Comments on: Private Property Rights Today

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:31:59 +0000

I purchased a home in Hudson, FL 3 years ago. The home had living space in the downstairs. A third bedroom, bath, family room. Pasco County has sighted me in violation of the zoning laws. Even though I purchased the home this way. I didn’t do any of the building or remodeling. They say that the room is below flood elevation levels and must be completely torn out. The exterior walls were in the original plans so they can stay. But the interior is supposed to be unfinished storage. I hired a lawyer last spring but the odds of winning this look slim. There is to be a hearing in November to determine my fate. This all has to do with the FEMA regulations and the fact that the county says it cannot give me a permit to enhance that area of my home. They say it is uninhabitable. The room is 19 inches BFE. This siting is costing me thousands and I haven’t gained any ground. I’ve looked into raising the home or just that room and that is not an option. If anyone has any insight for me, I welcome it. I’m running out of time and money.
Thanks
Colleen

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:41:16 +0000

The State of Florida instituted a comprehensive growth planning process to provide some protection from developers and to insure that local municipalities have adequate infrastructre in place to accomodate future growth. But, over the past 20+ years that this growth planning process has been in place the land use lawyers and their developer clients have learned how to circumvent most of these policies.

Consequently, there is now a constitutional amendment petition circulating called Florida Hometown Democracy (FHD) which would require voter approval prior developments being approved that would impact the planning process. The web site for FHD is http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com and we urge all Florida voters to download the petition online, sign and return this ASAP so that it can be on the ballot in Nov. 2008. This will stop all of the dense overdevelopment that has ruined Florida over the years while lining the pockets of local governments who are usually controlled by the developers.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:01:06 +0000

Hi Carol! Thanks for the site and the chance to speak out. Our town in Ulster County New York is small with aout 5,500. We have beautiful views of the Gunks, which is a blessing and a curse at the same time. Everyone wants to move here. Our town administration has just come out with a draft of 122 pages of draconian zoning laws that range from 20 acre large lot sprawl in some areas, down to “new Urbanism” smart growth zoning in the hamlets. There’s even a little eminent domain language in there for good measure.

If one can read, understand and digest this “law”, it would be a miracle. Basically, no one will be able to spit in this town without planning board permission and a SEQR review….and paying fees to boot.

We’re in deep doo-doo here, and it’s going to just get worse. most people in town don’t even know what is happening, and it’s being done right under their unknowing noses. Help!

By: Lynda

Lynda — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:56:30 +0000

Dave,
I am currently experiencing the same thing - with a few minor differences. A “developer” bought the 25 acres adjoining our 5 acre private lake. The property line is close, but not to the lake bank. This man has cleared every beautiful tree on his 25 acre tract, including our trees. He left the entire west lake bank bare to the dirt, removing all the stabilization and completely compromising the entire lake bank. Now, my view is of his bulldozers, 4 wheelers, dump trucks and constant fires (prohibited by the city) from burning the timber. He cut half an acre of my neighbor’s timber as well. As if that’s not enough, this man claims our private lake drains onto his property when it is full. He has cut a ditch from our lake to the county drainage ditch, bringing the level of our beautiful spring fed lake down about 3 feet. The sand-bar down the middle of the lake is bone dry. That is where the fish spawn and ducks regularly nest and have their babies. After much reserach, I found the TCEQ. This man was supposed to have obtained a permit and jumped though many hoops prior to cutting this timber. I knew he was not a permit kind of a guy, so I reported him. Sure enough, he had no permit and had been in violation for over a year. TCEQ cited him. All he had to do was send in the money for his permit and all was well. That was pointless. We have an attorney, but he wants a survey before he will file the suit. I am having heck finding a surveyor that can do it. Apparently they are all still busy after Hurricane Rita. I didn’t intend to spill the whole story, I just wanted some tips from you on how to deal with the man. By the way, during all this mess, this man was appointed as some kind of special commissioner to our county. Oh well, I always did like a challenge!
Thanks,
Lynda

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:52:33 +0000

I have some Yahoo who owns land behind my house who wants to build 3-4 houses on top of a mountain with a mile long, blacktopped, driveway with grades up to 25%.
The damn run-off would flood my property and kill my gardens. The small logging road already does.
Thankfully a couple of “extreme environmentalist” put an end to the carnage. Extreme environmentalist being me and a couple of friends.
The APA, the LGPC, or the town didn’t do a damn thing to protect my private property.
I want private property protection from greedy developers looking to make a buck off our backyards, killing the natural economies and environment.
Were is the justice?
Dave

By: lagrasse

lagrasse — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:30:11 +0000

This blog was opened for the public on January 28, 2007, because writers and others contact the Property Rights Foundation of America to learn about the people who contact us for assistance in defending themselves from government agencies infringing on their private property rights. We decided that an accessible way for many to learn directly and quickly about what is happening to the property rights of American citizens today is needed. Welcome. - Carol LaGrasse, January 23, 2007