soapbox...

Would you say the same thing if the previous owner had a buried fuel
tank and didn't bother to tell you? Or an uncapped well, or a failed
septic field, or who knows what thrown in the basement of the previous
house before it was dozed, or ..... Legally don't have to.

It's not about the financial value of said property. It's about being
a good steward of the land you have the privilege of occupying for the
time being.

The mentality that is MINE I can do whatever the hell I want with it is
such an offensive, selfish opinion that is typical of so many
Americans. No wonders most of the world hates us. We have no regard
for anyone but ourselves.

I have recently dealt with someone who had the same stance as you. He
wanted to build this huge garage that didn't fit his lot. I had no
problem with the size of the shed, but it didn't fit on his lot. The
zoning board questioned that it encroached on the setbacks of the lot.
With further research, we came to find out that where he was planning
to build was not even his property but partly the neighbors. And yet
he still could not understand why his building application was denied.
His response... "Well, the guy down the street built one just like it".

So as to not be taken for a liberal, or in favor of government
controls, I do agree that people should be allowed to do what they feel
is appropriate for their property AS LONG AS their is still some sort
of "jury of peers" that tries to keep things proper. I am going to
make the wild assumption that you do not live in a rural area. I do,
and am extremely tired of ignorant city dwellers moving to the country
and ruining well established agricultural land. Or they move out to
the country and then complain that their neighbors are "making too much
noise", "making too much dust", "blocking highways with big equipment",
"they smell", etc. Got news for you, we were here first. You can go
back where you came from, or accept that we are part of your
neighborhood. We won't change just because you don't like it.

Off my soap box for now. I'm a little sensitive on this issue. As I
stated, I don't think the gentleman in question did anything at all
wrong.

JW