code enforcement problem in Titusville

[Boneman]

The conflict - a crabby old neighbor versus a FASCAR racer who is working on his cars.

There is a meeting tonight at City Hall regarding possible changes to the city code to cover residential automotive work. I'm going to the meeting in support the racer. This neighbor complains even if he is working in his garage with the door down.

This is a private property issue. I don't want government being so intrusive that it can dictate my behavior to satisfy the whim of a single neighbor.

Ed, Skip, Larry, Bill and all the other racers in this area should try to attend this too. Next time, the neighbor who is complaining could live in any of our neighborhoods.

[JackTripper]

Don't worry Boneman, take this gem with you and it's an open and shut case.

Fascar drivers in Titusville clearly give back to the community whereas the cranky old people merely harass the local waterfowl.

[georgep]

THis made the 3 wide site up north also. My suggestion is she should MOVE.

[flraceguy]

Rex ole buddy...

I hate to tell you, but it is time to move up to the lovely little ole' area around New Smyrna.... We don't have any problems with folks like that... It seems as if they end up moving or leaving (whether it be on their own accord or via the local Aligator hole... ROFLMAO...)

Seriously though, if my memory serves me right, the last time I was there you didn't seem to have any neighbors close enough to be affected or seemingly so... Honestly, you have everything in your garage as it is... Trees to the front and side... Large open area out back... If that is the case, give me a call and we will put a very pretty fence up across the back... Plus with the advent of your new "garage/Home Shop" facility it really shouldn't be a problem... Especially since your work will be done within the confines of a legal building and not in your yard...

They tried that where I used to live, the city told them that unless the afflicted house was in a Homeowner's association that specifically prohibited working on automobiles in your driveway and/or yard or the offending household was negatively (devalueing properties) affecting the surrounding area... i.e. rubbish, unlawful commercial use of a property unless authorized by the local zoning commission, etc. etc.

Just invite your offended neighbor to NSS one evening and maybe you can convert some naysayers to short track lovers... Whether they are old or young it matters not the least as long as they support the local short tracks...

Have a great night...

[flraceguy]

Wished you would have let me know, I would have loved to attend that meeting as well... Even though I am from New Smyrna... Give me a buzz, I am interested to see what wen ton...

[Boneman]

Duane, the problem is not occuring at my house. I've never had a problem with neighbors, but I wanted to support a fellow racer, or the next time it could spread to my street.

Becuase we went to defend ourselves, and did it in a very civilized way, the outcome looks pretty positive. This was my first zoning meeting, but others in our group were veterans from years of conflict.

Here are some of the comments that we had to defend against: "racing is just not a normal activity, and does not belong in a residential area". "What do you mean you have more than one car? Why would anyone want to do that?" No kidding, we were opposed by a small a group of controlling old busy-bodies who wanted the restrictions like the following: one racecar that must be garage kept with the garage door down, all work to be performed with the door down, nothing in the yard, and they discussed permits or licensing for racecars or collector cars. They were medelesome trouble-makers and must be opposed in all communities.

The zoning supervisor who ran the meeting was actually pretty reasonable, but like any government official she must be closely watched to make sure that what she said tonight is what she will propose to the city council.

All things considered, I would have preferred to do just about anything else with my spare time. But this was worth a night, and I strongly recommend that all of us stick together to oppose our neighbors who would like to control us.

[SeminoleWind]

Nosy Neighbors? In Flaaaarida? C'mon now!

[Todd McCreary]

and they discussed permits or licensing for racecars or collector cars.

this is the problem. many of these intrusive idiots don't want any automotive work whatsoever being done.

[AB195]

Zoning Sup's are usually pretty cool, they already know who is doing the complaining. It is imperative that you present your side in a dignified and professional, non-emotional manner. I've been through it several times. Take them a few camera photos, explain your side, and it will probably fall your way.

Home Owner Associations are a tad-bit different, which can dictate what color your house will be, what mailbox you will have and what window treatments you will have. But most everyone already knows the rules before they even enter into the ballgame.

Zoning is different, too. There are County ordinances preventing Billy-Joe Bob from parking his semi-rig in the front yard every night, and that's OK. And not allowing boats to be parked in your front or side yard, too. Good thing I have a big garage for my boat. But my plain-white, unmarked plumbing van at the house has made for some heated debates. I have been told that you cannot bring work home with you, yet Officer Obie the next block over parks his squad car in his driveway every night, and people bring briefcases and laptops home with them-----same thing, what the heck is the difference? Almost everyone brings work home with them. I park my van behind a gated security fence on the side, which has quieted down some of the barking dogs. This bickering will probably go on forever, until I am the one doing the complaining in 25 years.

I wish you guys the best of luck, but have a plan B in place if it shouldn't fall your way.

[ALASKA54]

Homeowner's Assoc.

My homeowner's Assoc. accused me of urinating on my lawn. I told them the brown spots in the yard were mole crickets. I looked in the homeowners guide and there's no mention of it being against the rules for taking a leak in the yard.

[ronabneysr]

don't buy a house in eagle brook or osprey

you can't even bring your harley home no jacked up nice 4x4 or don't even think about stopping by in race car toter or motor home to load it up

you can sleep and eat there tho i think and play golf

[ocalasp76]

WELCOME TO FLORI-DUH !!

ALSO KNOWN AS HEAVENS' WAITING ROOM

Hell, my neighbors stop by and offer to help when I need it.

---JIM---

[no quarter]

My homeowners ass. was a 55 and over community till 5 years ago in Ft. Lauderdale. No working on cars at home but my neighbor works on cars in his driveway for a dealer, the Grand Pobah of the assoc. has a rooster that wakes us in the mourning and his yard looks like Sanford & Son's. But they call the property manager about the kids in the place causing terorist acts like climbing in a tree, riding their bikes around, or bouncing a ball on the pavment in front of the club house. That last horable act was commeted by my 11 year old son and was photoed and E-mailed to the Property manager who happens to be my sons baseball coach. He told them to get a life. Of the 210 homes in our development 80 are way behind on their dues so they raised the other 130 homeowners dues to compensate. Glad the lease is up in Sept. I'm buying this time. NO HOMEOWNERS "ASS"oc. ever again.

[Jane]

Years ago, when my ex was here, we had a run in with this because we were not keeping our racecar on the trailer all the time. Supposedly if you had a race car, it had to be kept on the trailer at all times not allowing you to work on it. Then they came up with it had to be behind a wooden fence where no one could see it which we had to do. My closest neighbors never complained about it but the president of the so-called Home Owners organization in our neighborhood rode around looking for things. When she passed away, so did the organization but for awhile, we had someone at our house every week.

Good luck Titusville because I know what a pain in the butt this can be. My garage was turned into a family room so I have no garage to work in on a car. And most don't have the money to rent a garage to be able to work on a car. My solution was get rite of the ex and the car and then they left me alone but until then, it was plain nasty.

[soupkitchen]

HOA's are a different story ,they have you buy the short hairs. I wish I live around some of these busy bodies, I'd go get a roller take the wheels of it, put the car in the front yard, fill it with dirt and put flowers in it, it's my flower pot and the city shouldn't be able to do a damn thing about it.

My dad had an old shrimp boat in his front yard in Citrus County, the nieghbors complained and complained, he said it was a landscape decoration, a big lawn ornament if you will, the county agreed and there it sits to this day.