snowmobile trail

Paul,

If you aren't comfortable with letting them come through your property then you aren't comfortable. Being a good neihbor does not mean doing what you aren't comfortable with.

You might suggest that they check with you again next year once you have moved back on to the property. You might also suggest that some of them come through on a one time basis so you can actually listen /see what them coming through means.

You don't have to be mean about saying no. They shouldn't be upset that you are saying no. They were polite enough to ask which means they considered the possibility that you would say no.

As usual, just my 2 cents worth.

Mike

Paul,

I don't have anything against snowmobilers, but here's something to think about. If you have cattle gleaning the corn fields and the trail goes near it, you might have a problem. I allowed a local snowmobile club to put in a trail across my property in the mid-1970s. I helped them take out some fences, etc. and they were good to work with. Here was the problem. The night of the first big trail ride, the noise of the sleds spooked the steers in my lot and I've got 175 steers out in the middle of the night. Should have thought about that, but I didn't. If you don't live on the place, then it might be more of a problem.

In this part of MN, snowmobile clubs are having problem securing rights to go across some properties, and this leads to more back and forth across roads, trails through ditches, etc.

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"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." Gen. George S. Patton Jr.

Personally I would say no for all the reasons listed. Think about selling your property later as well. And a trail remains a trail, even if there is no snow on it, as over time the wear and tear on the grasses, etc. shows the trail. You would see ATVs and ATV hunters soon enough.

I am more private than most and whould hate seeing someone on 'my' land. Plus I find riding around on a motorized vehicle (ATV, snowmobile, jetski, motorcycle) simply to be riding around on it noisy and an inefficient usage of scarce resources. These machines ruin my ability to walk in the woods and quietly observe nature (birds, beasts, etc.) when they roar through constantly.

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Make Equality A Reality
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BCR you are no fun!

you can still observe nature, most people have normal jobs so few and I mean few will be on the trail during the week, mostly the weekends!

and a ATV trail is a good way to walk thru your woods, don't have to worry about ticks. and NO unless you live in a urban area, you won't have 24/7 riders.

you might have a few beer cans in the woods, but that should be no problem.

..simply to be riding around on it noisy and an inefficient usage of scarce resources....

scarce? I don't think so.

I didn't just buy a house,barns and 40 acres. I bought PEACE,PRIVACY and some distance from all the MORONS out there. I don't like strangers walking onto my property like it's theirs. Had enough of that. I was sued by some idiot who thought my dog was just joking with him.
So invite all the townies and cities to come trampsin thru here? HAYK NO! If I wanted to do that I would have bought a parcel of land and charged $$ to each one.

I would say no, and for your same reasons. I am a private person, and only invite folks here who I know and enjoy their company. Sometimes I choose to spend time only with my family and don't even have friends over. I chose my location to accommodate that, and would find no more enjoyment on my land if I had a snowmobile trail on it, with strangers appearing daily. And I do like to snowmobile myself, and am happy there are folks out there who do not have the privacy issues I do. But I would never dream of imposing my way of enjoying life with a snowmobile on someone who is uncomfortable with it, and expect others to understand that my privacy issue should be respected in the same way.

I don't even get it, in a way. Say I was the one asking to run a snowmobile trail through this parcel, and the owner told me no. I am sure its happened before in the history of developing new trails - in fact, I would expect that not every owner of land who just happens to be located in the route of my dreamed up snowmobile trail would automatically give me what I want. Big deal - I just re-route the trail to go through a neighboring parcel and get their permission and leave you alone, right? Is the trail crossing your land as a last ditch alternative because someone else has also said no? If so, take comfort that you aren't the only neighbor whose enjoyment of the land they pay for would be destroyed by the intrusion of strangers on a daily basis. If not, and you are the only soul who said no, still take comfort in the fact that there is plenty of land adjoining yours, you are surrounded by it in fact, and the portion of the trail that was planned to cross your land can be moved to another location.

I find it enormously selfish to demand a person's dream of how they wish to live on the land be altered in this way, and that they are made to feel uncomfortable about their choice. It is wrong. I say this as a person who enjoys snowmobiles, and also horses, and believe me this issue comes up a ton when horse use trails are proposed. Much as I like using them, I would be ashamed of myself if I were part of a group resorting to guilting a person into letting me ride on their land. Wouldn't be part of it. Asking is very cool, but taking no for an answer is essential. Besides, do you want people on your land who were willing to guilt you into doing it in the first place? Suggests future trouble in the making if you agree now. People who make you feel bad about this probably don't feel the same way you do about privacy - think about how that will work once they have access to your place.

Good luck.

I would say NO, & my biggest objection would be the noise. Let em go around your property. I'm sure that there are other routes available. If not, too bad!I try very hard to get along with my neighbors, but I have limits, & this exceeds them. I would be polite, but very firm about it. Once you grant permission, it will be very hard to change your mind.I believe that the legal term is an''easement'', & it can be very legally binding. If you really feel like you need to do this, I would strongly suggest that see a lawyer about it.

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Sounds like you would prefer to say "no" and your wife is a definite NO. No it is.

The Noise!!! --- are you talking about!!!?

the only noise you would hear is if the trail went right by your home, and that would be a stupid Ideal, work with the Snowmobile group, if the trail is at a distance, then you won't hear the noises.

If all possible, have the trail go down the property line!!!

I'm pretty sure that in MN ATVs are not allowed on snowmobile trails. My mom has one on her property and has never had any trouble. The club puts up trail signs at the start of the season and takes them down when they close the trail in the spring. They get her a few gifts every year. I have never found any litter associated with the trail, and by the start of summer you can't tell that a trail was even there. I don't snowmobile, so no hair off my butt either way. They also put up a really nice bridge over a drainage ditch.

"---" ??? Is that a biblical phrase? What does that mean?

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Skipped a few to get here with an obevious answer. Just get the snowmobilers to sign a contract that allows them to be moveing targets for paintball practise players, charge both and make it a real sport!! Do it right or leave it alone was my grandfathers motto.........


Edited to add, very few people mess with apparently crazy people......

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You could insist they pay to put gates at the entry and exit points, insist you can close them at any time for any reason, and only open the gates at specified times on specified days, like every other weekend ? And definitly get it in writing, and have a lawyer look over it.

I doubt i would do it , but i might for neighbors i already liked.

Hey Paul, regardless of the other issues, your first obligation and loyalty is to your wife, not the neighbors! I don't know why you are even considering it if she feels so strongly about it. :no:

Forgot to ask - is there any payment to you involved, like yearly rental or ? Or are you expected to pay taxes yearly on land you have permanently given up to the snowmobile trail?