Forum Thread

Cossayuna Lake Topics

(Cossayuna Lake Specific)

0 messages

Updated

Off-Topic

Lakes Online Forum

83,625 messages

Updated 5/17/2024 10:13:59 AM

Boat Maintenance

Lakes Online Forum

5,193 messages

Updated 4/3/2024 3:47:36 AM

Cossayuna Lake Fishing

(Cossayuna Lake Specific)

0 messages

Updated

Jokes

Lakes Online Forum

4,169 messages

Updated 4/15/2024 11:05:05 PM

Sports

Lakes Online Forum

4,260 messages

Updated 3/24/2024 9:24:45 AM

Grilling & Recipes

Lakes Online Forum

2,976 messages

Updated 3/20/2024 11:53:43 PM

Tallapoosa River Topics

Lakes Online Forum

98 messages

Updated 4/15/2024 1:00:58 AM

Forum Usage Rules

Name:	joyrider -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 12:27:59 PM

When someone say's "Don't block my view of the lake,....." Where EXACTLY is "their" veiw???

We're putting in a boat house, (tearing down this crappy looking, looks like it's ready to cave in, straight dock and building a nice boat house with tin roof ) and the neighbor was sitting on his porch yesterday, and he said we better not block "His" view when we put it up. Isn't the view in front of YOUR house YOUR view? I really don't consider the view from our right or the left "our view" because it's in front of the neighbors house.
I would think this neighbor would be over joyed that someone is willing to make improvements to this "shack". It's a tearer-downer, and we will do just that in the fall. We're just trying to make whatever improvements we can, now.

Will someone clarify this sticky situation for me?

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 12:34:20 PM

He is just being an a$$ with absolutely no legal recourse. However, there are certain guidelines with regards to size, etc. you must adhere to. You have to get a building permit from Alabama Power after they review your plans. Tell your neighbor to move or add a story to his house for better viewing.

Name:	SBsigmapi -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 12:45:24 PM

Just for his complaining, you should paint SEE ROCK CITY on top of it or something to that affect.

Name:	HappyCamper -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 12:57:46 PM

Hmmmmm.........only a problem if YOU are blocking MY view, which extends as far as I can see over the rim of my martini.

Name:	Rickiray -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 1:06:10 PM

I'll clarify it... SCREW your neighbor!! What jerk!

Name:	JIM -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 1:16:53 PM

The right thing to do was tell your neighbor your plans. Any problems, compromize, nobody wants a pissed off neighbor. But there are always 2 sides to every story, we heard yours, like to here his. I can understand his point of view, put the shoe on the other foot.

Name:	HappyCamper -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 1:31:40 PM

I would imagine this is a sticky issue as more and more people build on the lake or make improvements to existing places.

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 1:31:49 PM

I don't disagree that a compromise is the best solution however, when someone approaches with the comment "Don't block my view of the lake", I wonder how open to compromise that person may be. In the end, as long as you abide by Alabama Power's specs, you hold all the cards.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	Just remember
Date:	5/9/2005 2:29:01 PM

that an angry neighbor is not something you would want to have. They can become like ex-wives. Are you completely blocking his view? Can you compromise in some way? Sounds like your neighbor needs a cold beer and a conversation not a confrontation. I sure wouldn't ignore him.

This is not an uncommon problem on any lake that lets you build on the water. Perhaps that's why most of the higher-end subdivisions have covenants that won't let you build anything above dock level. Views can certainly affect property values.

Name:	joyrider -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 2:51:43 PM

There IS no other side of the story. Just a elderly gent sitting on his side porch watching us work in the yard all day,.... yes, Mother's Day. He has this huge deck built off the back of his house with a gazebo built to cover it. When you look over there, his deck/gazebo stands as tall as the top of the roofline to our "shack". This boat dock shouldn't be as tall as his towering gazebo, so he can sit out under the gazebo and still be able to see. He is mainly worried about sitting on his side porch and not being able to look out in all directions. Our place is "straight on" the big water, his sorta sits at an angle. (we actually see more of the street side of his house then the lakeside ).

Our plans have been approved by the Power Co. We're just waiting on the dock compant to get it started.

I was just wondering where "HIS view" was.... :)
Thanks everyone! I knew you guys could help!

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 2:59:31 PM

"His" view is exactly where he can see after your Alabama Power Co. approved boathouse has been erected. Nuff said, end of story, that is all.

Name:	JIM -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 3:15:22 PM

The last dock that I built was limited to 420 sq. ft., with no cover. That was Al. Power rules. Some were Grand fathered in, but if you tore it down new rules applied, I have since seen larger docks built, so I guess it is the good ole boy rule. I just was not in the click.

Name:	SBsigmapi -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 4:00:15 PM

Build your dock and enjoy it. Huck fim if he doesnt like it. He has a boat, he can ride out to any part of the lake he chooses and gaze and glare at anything that he chooses. I personally think that the lake would be prettier without any houses or boat houses, but if I had the money id have a lake house--and if i had a lake house, id have a boat house.

Name:	joyrider -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,...
Date:	5/9/2005 5:55:50 PM

So if you see a sign "See Rock City" on our tin roof,..... you'll know who our neighbor is. :)

Name:	PartTimer -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/9/2005 6:31:37 PM

Clearly you have the right to build whatever Alabama Power approves. However, I would suggest you get to know the neighbor, describe your planned improvements, and try to live side by side in peace. Not always easy, but always best! Good luck with your project and your improvements. You might explain that your improvements will ADD to the value of HIS property! That is a fact, and maybe he hasn't thought about it.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	I'm Glad..
Date:	5/9/2005 9:31:26 PM

some of you guys are not my neighbors. Rights are great but neighbors need to get along. Relationships with the community and particularly your neighbors are everything. How can you have peace at the lake if you have offended your neighbor it you avoid a resolution? I wish joyrider the best of luck but I also wish he would make peace with his neighbor first.....

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	I'm Glad..
Date:	5/10/2005 7:05:18 AM

Takes 2 to Tango. From the neighbors initial approach, it does not appear he is to interested in a neighborly compromise. Perhaps he could approach Joyrider with a cold one and say something like, "howdy neighbor, can we talk about your new boathouse", instead of "You better not block my view. " I know I would react a lot better to that type of approach.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	Why sure
Date:	5/10/2005 8:56:23 AM

it does definately take 2. Sounds like from the info that he's an oldtimer and who knows how long he's been here. Wonder if construction started before a conversation....

I think you should talk to your neighbors before doing anything around a property line much less doing anything around the water that could affect property value. From this BB I can see that there is some natural resentment of the "outsiders" and some oldtimers need some stroking to warm up. To get a good neighbor you need to be a good neighbor....:-)

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	Why sure
Date:	5/10/2005 9:05:09 AM

All of mine are great. Got a good mix of ages and some part time, some fulltime. Would not think of building without communicating with my immediate neighbors however, they have earned that with their friendship.

Name:	joyrider -	Reply
Subject:	But,.....
Date:	5/10/2005 10:50:21 AM

I AM a good neighbor!! We're not trying to step on any toes. We've only owned this place a month, and have already spent $$$$'s on making the yard look better, tearing down and replacing a crumbly ole' retaining wall with a nice concreat one with stone work, putting in a drive (which there was NOT one), sodding the street side and doing some planting. We're in line for a dock/and SINGLE boat house asap, a new sea wall in the fall and the "shack" is coming down as soon as school starts. The neighbors on the other side were elated the first time they drove up and saw what changes we've done in suce a short time to this "place that was nothing but a dump last year" (their words).
I don't know this elderly gent from Adam, but I even took a plant over there when he was recently in the hospital. This FEMALE is trying to keep peace. My husband has the same feelings as some of you guys, but I am keeping a rap on what comes out of his mouth for the time being.
We are just trying to fix this place to "fit in". My daughter said from the water, it REALLY looks like a dive because their are two new house right next to us. (oppisite side from the elderly gent).
We'll just keep truckin' and hopefully when all is done, he will appreciate the fact we will have boosted his property value. I will keep my fingers crossed, and maybe it will all work out in the end.
Thanks!

Name:	lamont -	Reply
Subject:	But,.....
Date:	5/10/2005 11:36:18 AM

Relax "Joy", sounds like your taking the right approach to me. We are all somewhat resistant to change; sometimes to our own detriment. My gut feeling is that he is probably an oldtimer who resists change at any cost. Bet you he loves the end result of your labors.

Name:	SBsigmapi -	Reply
Subject:	But,.....
Date:	5/10/2005 1:25:18 PM

I still say huck fim if he doesnt like it. Its your property, do with it what you will.

Name:	MotorMan -	Reply
Subject:	No one likes change
Date:	5/10/2005 6:07:05 PM

I have never, ever seen a person happy with a new house. I am talking about some crazy things. One man came to a Town meeting in Wisconsin in 1995 and complained about the new subdivision of a corn field 35 miles from Milwaukee. It seems he bought one acre on the top of a hill from the farmer in the mild recession of 1957. The farmer needed some money. The homeowner wanted no houses where ever he could see because they would ruin his view. He claimed some promise from the now departed farmer gave him the view rights for 400 acres. This land sells for at least $25,000 an acre. A ten million dollar project for the Town to tax. $50,000,000 after the houses are built. No brainer.

I have developed land on the west side of a lake in Wisconsin and you should have heard the screams from the people who thought they had some right to a view of my woods forever. They did not like it when I did a selective tree cutting too. Even 'tho the subdivision plat was recorded in 1973, they thought they were getting screwed. They forgot the many years they had a clear view.

Wisconsin once said that boat lifts and houses must be the color of nature, or the color of the lake house. Some people painted their house with polka dots so they did not have to get a new boat lift cover.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	No one likes change
Date:	5/10/2005 11:00:18 PM

I agree. I have a large lot at my full time home in GA. About 10 years ago, I approached our neighborhood board about a project to put in 1200 sq ft pool house, pool, a natural stone coy pond with waterfall, and extensive landscaping. It was approved quickly, but my neighbor went nuts. He tried every way he could to stop the project because it would "ruin his view"......even though he would have to walk 40 feet behind his deck to see it (Now that the landscaping is mature, he can't see it at all). I tried to compromise (and did make a few changes), but his only solution was to not build anything.....we still don't talk, but I have no regrets.

Some people will never be happy with change.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... a small rant here!!
Date:	5/14/2005 10:11:52 AM

How is it you claim that improvements to his property 'improve the value of the neighbors'. That is ludicrous. The value of ANY home is determined by 'COMPARABLES'. That is houses of similar size and amenaties, some from the immediate neighborhood and some from outside. What I, or anyone, do to my property has absolutely NO affect on my neighbors property value. The value is determined by the market only.

Now that being said, what one person does to his/her property may affect how readily another property sales, which in turn might be converted to some tangible value. But having a 'dump' next door has no affect on the appraised value of any poperty, unless your place is a 'dump' too, then it would be considered for comparables.

Bottom line.... marketabillity and market value are mutually exclusive!!

Name:	lakebum -	Reply
Subject:	Okay,... here's the question..
Date:	5/15/2005 7:58:13 AM

You will find out when you get your APCO permit and do the layout..

It appears the veiw thing is enforced soemtimes not all..

But if the mainb water is over or past your boathouse...you could impinge someones view

Quick Links
Cossayuna Lake News
Cossayuna Lake Photos
Cossayuna Lake Videos