Larry:
I have both defended and prosecuted numerous situations exactly like you
describe. All I can say is that what is one persons prized possession is
another's hazard and junk. You have hit on the very essence of political
debate here (Who was it that said "All politics is local?") Goverment, by
nature, is intrusive. Just when does public "good" justify private
intrusion?
It is always possible to take either position to an extreme and see
absurdity. I grew up next door to a real commercial junk yard but do not
want to live there now. My neighbors consider this yard to be a junk yard.
Heck, it's all in how you look at your world.
Sorry my friend, but I think I will have to leave those questions to minds
better than mine. Good luck with your struggle.
Ken Gano
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of Larry Griffin
Sent: Friday, November 26, 1999 11:48 PM
To: 'Triumphs'
Subject: RE: #@!%**%@! homeowner's association - venting-Long reply
Andy,
It's interesting that you posted this just as I was about the vent a similar
complaint. In my case, I find myself fighting city hall instead of a
homeowners association. I apologize in advance for the long post, for in a
way this seems an even larger threat to our hobby if our cases constitute a
trend.
The neighborhood I live in was built in the early 60's. A group of
residents, which is trying to "protect property values", started lobbying
city officials for zoning changes which would effect the entire city. I seem
to be one of their targets since my non-running Spitfire is parked in my
driveway.
Slightly less than a year ago, I came home to find a citation on my front
door stating that I was in noncompliance with city zoning ordinances. The
notice stated that I was allowed only 1 "junked car" on my property. At that
time I also had a '71 Chevy Impala that was insured and licensed, but did
not have a current state safety inspection sticker. The car was not being
driven as I had discovered a badly leaking seal in the steering rack. The
inspection sticker had run out while the car was parked. Both cars were
parked at the end of my driveway beside my house. The lack of a current
inspection sticker was cited as meaning that this car was considered a
derelict vehicle also! My arguments that I was not breaking any law since
the car was not driven, and that was in any event a STATE law, not a city
matter, fell on deaf ears. I was fined approx. $40-50 & given a period of
days to come into compliance by getting rid of one of the cars or face
additional fines of $200 per day! I ended up having to sell the Impala at a
distress sale price. I hated that since I had inherited it from my uncle,
and had intended to restore it later -after the Spitfire, of course :-) .
In the last several weeks the same group has caused a subcommittee of the
city counsel to put forward a new proposal that would outlaw maintaining,
restoring, or rebuilding any motor vehicle anywhere in a front yard. Yes,
you read that right! Only routine cleaning and washing would be allowed in
your driveway!! Not even oil changes allowed! The proposal also modifies the
one junked vehicle rule by requiring the car to be stored in the backyard in
an enclosed permanent structure or covered by an opaque covering when it's
not being worked on. These changes would apply to anyone living in Raleigh.
The public hearings held produced an outcry from enthusiasts and lobbying
groups for DIY parts stores. The proposal has been sent back to committee
to be reworked. I still fear the outcome, since the politicians are only
calling it overkill as written. There still will likely be some sort of
prohibition for storing cars, boats, or campers for a "long period of time."
What really irks me is that nobody in the neighborhood has complained to me
directly. I'm obviously just one of several that were targeted. The city
zoning staff even admitted to me last year that our neighborhood was
targeted for enforcement due to political pressures.
And to cap it off, last week my daughters called me at work alarmed that
someone was in our yard filming our house and driveway. They did not answer
the door when an unknown man knocked and then started filming with a
camcorder. This was about the time of the hearing, and my best guess is that
it was someone from the neighborhood association. Just so happens that my
daily driver (a 77 Mercedes 240D) was up on wheel ramps while I worked on
getting the starter bolts loose with daily sprayings of PB Blaster. Oh no,
here we go again!
Larry Griffin
griffin_@bellsouth.net
68 Spitfire
Raleigh, NC
Please e-mail me directly if you would like URL's of local newspaper
articles on this.
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