I was thinking the same thing, but I was leaning toward 3 to 5 Quaking Aspen at the fence line to soften the view.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1368027150.jpg

Touche

I like the planting trees idea. Something not too messy that grows fast.

Having the only McMansion in the 'hood next door to you sell for a lot of dough is not going to help your home value much.

The guy is an asshat. His response to you was pretty over the top. Nothing to be gained by retaliation though. I would be sorely tempted to go get a junk car for $100 and park it in my back yard, up on blocks, but would try and resist. It does not really matter how you get along with him, unless he plans to live in the house. The people who buy it are going to be your primary concern. In my experience, folks that buy huge houses that are squeezed onto the lot are not pleasant company.

Holy crap that thing is HUGE!

I could think of some things to 'paint' on my roof next time I'm up there with the Henry's patching potential leaks.

City limits? Is there enough room left on the lot to plant the required number of trees? Seriously, I got dinged on a new construction home in the city limits after I bought the home due to the fact the contractor didn't plant enough trees on the lot.

No doubt. Was part of a new residential build 16k sq. ft. on 8 acres that was basically in a rural area and quite hidden. Cleared trees but had to re-plant the same quantity as removed. Not nursery stock either and had to be at least 30 - 40 footers to start. Watering was important to get them going and always had a hose rotating to each spread out in the area. A few didn't take and the city fined $10,000 per tree not replaced. Goofy.

herr- I feel your pain. That builder clearly made his point with you and went off in the wrong way. Sure, you can let it go and fix your TV sat. but it seems minor compared to the big picture. If he follows code and proper permit, I don't see what recourse you have. Crazy thought, but if the market is moving strong, perhaps its time to put up a sell sign??

So the guy is a dick, that's been established.

But what if he had said "What do you think I should do to accommodate you?"

What would you have asked for?

"So the guy is a dick, that's been established." -1990C4S

Legally: I'd suspect your beef might be with the city planning commision, lack of prior notification of this building permit, and then finally the owner of the property. When it comes down to it, he might as well be building a neon skyscraper with a rollercoaster on top...

Did any of the neighbors receive notification?
They are your allies.
Pitchforks and torches work best in multitude.
Were there any public declarations, or any advertised intention of construction?

This monster was meant to stir up local property values, but probably failed in a big way.
Acknowledge that first, then go from there.
People at the city have faults. So did that jerk next door.

Your main focus and main objective should be on how it affects you, your home value, and quality of life.
(edit: and quickly)

in state court, it may go to mandatory mediation, then arbitration -- BTW Oregon is very unfriendly to plaintiffs in the way the court system operates

it could go to city court tho; or maybe RE cases or land use cases do not have to go thru the same routes as others

I know little about state law, and would like to know less -- I have heard however, that many states do have law.

-----------------------------------

you really want to see if there is a city land use violation here - you pay taxes to the city so send them an Email and then make a follow up phone call in a week; let them do it

things that might be protected are solar access (for PV panels) and your "viewshed"; I'd bet on those before sat. access but maybe that too

you could drop the sat. and go with cable (in fact, maybe he is being pad by Comcast...)

you don't want to get worked up over this, but there are some things you may want to do, such as:

1. buy a paintball gun and practice hitting him while on the rood - oops!

2. make friends with a very loud metal band and invite them over for a free concert when he lists the house for sale

3. re the old cars up on blocks - be sure not to violate any laws yourself - in my fair city you have to keep plates and current tags on any POS parked where it can be seen from public property

4. plant trees or bamboo (I use both) along the property line

5. look into starting a colony of some wood eating insect with a barrier between them and your own house

6. start posting some signs - let your imagination be your guide

with the right attitude you can have fun with this - others are having fun already, vicariously

Presuming the house complies with the local ordinances the city probably has no duty to warn/advise neighbors that it is about to be built. If a variance was granted then neighbors should have had an opportunity to appear before council (or the building commission). I can tell you from experience that a 'non-complying dwelling' is unlikely to be torn down, cites are for more likely to issue a variance and avoid the hassle.

Regardless, he approached the 'builder' not because they were erecting a huge POS, but because the line of sight to a satellite was being blocked by a house being built with a permit (I think). I'm not sure what he thought the guy would offer.

I just wanted to see if the guy would shoulder the cost of moving the dish. That's all I was going to ask. Never really got the chance to ask.
I'm pretty sure he said "so?" when I told him what had happened, and he proceeded to get increasingly belligerent, ending in a threat to sue me and then he hung up.

It rattled me, that's all. I was being nice about it,

Misuse of literally makes me figuratively insane!

I'm virtually speechless.

There is a footnote in the Websters New Edition that accounts for such modified use as after 4 or more adult drinks in less than 2 hours. It had something to do with the person being in the brackish between reality and fantasy at the time of the claim anyway. It's all very complex, but it's in there.

That doesn't look like it's going to be a house. It looks like it's going to be a mosque. But maybe not... don't be too concerned until you see a coupla minarets going up.