what is wrong with people? building code help... please read

wakerider07

I live on a small cul-de-sac. It has five houses on it. All five of the houses were built around 30 or 40 years ago basically on the same plans, all by the same builder. The houses are all different but they are all humble one story faded brick homes. My house is shaped like a horse shoe around the pool, with that wall being almost completely windows. Well some people moved in next door and want to build a second story. They are claiming that they need privacy for their daughter (whom I go to school with). If they build that second story they will be able to see EVERYTHING in our house. I wound be able to take a crap without being able to look out the window and seeing them. Also, it would greatly diminish the value of our home. Who wants to go out side and see a freaking building instead of beautiful trees and sky’s? And finally, it will completely ruin the style of the neighbor hood. Well it is debate whether or not our cul-de-sac has a architectural committee. Or course we think we do. Well noticing trucks over there, my dad went to city and told them the architecture committee hadn’t approved and got their permit pulled. Well these idiots were already living in an apartment and had giving their daughters spray paint and let them go to town on the walls (am I the only one that thinks that’s dumb). They have pulled apart our friendly ties with all of our neighbors and ruined good relationships. We were a perfectly happy group before these jackasses moved in. Nobody wants them. They are liars and snotty bitches. they shouldnt have moved in to a one story house if they wanted a 2 story.

So my question is there anyone on here that knows construction and can help figure out a way to keep these people from building? I am really upset right now because if they build my parents say that we are moving, and I don’t want to. All of our neighbors are awesome and I love where my house is and everything. Thanks for the help.

vette74 · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:

In Houston there are no zoning laws, only neighborhood deed restrictions. If you house was platted with deed restrictions in the neighborhood and it specifically states "only one story homes" they cannot build a second story unless the win a fight in court. If you do not have all the above they can build what ever they want to.

PM me your address and Dads name and I can check if your neighborhood is restricted.

wakeboarder2342 · Criminal Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 91

I build around 75 homes a year in utah where i live.

perhaps i can shed some light on it for you.

- first of all as stated above, unless you have some type of a restriction that was recorded on the platt of the subdivision as long as they are within the cities zoning regulations, (which building a 2nd story in 99 percent of cases would be just fine) you basically have no power to do anything.

- just because adding a 2nd story is going to make so they can look into your yard is in no way a justification for them not being able to build. My house has a large deck on the upper floor and i can see right into about 10 differnt peoples lots with ease.

- if the subdivision has an architectural control committee with some type of CC&R's to give them some power you might be able to prevent it that way. However most architectural control committees wouldnt stop someone from building a 2nd story just because it will look into your yard, they are more interested in how it will look ect as far as being an asset or a detriment to the subdivision.

- anyway thats my 02 cents, id say you have a very small chance of being able to stop this from happening. Again pull the subdivision platt and cc&r's to check for any restrictions on 2 story buildings, but my guess is you wont find any, ive never personally put such a thing into my cc&rs.

Just playing devils advocate for a second, what makes you think you have the right to tell someone what they can and cant do with their home? if you wanted to live in an area with only 1 story homes then you should have moved into an area with a restriction saying there could only be 1 story homes. I get this all the time with deveopments i do when people live next to high density property and then a developer comes along and wants to build 100 apartments next door. YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS BEFORE YOU BOUGHT YOUR HOME.

its a pretty socialistic view to think you should be able to stop someone from adding onto their house because they will be able to see in your windows, heres another suggestion, stop walking around the house naked or buy some blinds. or build yoiurself a 3 story home then you will be the one looking into their windows!!!

good luck with this but i can tell you right now your going to loose. espeically if the city has already given them a permit and they have already started. even if there are restrictiosn on the deed they can take it to court or the board of adjustments to get a variance.

and as a side note, from reading your post it seems like you guys are the "snotty bitches" and not them.

just my thought

aceyx · Addict Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 770 City: dirty

nail the daughter; that should resolve things rather nicely.

goofyboy · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 10:42 am Post subject:

aceyx, beat me too it... i like that idea.

Junkee · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 10:58 am Post subject:

going along the lines of the nailing the daughter thing.

if the second story room that this girl will reside in can see you,..you can see in it!! that means late night changing sessions from that girl will allow you to check out the goods. then you can go nail her.

the only problem will be if they put blinds up in their windows. in which case you can combat it with blinds for your windows.

now, hopefully they dont make the 2nd story look like a giant spaceship that crashed into the house and is stuck there forever....

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

On principle, I have to say that if they own the land and the house, they can do whatever they want within reason and within the law, unless you can demostrate that it breaks zoning laws or is severly detrimental to your property value or the public health.

Like raising pigs or allowing their toilets to flush out onto the front lawn.

I suppose the rest of your community can decide what's reasonable and what isn't.

I gotta say, though, that if my neighbors tried to prevent me from putting on a legal addition, I would NOT be happy and things would turn ugly pretty fast. (meaning I would probaly dump 100 lbs of cow manure into your pool.)

Since an addition raises their property value, and thus their taxes, I wonder if you'll have a hard time stopping them.

oshensurfer · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject:

Your best bet is to appeal to the City Council and City Building Dept for help if you don't have CC&R's or some other regulations governing this issue.

Damon · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject:

just burn the house down

pyrocasto · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject:

I say put up a 30ft wooden fence between the two houses. That would solve your problem... Rolling Eyes

Bowen · Posted: Sep 01, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

forget the daughter, nail the mom then blackmail her. Ok, nail both of them Wink

nmballa · Posted: Sep 02, 2005 3:55 am Post subject:

wakerider07, why dont you buy the land from them, then you wont have anything to bitch about. They own the land they can do what they want. Thats my opinion.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

nmballa, funny you should think that way, but it doesn't quite work like that anymore.
Especially in newer developments in the US. Alot of developers are now placing certain restrictions ( ie...CC&R) on your rights as a homeowner.

wakeboarder2342 · Criminal Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 91

dragonlady8,

you missed the part where he says the homes were built 30-40 years ago. im seriously doubting any restrictions exsist.

and if they dont and he still wants to stop them then hes a freakin communist. Thats all we need is the government telling us how many stories we can build our houses!!

vette74 · Posted: Sep 02, 2005 8:06 am Post subject:

RampageWake · Posted: Sep 02, 2005 8:26 am Post subject:

You have no case. Sorry. I am guessing you live in West U, Memorial or Bellaire area??? You live in a tear-down house. The value of these prime locations have made them popular to buy the homes and tear them down. I sympathize with you about the asthetics of the neighborhood, however, deed restrictions are what they are. Nothing more. Nothing less. Their deed is not (99% chance) subject to 2 story restrictions.
The good news is that your house is prolly worth twice what my house in the 'burbs is. Very Happy

pyrocasto · Posted: Sep 02, 2005 10:10 am Post subject:

blairpoelman · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 595

Many new communities have height restrictions. There are all sorts of restrictions in my 3 year old neighborhood
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