installation of extended driveway without permit

[incognito_2u]

Next door neighbor installation of extended driveway without permit or any architecture assessment

Feeling a bit like @Cujet this morning.

The next door neighbor mentioned to me in passing he is extending his driveway to park his MIL fifth wheel trailer. Not thrilled, but such as life.

First flag was the person who was doing the work had very basic tools, not the tools expected for a major concrete job. Tools like installing a concrete pad for a air conditioner.

This morning I saw that no plans were made for changes in grades between the property. A retaining wall is needed to prevent washout of my property which is higher in elevation.

I texted the neighbor, no response. I checked the city ordinance, two things came up. Neighbor is required to get the city to sign off on the job, and further a state permit is required and final approval authority.

Supplemental, neighbor told me later he was not just storing the fifth wheel, but was going to have his MIL live in the fifth wheel. City allows parking of rvs, does not allow living in rvs in residential zones property.

Not thrilled with this, but risk to financial loss and ability to sell is at risk, and best to get on this now before the concrete is poured.

Pretty much, your neighbors doing what he wants without any regards of how you feel about it. It’s all about him. He casually mentions extending the driveway for the Fifth wheel, and with a wink and a nod says “oh, by the way, my MIL is living in it also”. I mean, who lets their MIL live in a fifth wheel in their driveway? Are you sure it’s his MIL? To top it off, he skirts doing it the proper way, hires unskilled labor to do the construction, and expects you to go along with it because your neighbors!
That guys something else!

 

[GON]

Pretty much, your neighbors doing what he wants without any regards of how you feel about it. It’s all about him. He casually mentions extending the driveway for the Fifth wheel, and with a wink and a nod says “oh, by the way, my MIL is living in it also”. I mean, who lets their MIL live in a fifth wheel in their driveway? Are you sure it’s his MIL? To top it off, he skirts doing it the proper way, hires unskilled labor to do the construction, and expects you to go along with it because your neighbors!
That guys something else!

Great commentary- your post is a great example of the master mind group of people that contribute to BITOG. I get very humbled reading a reply like you posted, that you can connect dots that I wasn't able to.

 

[nomas]

And some people here think it's not such a bad idea .

 

[4wd]

A neutral and natural grade lined by landscape gravel currently exists. What would happen is the neighbor would have to raise his current and new driveway by at least a foot, or a retaining wall would need to be inserted between the property lines. One can't cut out a foot of grade along a natural drainage route, without the higher elevation land slowly collapsing.

Go look at some of @Chris142 photos from damaged caused naturally in his desert terrain by rain.

It would likely take “bull rock” over that to curb erosion …
I saw this come up with BiL’s older brother (who never married) - got tossed from his daughter’s property - but the RV remained …
(Neighbor reported)

 

[CKN]

And some people here think it's not such a bad idea .

Let's be clear. There are members on here whose life is less than blissful (to put in mildly) because they have a neighbor who is beyond terrible.(Something out of a Hollywood horror move). As I said in my earlier post-if it was a situation where GONS neighbor was pouring a permitted driveway-I would have no issue with a MIL living in a respectable looking RV. It is simply NOT WORTH IT to have a neighbor that can make your life miserable-that has already been illustrated by others on here.

Otherwise-we can agree to disagree.

 

[alarmguy]

Stand corrected. I was thinking of the construction permits. MIL living in allowed RV is likely lower concern than unpermitted potentially damaging construction.

This is also incorrrect. HOAs rule over all community standards even if the county grants a permit to build or install something.
You cannot build or install anything against HOA rules right down to planting a tree or putting a birdbath or flower pot on your property if it’s in the restrictions.

 

[alarmguy]

The town has an ordinance prohibiting living in a RV that is parked on a residential lot. In March, the town tried to pass an ordinance of no RV storage on residential property, but public outcry resulted in shielding of the no RV storage ordinance.

Yes, allowing living in an RV on a residential lot would effectively be allowing a two dwellings on a zoned one dwelling lot.
The problem of allowing RV storage on a lot but not allowing living in one creates the issue of proving someone is in violation by living in the RV.
Hence why they tried to pass an additional ordinance.

Hope things work out for you @GON. I would be very upset myself.

 

[QwikKota]

Absolutely this!

Hah, I actually have a cousin Eddie from the mid-west. Got to keep an eye on that guy.

She's a beaut, Clark!

 

[dlundblad]

The permitting is just a tax. If something is wrong, (in your case, grade) maybe the inspector will catch it. Maybe they won’t. So far, they’ve taken photos without getting out of the car. The argument there can go both ways. You definitely want to do it right, but the water issue may exist even after he gets a permit. The local government got their money and you’re still up a creek.

The living in the camper… unless you plan on selling soon, I’d let that be. I’m assuming it’ll be temporary and is just because of an emergency situation. The camper will still sit there and be an eyesore whether she’s living in it or not.

*Hopefully she is just sleeping in the camper. Maybe just dumping gray water on the ground.. If black water is getting dumped on the ground or in the storm drain, it would definitely be time to notify the authorities.