Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Cheaters Piss On The Rural Community
I've thought about this all day today. Cheating, cheap community members can't find their way clear to pony up $5 to participate in the Community Yard Sale that was held today. It's the same every year. One year it was a Town Board member. For several years it's been a judicial clerk. Every year it's been people who like to benefit from the community organizing that is done to promote the event but can't pay a lousy $5 to help defray the advertising costs and be put on the map. I've got news for you low life's - everybody who joins or has a map knows who you are. You are talked about all over town. Yes, we are nice to your face but behind your back, we know that you cheated. Part of the "rural characteristic of the community" is that we care about our neighbors. Here's a suggestion. Next year care enough to sign up, pay your extremely modest $5 and get on the map. Quit being a deadbeat neighbor.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Zoning The RURAL Out of Our Little Town - #1
This had been a long time percolating in my brain.
In trying to keep the "Rural" aspect of our town, we are zoning it out of existence.
Our town is : the smell of manure as it goes past our house, on it's way from the farm to a field where it will be spread and will help produce food for animals and humans.
Our town is: the neighbor who paints their house a tacky color (by today's standards)
Our town is: people trying to enjoy the property that they own.
Our town is: live and let live.
So the question is, what constitutes a "Rural", how do we keep our town rural, and can zoning and a comprehensive plan do that?
My understanding of the "Rural" way of life is that it gives the most freedom to individual land owners, whether you like what they do on their property or not, while continuing to help them in time of need and keeping your heart charitable towards them.
Here's where (in my opinion - IMO) we are going totally in the wrong direction. We should be trying to minimize the number of rules that apply to owner land usage (very rural concept) while maintaining basic safety issues and some common sense rural ideals.
The current zoning law has a statement in it that says "if something is not stated or defined in this law, then it is not allowed". Not exactly a freedom lover's statement IMO. Because of omissions, inconsistencies, and just basic poorly thought out laws, this "not allowed" statement totally confounds the reasonable approach to "Rural" zoning. Breathing is not specifically stated as allowed so by this law, it is not allowed. Dog houses are not stated as allowed so technically they are not allowed. DUH - we live in a Rural community so who's business is it to tell us we can or can not have a dog house.
There are no set-backs listed for other structures (i.e. not houses) in several zones. Ergo, while the structure may be allowed, since there is no allowable set-back listed, you can not possibly legally locate your structure IMO. Mind you, reasonable minds have OK such structures using their own reasonable setbacks but technically, that's not written in the law and therefore it is illegal.
If your zone does have a set-back for "other structures", why do we have to have a permit to set a shed on our property (any property we own)? Why can't any structure under 150 square feet be by right? Why can't you have multiple such structures on your property? Who's business is it to say you can or can't have a structure under 150 square feet on property that you own but has no residence on it? For some reason, sheds have been singled out to require more zoning ifs/ands/or buts! You can have multiple accessory buildings (over 150 square feet) but only one shed (under 150 square feet). IMO you should be allowed as many structures under 150 square feet as you wish. Call it a shed, a chicken coop, a potting shed, a wood shed, a changing room, a dog house, I just don't care. If you want it, if it is located 5' or 10' inside your property line, AND if it doesn't block your neighbor's view of the lake (mostly), IMO you can have as many as you like. It's your property, enjoy it. IMO that preserves the "Rural" characteristic of our town.
Just to point out how inconsistent our zoning laws are, take "hunting stands" as an example. They are not listed as allowed, ergo, they should be forbidden. Well, people have them and the zoning officer has traditionally ignored them. Pretty much, most of the wood constructed hunting stands are just sheds located 20+ feet off of the ground. In a "Rural" community, this seems to be accepted and OK. IMO it is OK. Taking that one step further, if a shed located 20 feet in the air is OK, then a shed located on the ground is even better - safer for the community while allowing the land owner free use of his land as he see's fit.
Check back for more articles on how we are zoning the RURAL out of our community. It's time to get the zoning juggernaut stopped and reversed. It's your property because you want to enjoy it. Learn to accept and promote the same freedom for your neighbor. Get in a RURAL frame of mind.
In trying to keep the "Rural" aspect of our town, we are zoning it out of existence.
Our town is : the smell of manure as it goes past our house, on it's way from the farm to a field where it will be spread and will help produce food for animals and humans.
Our town is: the neighbor who paints their house a tacky color (by today's standards)
Our town is: people trying to enjoy the property that they own.
Our town is: live and let live.
So the question is, what constitutes a "Rural", how do we keep our town rural, and can zoning and a comprehensive plan do that?
My understanding of the "Rural" way of life is that it gives the most freedom to individual land owners, whether you like what they do on their property or not, while continuing to help them in time of need and keeping your heart charitable towards them.
Here's where (in my opinion - IMO) we are going totally in the wrong direction. We should be trying to minimize the number of rules that apply to owner land usage (very rural concept) while maintaining basic safety issues and some common sense rural ideals.
The current zoning law has a statement in it that says "if something is not stated or defined in this law, then it is not allowed". Not exactly a freedom lover's statement IMO. Because of omissions, inconsistencies, and just basic poorly thought out laws, this "not allowed" statement totally confounds the reasonable approach to "Rural" zoning. Breathing is not specifically stated as allowed so by this law, it is not allowed. Dog houses are not stated as allowed so technically they are not allowed. DUH - we live in a Rural community so who's business is it to tell us we can or can not have a dog house.
There are no set-backs listed for other structures (i.e. not houses) in several zones. Ergo, while the structure may be allowed, since there is no allowable set-back listed, you can not possibly legally locate your structure IMO. Mind you, reasonable minds have OK such structures using their own reasonable setbacks but technically, that's not written in the law and therefore it is illegal.
If your zone does have a set-back for "other structures", why do we have to have a permit to set a shed on our property (any property we own)? Why can't any structure under 150 square feet be by right? Why can't you have multiple such structures on your property? Who's business is it to say you can or can't have a structure under 150 square feet on property that you own but has no residence on it? For some reason, sheds have been singled out to require more zoning ifs/ands/or buts! You can have multiple accessory buildings (over 150 square feet) but only one shed (under 150 square feet). IMO you should be allowed as many structures under 150 square feet as you wish. Call it a shed, a chicken coop, a potting shed, a wood shed, a changing room, a dog house, I just don't care. If you want it, if it is located 5' or 10' inside your property line, AND if it doesn't block your neighbor's view of the lake (mostly), IMO you can have as many as you like. It's your property, enjoy it. IMO that preserves the "Rural" characteristic of our town.
Just to point out how inconsistent our zoning laws are, take "hunting stands" as an example. They are not listed as allowed, ergo, they should be forbidden. Well, people have them and the zoning officer has traditionally ignored them. Pretty much, most of the wood constructed hunting stands are just sheds located 20+ feet off of the ground. In a "Rural" community, this seems to be accepted and OK. IMO it is OK. Taking that one step further, if a shed located 20 feet in the air is OK, then a shed located on the ground is even better - safer for the community while allowing the land owner free use of his land as he see's fit.
Check back for more articles on how we are zoning the RURAL out of our community. It's time to get the zoning juggernaut stopped and reversed. It's your property because you want to enjoy it. Learn to accept and promote the same freedom for your neighbor. Get in a RURAL frame of mind.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Benefits of Small Town Life
When I first moved to Findley Lake, there was no such thing as cable TV. Antennas brought in Erie, maybe Buffalo, and channels 6 and 10 from Canada. That was the extent of TV home entertainment. Locals looked to their neighbors for passive entertainment, a kind of "local" TV.
One lady talked about going out on Findley Lake after Labor Day and using her binoculars to look into the windows of the cottages that lined the lake. I'd never thought of that activity but could see where it would be pretty interesting. Once I related this to a new part-time resident who had a lake house. You should have seen him turn white. Guess he wasn't drawing the drapes on the lake side, assuming that people couldn't see in.
Likewise, being greeted by name the first time I went to vote was disconcerting as I didn't know the people who greeted me. Small town people pay attention to property sales, cars in the driveway, and all other manner of clues as to what is going on at your house. After living here this long, I can say that the effect of that scrutiny ranges from benign to extremely neighborly. When acquaintances notice a change in the pattern, they will step in to see if you need help. You are definitely not ignored here.
At it's best, Local TV is gentle, educational, and promotes a sense of community and generosity for those in need.
You don't have to be on the lake to enjoy Local TV. A ride around the lake at dusk offers little snippets of life due to the propensity of residents to leaves their drapes and shades up. Whether you like home decor (pine paneling was very very in at some point in time), family activities (playing cards and watching TV seem to the the favorites), or just enjoy the warmth emanating from the lights softly pouring out of the windows across the front lawns, a ride around the lake is a gentle, educational, and community affirming activity. When done with an ice cream cone in hand, its' also dessert time !!
One lady talked about going out on Findley Lake after Labor Day and using her binoculars to look into the windows of the cottages that lined the lake. I'd never thought of that activity but could see where it would be pretty interesting. Once I related this to a new part-time resident who had a lake house. You should have seen him turn white. Guess he wasn't drawing the drapes on the lake side, assuming that people couldn't see in.
Likewise, being greeted by name the first time I went to vote was disconcerting as I didn't know the people who greeted me. Small town people pay attention to property sales, cars in the driveway, and all other manner of clues as to what is going on at your house. After living here this long, I can say that the effect of that scrutiny ranges from benign to extremely neighborly. When acquaintances notice a change in the pattern, they will step in to see if you need help. You are definitely not ignored here.
At it's best, Local TV is gentle, educational, and promotes a sense of community and generosity for those in need.
You don't have to be on the lake to enjoy Local TV. A ride around the lake at dusk offers little snippets of life due to the propensity of residents to leaves their drapes and shades up. Whether you like home decor (pine paneling was very very in at some point in time), family activities (playing cards and watching TV seem to the the favorites), or just enjoy the warmth emanating from the lights softly pouring out of the windows across the front lawns, a ride around the lake is a gentle, educational, and community affirming activity. When done with an ice cream cone in hand, its' also dessert time !!
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