OT do you ever seriously concider giving up? - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

Rio_Grande · #1 08-20-2008, 10:49 PM

Many of you know about our zoning problems and most of you know about our project we started recently with the added property, building and fencing. I was woke up today by a phone call from a friend indicating that the zoning rep for our area is accusing us in public meetings of rampant violations and a bunch of BS about legal action. Basicly the same crap we have had for years. A recent attempt to become zoned as a business is a long story but it failed. I contacted the main zoning official today and asked him to take a look at what we were doing and give me an honest assessment of any violations we have. He advised he was out at the behest of this member and found no violations of any type. He feels this is a personal vendetta by a prior president of thir board. We have fought this for ten years and spent conciderable funds most recently 30,000.00+ to meet and exceed the requirements of the county and zoning boards and we are right where we were ten years ago.

I am starting to tire of this.

I do not live in a gated comunitity, nor a sub devision. It is a small rual community.....

I actually sat down tonight and contemplated if this is worth it anymore??

LEVE · #2 08-20-2008, 11:08 PM

IMHO, and in all seriousness, it's time to move.... so far out the Jehovah Witnesses can't find you. It's a better life for you, and your family.

Sometimes...you'll end up throwing good money after bad. A wise man knows when to stop. It's not giving up, it's redirecting, refocusing and getting on with a good life.

JeepDawg · #3 08-21-2008, 01:12 AM

I feel your pain....but I have a different attitude....If I'm right...then why should I give up?

Based on conversations you and I have had in the past...it sounds like that someone has a different agenda....you need to find out what it is....why the vendeta?

Find his weak point.....

Go to those public meetings....call his bluff......you can't take legal action without legal grounds....we know you can sue any one for anything...but it is a different matter when it comes to zoning laws.

If the zoning rep is steping outside his boundry, maybe it's time the county knew about it.

Jeff....give me a call if you want and lets talk.

Pete88YJ · #4 08-21-2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepDawg

.If I'm right...then why should I give up?

Because sometimes its just not worth the cost to win. To your mental health, your physical health, or your family's health.

I've got my share of experience with builders, zoning/planning board members, and politics in small towns. Worst one cost me 3 years of my life, lawyers fees, etc. But I came out in a neutral position, neither winning or losing.

Some of the people on these boards and commissions are there just for the power. If you said you wanted your fence 6 feet high, they'd say it needs to be 8' high. If you said 8', they'd say 6'.

The older I get I find it just isn't worth it sometimes. Some people are simply bad people, and there's just nothing you can do about it.

Pete

Jim_Lou · #5 08-21-2008, 08:58 AM

I'm with LEVE here. Seriously. Get out of town, buy some wooded acreage, build a place in the middle of it. Set it up the way you want. Tell the rest of the world to take a flying leap.

I have really great neighbors who don't hassle me because I plow their drives in the winter. Maybe you should get a blade for your Jeep.

reddogeone · #6 08-21-2008, 06:37 PM

I had some similar problems like this. I got a pretty good attorney, he started sending letters. When a few got them thier attitudes changed. I was right they were vindictively wrong. When they realized they would have to cough up some dough to fight a loosing battle they scurried away like the vermin they are. If you arn't real attached to the area maybe it's time to move. You sounded pretty stoked a few posts ago when you showed pics of your new building. (its a beut)

Rio_Grande · #7 08-22-2008, 09:46 PM

We pretty much decided after a couple days of driving and thinking that I have never walked away from a fight worth fighting in my life. Don't reckon I will walk from this one. Funds are low and the scrap market is on a quick downward trend. I don't even like my home but we live in the USA where a persn isin't spposed to be persecuted for following the rules. Ya I am basicly beating my head against the wall, but if prices hit the tiolet like everyone says they will I won't have anything else to do so I just as well harrass some politicians.

The best look out too, cause I ain't even drunk.

Dawg,,, PM me your number.

LEVE · #8 08-22-2008, 10:30 PM

Jeff, make sure this isn't a pride thing.

Take:

A step back
A deep breath
Perhaps a couple more days to think
Few hours to outline your plan
Your wife to lunch/dinner to present to her your plan (you'll need her buy-in)

If this is the hill you're willing to die on, then go to war. Otherwise... don't... It's a choice I'd not like to make.

Timber · #9 08-23-2008, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rio_Grande

Many of you know about our zoning problems and most of you know about our project we started recently with the added property, building and fencing. I was woke up today by a phone call from a friend indicating that the zoning rep for our area is accusing us in public meetings of rampant violations and a bunch of BS about legal action. Basicly the same crap we have had for years. A recent attempt to become zoned as a business is a long story but it failed. I contacted the main zoning official today and asked him to take a look at what we were doing and give me an honest assessment of any violations we have. He advised he was out at the behest of this member and found no violations of any type. He feels this is a personal vendetta by a prior president of thir board. We have fought this for ten years and spent conciderable funds most recently 30,000.00+ to meet and exceed the requirements of the county and zoning boards and we are right where we were ten years ago.

I am starting to tire of this.

I do not live in a gated comunitity, nor a sub devision. It is a small rual community.....

I actually sat down tonight and contemplated if this is worth it anymore??

Tom Petty | I Won’t Back Down lyrics

RickCJ7 · #10 08-23-2008, 05:47 AM

Tough situation and choices. I had to check and make sure you aren't living in Boulder county, Colorado. They can't tell you what "rural character" is, but they'll quickly tell you that you don't have it.

Stick to the written rules.
If one of those "officials" asks you to do something that isn't in the written rules, then get the request in writing even if it is you asking them if this is what they really meant.
Don't think about exceeding the requirements just to impress the rule makers, unless you get some other benefit from it.
When it is only one zoning official that keeps challenging you, know that there are other officials that are noticing what is happening, and the silliness of it. And be assured that this type of nasty official occurs lots of places across the country.

And finally to answer your question, yes I did give up. I left a well paying job to get away from a boss that I couldn't stand. If I had stayed in that job I'm sure I would have some big stress-caused health problems, but also adequate money to pay for the treatments. Now I make about 1/3 the pay, work harder, get less satisfaction from my work, and deal with some of the same issues. Take an honest look at what is going on with you, which is worse, what this zoning rep is doing or how you are reacting to him?

I sincerely hope that somehow things will get better for you soon.