unwanted playground coming in - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - unwanted playground coming in (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:40:46 PM EDT

So the wife and I moved into our current home about 3 years ago. We picked the lot as their was greenbelt on the side and behind where we'd only have 1 direct neighbor. Its been fantastic, we have a nice private feel in the back yard without a bunch of noise. Keep in mind when we started this process we specifically inquired about any intended use for the greenbelt on the side and were told it would remain undeveloped and if anything it may eventually contain a footpath back to the walking trails (but no playground).

Skip forward to this week and a MASSIVE playground structure is being erected, despite anger from ALL of the immediately surrounding neighbors (of the 4 houses most impacted there are 11 children). The concern is not only that this playground will bring additional foot and car traffic through what was previously a very very quite section at the back of the neighborhood, but also the noise it will generate, the loss of privacy in the back yard areas (which we and our neighbors paid a premium for). One neighbor has this thing 20 ft from his property and it will be able to look directly into the windows of their kitchen, bedroom and office as well as full view of their yard (no privacy at all). There are several other green areas designated as "parks" that would have been a better fit for this thing without negatively impacting the surrounding neighbors. I think there's some shenanigans going on with how this spot was selected, but even at the meetings the discussion fell on deaf ears. The water district owns the land and has basically told us all individually to screw off after we've voiced our concerns and complaints.

In Texas and wondering what you all recommend to decrease usage and make this thing unattractive to the neighborhood. I'm thinking standing in my yard with an AK slung across my back and pistol on hip while staring menacingly at everyone over there in between breaks of frantically pacing around my yard would work to some degree but I can't always be out there.

I've had grandiose thoughts of destruction and vandalism but want to explore options that keep me on the right side of the law.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:42:30 PM EDT

[#1]

If you want to control the land, buy the land.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:42:39 PM EDT

[#2]

Attached File

Quoted:I'm thinking standing in my yard with an AK slung across my back and pistol on hip while staring menacingly at everyone over there in between breaks of frantically pacing around my yard would work to some degree

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I missed that part. Is this what all 14ers are like, or just you?

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:44:03 PM EDT

[#3]

Not your land. Deal with it. Next time don't trust vague unenforceable promises.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:45:03 PM EDT

[#4]

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Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/240418/traditional-landscape-215561.JPG

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It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:46:02 PM EDT

[#5]

Find out who has a copy of the subdivisions master plan.
It should give you the answer if it was always a plan build.
City and developers should have copies.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:46:13 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:

It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

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I guess it's Killdozer time.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:46:20 PM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/240418/traditional-landscape-215561.JPG

I missed that part. Is this what all 14ers are like, or just you?

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Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/240418/traditional-landscape-215561.JPG

Quoted:I'm thinking standing in my yard with an AK slung across my back and pistol on hip while staring menacingly at everyone over there in between breaks of frantically pacing around my yard would work to some degree

I missed that part. Is this what all 14ers are like, or just you?

they've got their land and i've got mine...

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:47:41 PM EDT

[#8]

Claymores.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:47:59 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Find out who has a copy of the subdivisions master plan.
It should give you the answer if it was always a plan build.
City and developers should have copies.

View Quote

Problem is we've seen multiple copies of the master plan -- some where its not marked but others have surfaced where it is marked as a "park" but not "playground"

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:48:45 PM EDT

[#10]

I had a very similar situation. Chose a lot in a corner with a small green belt nearby. Was told nothing would be built on the green belt.

Well three years later the developer changes and low and behold the new developer decided to put in a dog park on the area near my house. Lived with it for a year, constant dog noise and my dogs always going crazy over other dogs. Then there was the smell, my back yard became unusable in certain winds because so few people picked up their dogs waste.

Sold the house, lost money even though I had done major improvements. Everyone who came to look at it complained about the smell.

Now buying 5 acres to build on!

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:50:00 PM EDT

[#11]

It was probably mandated as part of the development plan. Is it high density housing? Sometimes builders can increase density of a development via "buy ups". Adding a park, green space, trails, park benches, and other amenities.

HOA? Is this a city owned/maintained park?

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:50:49 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not your land. Deal with it. Next time don't trust vague unenforceable promises.

View Quote

This. If you want to control the land you have to own it.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:50:59 PM EDT

[#13]

Place this sign in your yard.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:52:26 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
It was probably mandated as part of the development plan. Is it high density housing? Sometimes builders can increase density of a development via "buy ups". Adding a park, green space, trails, park benches, and other amenities.

View Quote

not sure what you mean by high density housing. these are 70ft lots so lower density than what i moved from. I believe the developer has changed 3x so that's probably where the varying master plans are coming from.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:53:24 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Find out who has a copy of the subdivisions master plan.
It should give you the answer if it was always a plan build.
City and developers should have copies.

View Quote

I am missing something. If the property is owned by the water district, what relevance is the subdivision master plan?

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:53:46 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Place this sign in your yard.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQU8kNhm2XG8sabodtswgwtjXOZZByPUpA60e5ECIprm-KwgSjd

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we had a lawyer friend suggest this. I may try to convince the neighbor to put it in his yard, but if it comes down to it I'll probably bite the bullet and post up

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:54:33 PM EDT

[#17]

So you want to tell other people what to do on land that is owned by someone else?

Should have bought that land if you wanted it to stay empty.

This fucking place man....

Also, post pics of the playground

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:54:38 PM EDT

[#18]

Shit happens.

There's a strip of houses down the road from me, that are across the street from a very nice golf course. For decades those houses have had a beautiful view of the course.

The course fell on hard times and sold off the strip of land parallel with the road, and they built horrendous townhomes facing the road.

Now all those people with the beautiful view and property values all stare into gaping garages and watch their values plummet.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:54:40 PM EDT

[#19]

What are the restrictions on the lot?

You'd have to do a little homework.. get the restrictions on the parcel from the county center.. also research the planning approval from the municipality to see what the planning board required. Sometimes the restrictions on the lot aren't the same as the approval. Maybe one of those will prohibit the use as a playground.

Other than that you will have to deal with it. You could call your closing attorney and yell at him/her for not pointing it out.. or you could blame yourself for not getting what the developer told you in writing.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:55:02 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Place this sign in your yard.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQU8kNhm2XG8sabodtswgwtjXOZZByPUpA60e5ECIprm-KwgSjd

View Quote

Bold move.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:55:36 PM EDT

[#21]

Attached File

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:55:49 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
If you want to control the land, buy the land.

View Quote

FPNI

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:56:06 PM EDT

[#23]

You better hope they don't put in a basketball court.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:56:13 PM EDT

[#24]

Build That Wall!

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:56:46 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
What are the restrictions on the lot?

You'd have to do a little homework.. get the restrictions on the parcel from the county center.. also research the planning approval from the municipality to see what the planning board required. Sometimes the restrictions on the lot aren't the same as the approval. Maybe one of those will prohibit the use as a playground.

Other than that you will have to deal with it. You could call your closing attorney and yell at him/her for not pointing it out.. or you could blame yourself for not getting what the developer told you in writing.

View Quote

good stuff... off to research

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:57:02 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
If you want to control the land, buy the land.

View Quote

This. Why do people buy a lot and then decide their purchase forever bars the neighboring land owners from changing the use of their own land?

Also, if you're going to live in a suburban area that's not fully built out, you're probably better off buying a lot that's got development on all sides instead of one that has undeveloped, empty land around it. Most realtors will spin up some kind of song and dance about how that empty land won't ever be developed. Don't believe it. Also, the developer is not legally obligated to finish the subdivision the way it looks in the marketing materials.

Posted: 5/24/2017 2:57:45 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/240418/traditional-landscape-215561.JPG

It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

"And the playground is going to pay for it!"

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:00:13 PM EDT

[#28]

Build a fence and plant tall growing trees.

Or move.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:01:26 PM EDT

[#29]

spiders lots of spiders

and poop

you got this

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:01:51 PM EDT

[#30]

Buy lots of cats and provide no litter boxes for them.....

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:01:57 PM EDT

[#31]

I'm sure the local gov will happily scrap their new playground because some guy is butthurt.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:03:30 PM EDT

[#32]

Sunbathe in a thong...

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:04:15 PM EDT

[#33]

The property is owned by the HOA and they have control over what goes there.

If the HOA is still under control of the builder then he has control over what goes there.

If it was labeled as "greenbelt", "greenspace", "buffer" etc. on the plat of the property you may have a leg to stand on.

Hire a good real estate lawyer if the above is applicable. How much are you willing to pay to get rid of it?

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:08:38 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
You better hope they don't put in a basketball court.

View Quote

This:
The best you could hope for is a early curfew / closing time.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:09:03 PM EDT

[#35]

You're a medicfrost thread in the making op.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:09:15 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:

not sure what you mean by high density housing. these are 70ft lots so lower density than what i moved from. I believe the developer has changed 3x so that's probably where the varying master plans are coming from.

View Quote

If you pissed off your back porch, could you neighbor in their yard hear it? 70st sound pretty damn close.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:10:13 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Place this sign in your yard.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQU8kNhm2XG8sabodtswgwtjXOZZByPUpA60e5ECIprm-KwgSjd

View Quote

Yes!

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:11:33 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
I'm thinking standing in my yard with an AK slung across my back and pistol on hip while staring menacingly at everyone over there in between breaks of frantically pacing around my yard would work to some degree but I can't always be out there.

View Quote

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:13:32 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
good stuff... off to research

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
What are the restrictions on the lot?

You'd have to do a little homework.. get the restrictions on the parcel from the county center.. also research the planning approval from the municipality to see what the planning board required. Sometimes the restrictions on the lot aren't the same as the approval. Maybe one of those will prohibit the use as a playground.

Other than that you will have to deal with it. You could call your closing attorney and yell at him/her for not pointing it out.. or you could blame yourself for not getting what the developer told you in writing.

good stuff... off to research

our Lake House HOA recently sold off the "green Belt" areas to adjacent land owners.....the original deed restrictions stated no building/permanent structures on the green belts....i bought mine and even though i now own it i still have to live by the original deed restrictions......

so as was said.....look for any deed restrictions on the greenbelt areas.......

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:17:16 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
The property is owned by the HOA and they have control over what goes there.

If the HOA is still under control of the builder then he has control over what goes there.

If it was labeled as "greenbelt", "greenspace", "buffer" etc. on the plat of the property you may have a leg to stand on.

Hire a good real estate lawyer if the above is applicable. How much are you willing to pay to get rid of it?

View Quote

Guess you missed this in the OP.

"The water district owns the land"

RIF.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:19:29 PM EDT

[#41]

Is there a parking area for the playground?

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:19:45 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

In Texas and wondering what you all recommend to decrease usage and make this thing unattractive to the neighborhood. I'm thinking standing in my yard with an AK slung across my back and pistol on hip while staring menacingly at everyone over there in between breaks of frantically pacing around my yard would work to some degree but I can't always be out there.

I've had grandiose thoughts of destruction and vandalism but want to explore options that keep me on the right side of the law.

View Quote

Seriously, you're making all gun owners look bad with that shitty thinking.

Buy the damn land if it pisses you off.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:20:09 PM EDT

[#43]

Here are some tips:

1. Since the water district owns the land, your neighborhood, developer, master plan, etc. likely have nothing to do with this situation. Regardless, find a copy of the plat for your subdivision. See if the playground land is on the plat. If so, see what the plat says it's supposed to be used for. If the playground land is not on your plat, stop worrying about the master plan and whatnot. You should be able to find the plat from the clerk of court's website for your county.
2. Find out what the zoning for the playground property is. You should be able to do this through your city's or county's website. See if playgrounds or recreational spaces are allowed in that zoning district.
3. If you really want to stop this playground, you will have to act fast. And by act, I mean file a lawsuit, assuming you have a basis for one. There are usually short (30 days or less) deadlines for challenging developments. It might already be too late since it sounds like construction is well underway.
4. Start by researching this yourself yesterday. Other than a land use lawyer that you're paying for, information you get by asking other people is often wrong, even with government officials.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:21:59 PM EDT

[#44]

DEWALT DCCS690M1 40V 4AH Lithium Ion XR Brushless Chainsaw, 16"

Powerful brushless motor, powered with a 40V Lithium 4AH battery
Low kick-back 16" Oregon bar and chain, with a chain brake for kick back protection
Auto-Oiling with Lubrilink and Lubriwell for continuous lubrication

Electric saws are quieter than gas ones. Just FYI.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:22:50 PM EDT

[#45]

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:24:00 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:

It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

View Quote

Plant privacy trees? Arbor vitae of some variety should work fine.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:25:37 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
The property is owned by the HOA and they have control over what goes there.

If the HOA is still under control of the builder then he has control over what goes there.

If it was labeled as "greenbelt", "greenspace", "buffer" etc. on the plat of the property you may have a leg to stand on.

Hire a good real estate lawyer if the above is applicable. How much are you willing to pay to get rid of it?

View Quote

Ummm, OP stated, in the OP, the land is owned by the water district.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:26:27 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
Plant privacy trees? Arbor vitae of some variety should work fine.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

It would have to be 18-20ft high as the playground structure is 14 ft in the air looking down into the surrounding neighbor yards.

Plant privacy trees? Arbor vitae of some variety should work fine.

BETTER IDEA

Plant a shitton of fast growing bamboo. The playground will quite literally be a jungle gym in no time.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:29:17 PM EDT

[#49]

You could always drag an old rug or a bundle of plastic, that may or may not look like a body, into the back yard and start digging while the crew is working on the playground. Then you could wave and walk over to them and ask them if they would like to come over and hang out after work.

Posted: 5/24/2017 3:30:53 PM EDT

[#50]

OP sounds like the type or person who would buy a house next to an airport, then sue due to the noise.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - unwanted playground coming in (Page 1 of 4)

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