131 house subdivision move planned next door--help!!!

We bought our place 3 years ago. We now have an 8 lot gated subdivision going in diagonally from us - the fancy gate is straight out our bedroom porch. Our property line is about 30' from their drive/bridge. We are seriously considering putting in pig pens on that end of the property. The lots are way overpriced and I don't think they will sell very quickly unless the rich dudes from Florida bring in family and friends. I cried for weeks when I found out what they were doing and we talked about selling. We decided to put in a few strategically placed evergreens to block the view in the winter, during the summer I can't see it. My husband has always wanted to build a log cabin, so we picked out a spot way up the mountain where we can't see anything but our forest and plan to build a small one room cabin for us to "get away." Sounds funny to people that we want a "weekend cabin" that is on our own property! We'll just walk or take the atv up there. No electricity, no phone, just peace and quiet!

Everyone has given good advice, I still have not come to terms with the houses behind me, but I am trying. The development started 12 years ago at the other end, but the two spots behind me were going to stay empty. Last year they were sold & two story McMansions were erected. The houses are probably over 100 yds away, but they look like they are right here & I can hear the neighbors behind me talking in their backyard, so I know they can hear my mouth! My FIL still owns 30 empty acres around us & I am waiting for all the little kids to grow up & start trying to 4 wheel & party in his woods behind us. I made sure I got chickens before the houses were sold, as I had been 3 years without them. I don't have a rooster however, and suspect if I ever do, there may be problems. We are a farming community, but are only 50 miles from Phila. & 10 from Reading, so all was expected. Unfortunately our 11 acres in North Central PA is seeing the same thing. They just sold 105 acres next to us in 8 lots, so there is no privacy anywhere. Only good thing there is that I am "above" this plot so I can see over them! The neighbors here got the worst of it, my coop & greenhouse being what they see mostly. Only problem so far was someone calling the cops the first fall they were here, because they heard gunshots when my kids were dove hunting. Either profit & move or profit from the newcomers & stay. The traffic is the worst of it, but there is no going back. I'm sure they all think I'm nuts when I out back talking to my chickens! Good luck.

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Cindy in PA

I think I'd erect a huge sign, "Future Home of the Worlds Largest Hog Farm"

Just make sure everyone can see it when the come to look at the lots.

Around here (West-central, TN) the ones moving in from Florida seem to be mostly old-timers there who finally got fed up the the growth and such.

The suggestions about adding livestock are good but an even better deterent is to build livestock housing. In my county, I can build a shelter 10 feet off the property line, if there is no existing house. If there is an existing house then I have to stay back 50 feet. Same is true for the people on the other side of the property line. If I already have an existing livestock shelter, then the builder has to keep back from the property line 50 feet.

My home is about 100 feet from the West line but I have two buildings just 10 feet from that line. One is the chicken coop and the other is an 8x8 "childrens clubhouse" which we really just use for a dog house (when needed). Any sign of development going on over there will result in the club house becoming a chicken coop or hog house.

It doesn't stop a road from being put in, but does limit how close the new house will be built.

By the way my land is 24 acres of long and narrow hillside. I know exactly how you feel. A couple just purchased the 13 acre old farmstead to the South of me for $250,000. They are building a new house about 100' from my line (at the top of the hill). Then they are going to knock down a implement building and the 100 year old house (which was very livable and recently remodeled). They placed the house so they can look out of my land to see the village to the North. We plan to plant large evergreen trees this Fall to block our view of their home.

I wish you luck, I wish we could find some place away from it all but it's getting harder and harder to do these days!

I have read this thread with the intentions of just watching, but as I read this I give this thought for consideration, My family has been int RE development business for 3 generations and I'm currently running a large project just about the size you mention. We are in the business of buying farms, usually farming a number of years and truning them into houses. It's a necessary evil with today's growth, and I might add that If a developer tried to tell you what to do you would be up in arms. Keep in mind that the deals are contracted based upon county approval of deals, no money changed hands before the deal was done, 2nd the increase and total tax revenue difference between the two farms will be huge, they city or county will keep the developer happy to be sure....What most of these people are asking you to do is not only nonsense but stupid, be polite and ask if there are any plans for an urban buffer and ask if the developer would consider a setup such as a hybrid poplar break,,, he may already have one planned. Hybrid poplars will in three years if planted very tightly block out light and noise. Understand that often the profit margin in developing is not as high as most think, land is almost always bought below value not above, they are not stupid and will not overpay....It is much cheaper to make you life heck with a lawyer...that is already paid on retainer and will know every possible infraction you may have. If you can't live with it sell, don't go to war with a developer that will be gone forever in a year and leave you with 131 nasty and mad neighbors.

Or flood plan areas. That's what we did. Most of our property is in a flood plan and can't be built on. We love it.

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I'm running so far behind I thought I was first!

http://hickahala.blogspot.com/

Revines and Rivers. Contact the Corp of Engineers reagarding wetlands. That could hang up the whole thing for a while.

They can't build next to you here...

Sell for a profit, put the money into an interest bearing account, temporarily rent an apartment, move back to the rural life when the opportunity presents itself, start doing the country life again and get ready for the next development to start.

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"I didn't have time to slay the dragon. It's on my To Do list!"

I would suggest the following.

1. First and foremost would be a mindset change. The development is going to happen. Accept those things you likely can't change and focus your energies on things you can affect. Yes, it sucks, yes it is not the way you envisioned life would be etc, but if you walk around fretting about this it will tear you apart mentally. This will affect your relationship with family members and weaken your family structure. Yes, a home is an important thing, but family is the most important thing.

2. If the sub division planning is complete and posted, it's likely too late to sell your parcel to the developer (if they even want it). However, if you even remotely think this is something you might want to do it would not hurt to give them a call.

3. Become friends with your new neighbors as they move into the development. Remember that these people are not the enemy, they are not evil people just because they live in a sub-division. Many of them simply have no other choice.

Keep your eye on how things progress and take over some home baked cookies for the families to munch on while they move their stuff into the house. Maybe make up some lemonade on hot days and take it over to the folks. Introduce yourself and welcome them to the area. If they have relocated from out of state maybe even give them your number if they have any questions about the area.

I know this approach may sound silly, but what you are doing here is building social and community equity. Equity that may very well pay dividends the first time one of the neighbors gets a burr in their saddle about the chickens on your property (or whatever the issue). You want many of the folks in the development to adopt you as the "nice rural lady of the area" or some such thing.

This gives you and them a chance to meet face to face and have a friendly conversation. So much animosity between neighbors results from folks making assumptions about others and not communicating. Think about how rare random acts of kindness like this are in today's society. Don't be surprised if your actions result in your family being invited over for a barbecue.

Accept the fact that there will be butt-holes in the group. Greet them and move on, focusing your equity building efforts on the non-butt-holes, taking some solace in the likely fact that someday if a dispute arises the folks that you took the time to build equity with will have your back.

You can follow this greeting with offering to sell fresh farm food to them if they seem interested. Understand that under current conditions there is a great deal of distrust with regards to food safety and some folks will be wary of farm food that has not been inspected etc. However, people tend to trust those they have met and those who they think are good people. With your initial greeting process and cookies you will have already met these folks and established somewhat of a relationship to base future sales on.

4. When you execute #3 focus on the first arrivals to the development and especially those who will live in the houses bordering your property.

5. During the construction period be mindful of where your children are playing. Construction areas are usually marked/fenced off but there will be a lot of traffic.

6. Take a friendly approach with the site foreman rather than an adversarial approach. He/she knows they are inconveniencing you and contrary to what it may look like he/she is not going out of their way to make life even more miserable for you.

Be mindful of the resources that may be available to you during the construction period. Maybe the foreman would like to park one of his rigs on your property temporarily, and in return he will have his paving crew fix your driveway, or his landscaping crew freshen your landscape. Need bulldozing or backhoe work on your place? Get to know the foreman, if they guys are working not to far from your house bring the foreman and his crew cookies one day.

7. Having said all that in #6, never forget that the construction period involves a transient population surge, some of whom may not be the most desirable folks. The vast majority of people in construction are good folks, but like any other profession/trade there can be some bad apples. Again, know where your children are at, and keep prying eyes out of your house, garage and outbuildings.

8. Find out who the project planners are for the development and request to meet with them. In most cases they will show you the actual development drawings that indicate things like how they are going to treat the borders (fence, trees etc). This will give you an idea of what the division will look like.


It basically comes down to taking a friendly approach or an adversarial approach, and I have found that more times than not a friendly approach works out better in the long run. This is especially true in situations where there is much at stake, like having to live in relatively close proximity with neighbors.

If nothing else this type of approach will likely gain you some time so that you can pursue finding another place that is more remote, but do so on your own timetable. The last thing you want to do is make a rash decision to cut and run, only to find that your new place is really not what you were hoping for either. You need some time to accept these changes and then make some long term decisions for the future.

Best of luck!

Shrek, your advice might have worked a decade ago, but with real inflation running at over 10% (regardless of the "official statistics" / lies), and likely to go much higher before it gets any better, unless the 'interest bearing account' is paying 15% or better, the investor is losing, big time, as well compromising that prime factor of many reasons: Location.

While the collapse of the housing (credit) bubble will eventually get around to most areas and reduce development pressure for a while, one just as likely longer term option not mentioned is, sad to say: "wait for the pandemic", which is really not an "if", but a "when".

This evaluation may sound "cold", but despite the incredible suffering that such losses will cause directly by losses of loved ones, there will also likely be a collapse of 'goods and services' as well (please check the link below), as people isolate themselves to avoid becoming infected. Any sort of pandemic such as the Spanish Flu of 1918, which was, in the realm of "what is possible", "not that bad", will like as not be somewhat unbiased in who it claims and what property it 'frees up', and it could either take or spare any given person or family, depending greatly on the precautions available and taken. Either way, depending on virulence, mutability, severity and duration, it could easily decrease development pressure for some time to come. Perhaps for just a few years. Perhaps centuries. (ouch) The scenarios possible for when, where and how it happens, will effect how well prepared one can possibly be. Preparedness, second only to good genetics and good health to start with, along with "location", may not guarantee you first choice of the then vacant land, but can tilt the odds in your favor. (insert shameless plug for the Survival and Emergency Preparedness forum here).

Meanwhile, either "stake your claim" as a working farm to do the maximum possible to discourage the invading yuppies, do whatever possible to prevent the zoning change (unlikely, as it increases local tax revenues) or take the money from the probable "increase in value" (ahem) and/or desire of the developer to get you out, and run. Along with "you can't stop progress", is that "nothing lasts forever", whether "progress", or "regress". The only constant, is change, and those best prepared for "whatever", will probably fare the best.

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Of all the evils that have befallen the earth, the worst is the desire of men to profit one from another. (Book of Andy 3:1)

And you're on a homesteading forum because...????

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Developers=Pimps.....anything for a dollar

i agree. was going to be my suggestion

heavenhelpme--- the current housing market is unbelievable.. but I'm with you..I really want my privacy.

bill in oh---I didn't think of their visitors!!! --oh no!! however, my youngest (13) who is the only one of my kids interested in farming and will inherit the place, already thought of setting up a little store on the corner of our property where the hwy meets the to-be county rd to sell produce/ plants.

hillsidedigger--I was wondering where all the people are moving from--florida you say?

rocky fields--- ha! great minds think alike! the idea of an endangered species did pop in my mind but they would probably not let us farm either. we don't have any surface water except a spring. but the developer's land does have rivers and even a waterfall.

vicki

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Raising Red/White Border Collies (ABCA)
Mini-Nubians and Nigerian Dwarf Goats
French Maran Chickens
in the warm and sunny south

Well said Wayne02!

Not true, at least in every case. Many times the township tries to keep development out, but if the land is zoned ag/residential they simply cannot. Usually around here the only winner is the developer that over charges for the houses and sometimes the landowner that sells the land. The school district (& taxpayers) lose, because even though the school taxes are high ($7,000) they throw 2-3 kids into the system at the cost of $10000+ per child. Many times they lobby for additional sports & programs that the kiddies had at their previous school etc. The township loses because of additional snow plowing & road maintenance due to increased traffic & miles of roads to maintain. The county may win on taxes around here(? no real county services). Quality of life goes down for most. I wonder what will be done with all these developments in the future when the huge boomer generation dies and since we are going into a period when houses are going to be less affordable for most people, due to credit tightening.

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Cindy in PA

crashy--I like your idea of them putting up a fence but it would have to be 1/2 mi long to go completely down our side and DH doesn't think they'd go for it. unless you mean just fencing where the house is. We might get that.


fin 29--right now there is "no zoning". Our land is considered agricultural except for the 1 acre the house will be on.

I like the suggestion of pig pens--I can't stand the price of bacon these days! and when I think of all the stuff those animals are eating--it's one of the major reasons we bought the farm.

I really like the idea of a pony cart with bells.

Chickenlittle-- I'm glad you've only had one move in there but down here we have had hundreds of houses built in just the last 2-3 of years. And every six mos we hear of a new big business moving here or opening a branch here in greenville/spartanburg counties. that is why we thought pickens county would be good but now all of its sleepy little towns are also getting huge.

Ken S...--One of the reasons we bought our place was because the 140 acres (now in question) was so wild and behind it is a huge animal preserve. Every one told us they wouldn't be able to do housing on the property.---guess they were wrong.

highground--Well we thought as a 'plus' they would be bringing city water and sewer but DH called and they said every lot will have a well and septic. I wonder if that will keep the over all housing cost down? We have two big housing developments in upper SC called 'the cliffs' and 'the cliffs at glassy mountain'. the houses are in the $500,000 and up range. I'm really afraid that is what the developer is trying to do here.

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Raising Red/White Border Collies (ABCA)
Mini-Nubians and Nigerian Dwarf Goats
French Maran Chickens
in the warm and sunny south