I think that your sensitivity and understanding towards them during this situation is admirable. You really have tried to put yourself in their shoes, however it doesn't seem like they are capable of doing the same.
Posts: 11265 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MattP: The inspector can't do anything about a building that isn't there yet and I can point out the setback restriction to the neighbor if I want to go that route. An explicit threat to report future setback violations might motivate him to re-engineer his wall, but that could get really ugly. I'm keeping that card in my pocket for now.
You haven't even pointed out the setback restriction? Why not? If done diplomatically (don't look to me for advice on that! I'd be all in his face) this could solve your problem by convincing him to change the site of the shed. I can see him having his heart set on a shed, but why does it have to be right on the property border, where it's prohibited by code?
This would also bypass the whole engineering issue: let him build his half-baked wall elsewhere, where it's collapse or drainage problems won't affect you.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I'm not sure how I could do that diplomatically. Diplomacy doesn't seem to be effective with them.
Concrete has already been poured for the rest of the outline of the pad he wants to pour, so he can't just scooch everything over. If he's forced to obey the setback rules, he's probably going to have to make a smaller shed. That is going to be a really aweful conversation to have with him and I think I'd rather just let him build the shed against the fence, provided it's done safely.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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I'm all for people doing what they want on their property. But when they ignore setback codes that affects your property, a response is called for. You should at minimum tell him about the setback code before construction continues.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
The picture I have in my head is that if things are done like your neighbor wants, you're going to have a shed looming over your fence. That's not a real neighborly thing to do.
Is the shed actually going to be on top of the wall or is the wall simply to provide a level platform for it?
Posts: 221 | Registered: Mar 2003
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It will definitely be looming. The fence still follows the old slope, and the shed will be built above the new wall, so it will rise 6-8' over the fence at the lowest point.
I am intensely annoyed by that, but that annoyance has taken a back seat to the structural concerns right now.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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I'm not sure why this didn't occur to me before now, but removing the fence to see if his "wall" will hold won't really prove anything. Even if it does, which could happen although it's unlikely, that doesn't prove that it will hold up during a storm when you have water moving through the fill. Much less what will happen once the shed is built and filled. That will add a considerable lateral load to the "wall".
I'm sorry, but a "wall" made of blocks stacked on top of each other require that I use quotations. Otherwise, someone might get the idea that I consider it to be a wall in my professional judgement and I'll get sued, lose my house, my family, spiral into depression, etc.
Posts: 221 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'm not sure why this didn't occur to me before now, but removing the fence to see if his "wall" will hold won't really prove anything. Even if it does, which could happen although it's unlikely, that doesn't prove that it will hold up during a storm when you have water moving through the fill. Much less what will happen once the shed is built and filled. That will add a considerable lateral load to the "wall".
I'm sorry, but a "wall" made of blocks stacked on top of each other require that I use quotations. Otherwise, someone might get the idea that I consider it to be a wall in my professional judgement and I'll get sued, lose my house, my family, spiral into depression, etc.
Count me as in as one who also admires your restraint. BTW, this is zgator signed in at home.
Posts: 221 | Registered: Mar 2003
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The uncle never came by today. We'll see the geotech guy in the "late morning" tomorrow. I'm glad the real expert is coming by first so I'll know what questions to ask the supposed expert coming later.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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Arrgh. I wish I could zap him with the patented Ray of Sensibility for you, but it's still in beta form.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese: Arrgh. I wish I could zap him with the patented Ray of Sensibility for you, but it's still in beta form.
See whenever I use MY ray of sensibility it exacerbates the problem, or introduces a new problematic dynamic. Can I try recalibrating it to your specifications Claudia?
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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The geotechnical engineer just came by and completely vindicated me. He said that what was there was not a wall, that it would eventually fail, and that it should be built, as I described, on a footing with rebar and concrete reinforcement.
He also reassured us that when it does fail, it will do so gradually and is not likely to be dangerous to us, just expensive for the neighbors. Given that, I'm going to pass on the warning and let them move forward if they decide to.
Now, what to do about that 3' setback rule...
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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BlackBlade, we currently are having overcorrection problems: the subject goes directly from obtuseness straight through to hyperliterality. We think it's an accidental side effect of the reversed polarity on the neutron flow. Civilian use has been discontinued until further notice.
MattP, could you perhaps pass on that setback information when you pass on the warning, and just leave it all in your neighbor's lap? Any chance you could send it by email, so that you have a record of it (just in case you are blamed later for "knowing about it but not doing something," [either by the neighbor himself or the local government])?
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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That's sort of where I'm going right now. I'm writing a letter that gives the conclusions from the engineer (with promise of a copy of the official letter from the engineer). I'm going to include a paragraph about the setback.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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quote:BlackBlade, we currently are having overcorrection problems: the subject goes directly from obtuseness straight through to hyperliterality. We think it's an accidental side effect of the reversed polarity on the neutron flow. Civilian use has been discontinued until further notice.
*Points own ray of sensibility at Claudia and fires*
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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And saving a copy of everything you send, I'm sure.
I doubt you actually need to send it certified mail, and that would likely be seen a provocative action (I am guessing here at how he would see it, in my inimitable Aspergery way, but that seems about right). At least this way he knows he was informed (and that you know, and that forgetting he was informed won't fly), and he can take the risks on his own head if he so chooses. Plus, you might just be providing him with useful information that he might have otherwise been misled about by people he trusted.
quote:BlackBlade, we currently are having overcorrection problems: the subject goes directly from obtuseness straight through to hyperliterality. We think it's an accidental side effect of the reversed polarity on the neutron flow. Civilian use has been discontinued until further notice.
*Points own ray of sensibility at Claudia and fires*
Ah, my good man, I am perfectly shielded by my lack of social skills and determinedly curmudgeonly ways.
quote:BlackBlade, we currently are having overcorrection problems: the subject goes directly from obtuseness straight through to hyperliterality. We think it's an accidental side effect of the reversed polarity on the neutron flow. Civilian use has been discontinued until further notice.
*Points own ray of sensibility at Claudia and fires*
Ah, my good man, I am perfectly shielded by my lack of social skills and determinedly curmudgeonly ways.
Sensible, sir? Nevah!
Impossible, everybody knows that girls being made of sugar, spice and everything nice are incapable of avoiding at the very least a sympathetic response to the ray of sensibility.
Now whether your response appears to be sensible is a result impossible to predict. But a response MUST occur! Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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So, I stuck that letter on their door (they weren't here at the time) and now, two hours later, there's a concrete truck pouring their pad. They would have had to have scheduled that before today so not only are they being unreasonable, but we can add dishonest to the list. They had agreed to an inspection prior to moving forward and their guy never showed up and they didn't know that ours would be by today.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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Document, it MattP, just in case. Keep a written record somewhere as hard copy, with a note of when you put the note on the door, everything. Just in case, eh?
And then hope for the best. But don't lose that record!
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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Yep. We will do a certified mail of the engineer's letter. It may seem over the top, but I've learned now that I cannot trust these people.
Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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Well, that does sound like a good idea to me. And I suppose you can continue to be as friendly as possible when you talk about other things as they arise naturally. ("Hey, hot enough for you?" )
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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