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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Neighbor Issue
Our neighbor on one side just put in a deck to go around his semi inground pool. The pool is against the fence that separates our property.
Yesterday I was in my dining room and I look out into my backyard and my neighbor is standing on his back deck, leaning back on the fence and practically hanging over our yard! Apparently, the deck he had built around his pool is flush against the fence!!! AND, he can totally see right into our house now if he is on his deck!
We live in the Village of Massapequa Park and I went online to find out the rules about decks and pools. Turns out, they must be at least 5 feet from the property line! I don't think his deck is even 5 centimeters fromt he property line!
I was thinking about calling the village about this but, the 5 foot rule has me concerned. I thought the rule was only 3 feet. We have a pool too and I don't think it's 5 feet from the fence. What would you do?? Report him and risk getting in trouble yourself or letting it go and live with it? I don't know that I can live with it. I have a 5 foot fence. I don't need to see my neighbor hanging over it! If I don't do anything, I guess I can plant some high trees, right??
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Posted 7/7/10 11:34 AM  |
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Andrewz00
Look! I changed it!
Member since 4/10 1789 total posts
Name:
Andrew
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Re: Neighbor Issue
well... we had a similar problem with a neighbor and a deck... we ended up planting tall bamboo along our fence. when it filled it it was perfect!
as far as the 5ft rule... i SUPPOSE you could anonymously report it couldn't you?
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:41 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Neighbor Issue
If you decide to report it, you better be certain that everything regarding your pool is up to code and legal.
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:42 AM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Neighbor Issue
I would plant some trees along your fence line.
Leyland cypresses - fast growing and hardy. They're about $60/tree.
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:45 AM |
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MrsDrMatt
Live and RUN like a Ninja!
Member since 5/06 3104 total posts
Name:
MrsDrMatt
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Why would it be ok for you to break the rules but not you?
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:46 AM |
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maybesoon
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 5981 total posts
Name:
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Re: Neighbor Issue
not sure what I would do, bc they would have to move the whole deck and I'm sure they would be pretty pi$$ed at you if you called. I would HATE them being able to see in tho
One of the homes we looked at had the same issue, the neighbors deck was like IN the yard. DH and I were looking and the neighbor was watching us over the fence from his Deck LOL not sure I could live like that
I personally don't like a lot of trees along the property so I wouldn't do that either 
Message edited 7/7/2010 11:54:15 AM.
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:53 AM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by MrsDrMatt
Why would it be ok for you to break the rules but not you?
I'm not saying it's ok to break the rules. I thought the rule was 3 feet. Never realized it was 5. Something I need to look into some more. My pool is 3 feet away from the fence. His deck is flush to the fence.
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:56 AM |
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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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Re: Neighbor Issue
I agree with planting the bamboo or the trees
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:57 AM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by Jenn627
I would plant some trees along your fence line.
Leyland cypresses - fast growing and hardy. They're about $60/tree.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to look into this. How tall do they grow?
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:57 AM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by ave1024
If you decide to report it, you better be certain that everything regarding your pool is up to code and legal.
Yep. Thank goodness I checked before I called. I really thought it only had to be 3 feet. We have a permit for it, that's not a problem. Just the distance from the fence. We were thinking of taking it down anyway.
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| Posted 7/7/10 11:59 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Maybe it's a new rule and your 3ft is grandfathered?
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| Posted 7/7/10 12:09 PM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by mom2mgn
Posted by Jenn627
I would plant some trees along your fence line.
Leyland cypresses - fast growing and hardy. They're about $60/tree.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to look into this. How tall do they grow?
Probably about 30 ft tall. My bro just ordered some - he got them from a place in Dix Hills. They start at about 6 ft tall, and they grow about 1 ft per year.
I plan on doing the same at my house - I too want to build a deck right off my house, so there will def not be privacy (for me or my neighbors). I've heard arborvitaes are more susceptible to disease so that's why I'm going with the Leylands...
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| Posted 7/7/10 12:12 PM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by MrsDrMatt
Why would it be ok for you to break the rules but not you?
That's kind of random - she didn't say that at all.
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| Posted 7/7/10 12:12 PM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Neighbor Issue
OKAY. Sorry for the million posts - this is where my bro got his trees from - Prianti Nursery, Dix Hills
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| Posted 7/7/10 12:33 PM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Thank you so much!!!!
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| Posted 7/7/10 1:05 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
I agree with planting the bamboo or the trees
I would be careful with bamboo-my understanding is that it gets out of control really fast.
I would go with the leland cypress.
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| Posted 7/7/10 1:35 PM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Neighbor Issue
yes bamboo actually does some major damage - it will probably shoot out in your neighbors yard and puncture a hole in their pool (happened to my bil)
as far as the cypress its nice only if you trim when it reaches the height you want or you do not mind towering bushes (depending on the sun it might block it)
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| Posted 7/7/10 1:48 PM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: Neighbor Issue
when you or him installed their pool the rule may have been 3 feet. rules change with pools and if you were co'd when the rule was 3 feet and your 3 feet from the fence then you are fine.
If you weren't co'd for your pool, IMO I think you should keep quite. If your not going to follow the rules, you shouldn't be reporting others who don't either.
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| Posted 7/7/10 1:54 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by Nifheim
yes bamboo actually does some major damage - it will probably shoot out in your neighbors yard and puncture a hole in their pool (happened to my bil)
as far as the cypress its nice only if you trim when it reaches the height you want or you do not mind towering bushes (depending on the sun it might block it)
NO BAMBOO!!!!!! 
There was quite a bit of bamboo already established when we moved in 13+ years ago. I have spent the last 13+ years doing everything to remove it. It's even growing where we had the ground completely destroyed because of the new basement. It will not die, and it spreads everywhere.....
If you have a permit, do you have a variance to allow it to be closer? My house is too close to the back fence, but because I have a variance, I'm completely legal.
At the variance hearings I went to, a lot of people were getting variances to build either a pool or a deck closer to the fence (although slightly more than 5 cm...  )
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| Posted 7/7/10 1:54 PM |
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mom2mgn
Love my family
Member since 2/08 2267 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Well, it turns out we are following the rules. DH is home so I had him measure and we are 7 feet on one side and 7 1/2 on the other.
Thank you about the info on the bamboo!!! I think I remember you posting about it a while back.
ETA - I called the village to confirm it's 5 feet and she did. I told her about my situation and she said I would have to put in a FOIL request for their file to see if they even have permits for the pool or the deck and then, I could request an investigation. Both would be totally anonymous and no way they could find out. Then, she asked me for the address so, I told her. I heard her going through some paperwork and then she said "you should put in the FOIL request" So, I'm assuming they don't have permits.
I spoke some more to DH about it and I think we're going to let it go for now. We're sure that sooner or later, the village will find out for themselves. However, if we see him leaning into our backyard again, we may do something sooner.
Message edited 7/7/2010 2:29:21 PM.
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| Posted 7/7/10 2:25 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Neighbor Issue
I want to thank all of you who weighed in on the bamboo. It's a horrible problem that a lot of people don't know about, and they install it as a quick fix. I'm so glad more people are aware of it now to spread the word. 
So, after getting the information you got, I have two questions. First is, have you asked them not to lean on/over your fence? Second is, does the deck allow them to see in anyone else's backyard too? If you're the only person affected, chances are good that they will assume it's you who complained.
As for privacy shrubs, just like any plants, do your research before you commit. Find out how much sun they need, how much the area next to the fence gets, if they are disease prone, and the height and width they are at maturity. The previous homeowners of my house didn't do that and we paid the price for it.
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| Posted 7/7/10 3:31 PM |
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maybesoon
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 5981 total posts
Name:
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by greenfreak
I want to thank all of you who weighed in on the bamboo. It's a horrible problem that a lot of people don't know about, and they install it as a quick fix. I'm so glad more people are aware of it now to spread the word.
So, after getting the information you got, I have two questions. First is, have you asked them not to lean on/over your fence? Second is, does the deck allow them to see in anyone else's backyard too? If you're the only person affected, chances are good that they will assume it's you who complained.
As for privacy shrubs, just like any plants, do your research before you commit. Find out how much sun they need, how much the area next to the fence gets, if they are disease prone, and the height and width they are at maturity. The previous homeowners of my house didn't do that and we paid the price for it.
bamboo
and yes they are going to assume you called and you will have a PO'ed neighbor. so hopefully you are not the only one who is affected by the dec,
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| Posted 7/7/10 10:55 PM |
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Elizabeth
Mom of Three
Member since 9/05 7900 total posts
Name:
"MOMMY!!!"
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Re: Neighbor Issue
I live in MP too and that is obnoxious as h*ll. not shocked though. Why would any neighbor, rules about 5 feet or not think it's OK to build something like a pool so close to the neighbor's property. They way you describe it, it sounds pretty darn invasive. Obviously your neighbor does not have the proper permits bc they would come in and shut him down in the first minute if he's that close. I dont see why you should have to alter your property and pay money to do so bc of your neighbor's decision to do this. I'm assuming those suggestions were made bc you were concerned about yours being within code but now that you know it's fine, I am glad you called bc the town claims to want to know this stuff and wants to address it. And I am not a snitchy type but the hell, when it's your house, why should you be miserable?
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| Posted 7/8/10 1:35 AM |
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Elizabeth
Mom of Three
Member since 9/05 7900 total posts
Name:
"MOMMY!!!"
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Re: Neighbor Issue
Posted by maybesoon
and yes they are going to assume you called and you will have a PO'ed neighbor. so hopefully you are not the only one who is affected by the dec,
the neighbor should have thought about his decision to build so close and how it would affect his neighbor before doing it. So yeah he's going to be PO'd but I think people doing whatever they want is ridiculous. The backlash is the backlash but to sit there with them in your face then eventually silently hiding behind huge shrubs that she would have to maintain and incur the cost of is not fair for the OP, KWIM?
ETA: It would be one thing if it was non-invasive. I'm not a total jerk and we all are trying to squeak as much shangri la out of our properties as we can. But this seems excessive based on the description.
Message edited 7/8/2010 1:44:07 AM.
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| Posted 7/8/10 1:41 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Neighbor Issue
I would nicely ask the neighbor to split the cost of the trees with you. Then play it by ear if you want to report it
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| Posted 7/8/10 9:09 AM |
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