Posted on 07/08/2009 11:23:21 AM PDT by BGHater
If as Home Ownes Association banned freeping you can bet there will be defenders here at FR saying “Then don’t buy a house and live in that neighborhood”. As if there’s a choice in some cities.
There is basically no choice here in central florida
From reading the article, it seems the whole town is under some city ordinance where you can’t let your lawn growth go above 13 inches. Evidently it’s not just the home owner’s association here. You somewhat alluded to a situation like that in your comments.
You point was a rather interesting one though, wasn’t it.
Good point. I hadn’t considered the unintended consequences of manual labor-averse leftists let loose with lawnmowers on median strips. Yikes. The thought of that is actually pretty frightening.
The situation is even more complicated than that.
So-called "redevelopment agencies" buy up properties in what they see as depressed, neglected areas, including using eminent domain in some cases, and then encumber the properties with some of the same kinds of covenants, conditions, and restrictions as are found in condominium agreements.
The properties are then often re-zoned to suit the development agency, and individual properties are then marketed to the public with these CC&Rs permanently attached to the properties. Such CC&Rs have the force of law and can and will be enforced by the courts.
I own a condominium unit which was converted from apartment buildings. The original apartment buildings were years previously built on redevelopment property. At that time, the property became encumbered with a requirement to maintain the property in a presentable manner. (I forget the exact wording.) This requirement is enforceable in the courts.
I suppose you are right- The mowing crew wasn’t there to rob, nor harm the man or his property, what the man should have done (in writing- so that it is on record) is to warn the city that if they cut his lawn without his permission- he will not pay!
Then warned the crew leader the same when they showed up to do so, then let them do it, but refuse to pay for the citys’ temper-tantrum.
Interesting, thanks.
I don’t like the idea of this guy creating a hovel that will be offensive to other people in his vicinity.
It would seem to me the guy is acting every anti-social. There may or may not be a reason for it, such as (feeling like or actually) being mistreated by his neighbors or something like that.
Perhaps there’s a better way to approach things like this, reaching out as neighbors to make the guy feel more connected. If some minimal form of communication could be established, he might allow his lawn to be cut for him. Perhaps the place could be spruced up on the outside as well.
As a neighbor of his, I would find it a great investment to perhaps donate $50 bucks up front and $5 a month to help get his place in shape initially, and help keep it manicured each month.
If he turned out to be someone that was within the realm of the possibility of being rehabbed himself socially, perhaps he could be invited to some neighborhood functions.
This would all sure be preferable to watching my own home values sink.
I just don’t like the idea of establishing a long list of rules that people have to live by, then call the swat team out for when malcontents object.
BTW, I should have proof read that response. Sorry.
I would probably tend to be pretty lenient if the requirements were being imposed by government on his property. I would be less lenient if he obviously had chosen to be subjected to the requirements.
From a purely legal standpoint, the man was probably in the wrong. Exercising jury nullification will do little to prevent governments from unduly imposing requirements on private property.
Where are the liberal groups dedicated to protecting the right to encourage natural plants and discourage the cultivation of non-native grasses? Preventing indigenous plants from going-to-seed is quite unnatural. It's the botanical equivalent of Chinese foot-binding and should be outlawed.
Its a dumb city ordinance then. and $300! is insane.
I agree. Kids all over the neighborhood would probably do it for $25 to $50. It’s just weeds for heaven’s sake. Cut it and move on. You think some 13 year old kid wouldn’t like to have his hands on $50 bucks.
Yeah, in his pants, too. I'd bet.
>>BTW, I should have proof read that response. Sorry.
No need to proof read for me. I’m not a... how should I put it.... a proper spelling and grammar enthusiast. :)
I’ve sold a few houses over the years, and when the time comes you start noticing your neighbor’s houses much more than you normally would. And there’s no doubt that a weed house, or a house painted shazaam colors can really make it tough for your neighbors to sell. People will buy a purple house with pink polka dots, but they won’t buy the house next door to it. :)
That makes sense. I’ve never quite understood the village idiot that won’t make some pretense to keep their property up. It’s to their advantage as well.
What about a monkey wrenching approach...
As the mower guy gets ready to do his thing, through large nuts and bolts into the tall grass. At that point they would have to stop for safety reasons and to protect their equipment.
Funny, whenever I think of monkeys. I think of them throw stuff.
What I suggested would simply delay things. Yard would have to be cut to a few inches by trimmer or bush hog before it could be raked and then mowed. There would still be some risk. It certainly would slow the process or stop it until different tooling brought in.
He’s right.
No one here is harder on the jackboot authoritarian thugs than me, but in this case the moron pulled a shotgun on a city worker - a kid really.
It hurts the legitimate critique of runaway cop abuse to reflexively scream “police state!”. It wasn’t just about the grass height.
You raise a good point. However I place the city at fault (and HOA) for without their dismissal of his property rights there would have been no issue.
Rarely does someone just decide to stop mowing their grass.
HOAs regularly abuse their power and are awful organizations full of wasteful spending and graft.
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