These kinds of episodes are what can really ruin property values if these kids are doing this in the schools, as well. </p>
<p>It seems like the fence is the least of your worries if there are families like this in the neighborhood. Connie really needs the fence to protect her property, if these children are so threatening. She must want to get it done soon, and that is why she is going right ahead.</p>
<p>Anyhow, if the houses like Connie’s aren’t selling, then are there already problems with the property values?</p>
<p>JYM - thanx LOL - off I will go for I am in need of a good chuckle…</p>
<p>NYMOM - It certainly sounds as tho you and your neighbors have had your hands full with the neighbors kids - It is never comfortable for anyone when there are kids who just don’t ‘get it’ (and their parents as well) and cause problems for others in the neighborhood.</p>
(after one gets over the smell tho)</p>
- had to leave the green space behind them tho