It sucks from all directions

[ChadTower]

I just came from a town meeting... they are building a Honeydew Donuts 5 feet from my property. 

[SirPeale]

*rubs hands together* now you can set up a camera to watch the dumpster, to see when they're going to toss the day old donuts.  Man, you're so freaking lucky!

[Bones]

Cool. You will be able to smell donuts all day everyday.

[Jabba]

And just think, 5 steps and you got a Mug-o-Coffee. You'll even know when a fresh pot is ready...

Mmmmmmm.....Donuts!
 

[DYNAGOD]

look at the bright side, when the value of your property plummets, youll have that much less tax liability every year..

[mr.Curmudgeon]

There goes the diet.


mrC

[Havok]

I just came from a town meeting... they are building a Honeydew Donuts 5 feet from my property. 

Excellent! My plan is progressing on schedule...

Muhahahaha!

[knuttz]

I don't know what a Honeydew Donut is but I would be ecstatic if they built a Krispy Kreme beside my house.

[shmokes]

Why?  They're just donuts.  A donut can only be so good before it ceases to be a donut.  A donuts goodness is finite.  For example, sex is better than donuts.  So is spaghetti, for that matter.  And bread.  And soup.

I never understood the fascination with Krispy Kreme, and I feel sorry as hell for Chad. 

You should really go get ahold of some endangered species and coax it into building a habitat on the land.

[paigeoliver]

I'd take a slice of cold pizza over a donut any day.

I have never been much for sugar in the first place, and raiding the free breakfast at my work on a regular basis has completely soured me on donuts, muffins and danishes. Now all I ever eat at work are peanut butter sandwiches and cereal.

[DrewKaree]

Seems like a perfect combination.

They're the donut, you're the 'hole

Do what shmokes suggests....remember that story I had a while back about them planting some endangered plant?  Give that a whirl.

[Bones]

I hear ancient Indian artifacts also work....

[Stingray]

Maybe it will be built on an indian graveyard and the the zombies will attack causing everything to go Mad Max. If you need me, I'll be passed out in the woods.

-S

[ChadTower]

I worked in Dunkin Donuts, and then a private bakery, all through high school.  I know intimately what goes on in the back of one of those places.  I have no desire to eat something produced in that environment.  What I'm concerned about is the drivethru lane they're putting right next to my backyard.  When we bought the house, that lot was a small breakfast diner.  Then the diner closed and the lot has been empty a couple of years.  Now we're getting a Honeydew and two other small shops in there that are yet to be identified. 

I hadn't even thought about the smell.  At the town meetings, we've gone over lights, cars, vegetation, sound, trash, etc etc... no one thought about odor, apparently.  The dumbest part is that of the 15 or so abutters (the lot is pretty big and surrounded by houses on three sides), I get by far the worst of every aspect of it.

[missioncontrol]

Cool. You will be able to smell donuts all day everyday.

I worked in a manufacturing plant about 7 years ago that made donuts, bread and other bakery goods......

I got used to the smell but,

I just drove by there a few weeks ago while I was up in Indiana the smell almost made me puke.

[shmokes]

Oh god, you poor bastard.  The underground grease trap.  Nothing smells more foul.  In the beginning you will only smell it periodically when the truck comes and sucks up all the muck.  But five years from now the smell will just linger about periodically.  It's horrible.

[Jabba]

Uggh! Grease Traps....Brings back horrible memories.

Back in my teenage years, I was a dishwasher at a restaurantr. The cook was an @sshole and wanted me to clean the grease trap. I opened it and the smell made me want to puke. I told his I wasn't doing it, he told me do it or else......I Quit there an then!

[JackTucky]

They cleaned a grease trap on Discovery's "Dirty Jobs"

I couldn't smell it and I wanted to hurl.

Bummer.

Art

[RetroJames]

CT, press to get the property owner and/or the business owner to erect a privacy fence between the lots.  Depending on the hours that place is open, things could get noisy.

$0.02

[RayB]

I never understood the fascination with Krispy Kreme, and I feel sorry as hell for Chad.

[Zakk]

I never understood the fascination with Krispy Kreme, and I feel sorry as hell for Chad.

[NiN^_^NiN]

i'd be more worried about the driving lane i can see ppl throwing their rubbish over the fence plus the light and noise will keep you up at night if it's open late.

But if they grease trap is there your gonna have a hard time selling your home or having friends over much 

[RetroJames]

But on the upside you can breed rats till the place goes out of business. 



Of course, then you will need to get cats to eat the rats...

Dogs to eat the cats...

Gorillas to eat the dogs...

etc.

[DarkKobold]

Gorillas eat dogs?

Sweet! Where do I buy my dog eating Gorilla?

[Scott84]

Ah that sucks.. you do know what the worst part is right?

By breathing you will turn into a lard @ss from all those donuts.

Definition of lard @ss in my town: 'One who constantly injects himself with nothing but garbage' No offense to those who are overweight. 

[Bones]

Everybody is looking at the negatives.....

Just think about all the drugged up hookers hanging out for a sugar hit everyday that will be looting around outside of your home.

In time you might get to know them by name and if you play your cards right you may score the occasional freebie at times they are not hurling verbal abuse in your general direction.

[Daniel270]

I would think it being a donut shop you'd have a bigger problem with off duty and patrolling police....   something about cops and their donuts...

[knuttz]

Why?  They're just donuts.  A donut can only be so good before it ceases to be a donut.  A donuts goodness is finite.  For example, sex is better than donuts.  So is spaghetti, for that matter.  And bread.  And soup.

I was really just joking.  I'm sure it would suck to have a Krispy Kreme right in my back yard.  But of things you listed only one is better than KK donuts.

[JB]

Why?  They're just donuts.  A donut can only be so good before it ceases to be a donut.  A donuts goodness is finite.  For example, sex is better than donuts.  So is spaghetti, for that matter.  And bread.  And soup.

I was really just joking.  I'm sure it would suck to have a Krispy Kreme right in my back yard.  But of things you listed only one is better than KK donuts.

Yeah.
Spaghetti is just too awesome.

[ChadTower]

A privacy fence is part of the site plan.  It is 8 feet, but since there is an elevation difference between their property and mine, it's 8 feet on my side but only 6 feet on theirs.  Basically, of all of the 13 or so abutters (it's a big property), I am getting the worst of every aspect.  Light, traffic, sound, trash, clearance, activity, etc etc all come to a head at the entrance from the road, which is on the corner next to my property.

It was a business when we bought the house in 2001, but it was a small restaurant.  We had almost no issues with it other than the manager being a total dillhole.

[RetroJames]

A privacy fence is part of the site plan.

[ChadTower]

That is also in the site plan for every side of the property except my side and the side facing the road.  The town says there is not enough space between my property and the drivethru lane for them to put anything other than that fence.

Everyone else has 20 feet of clearance.

[RetroJames]

That is also in the site plan for every side of the property except my side and the side facing the road.

[ChadTower]

The trees on my property were brought up, the builder practically wet himself and the planning board had very little interest in listening to the concerns of residents at the meeting.  It seemed to have been all worked out and agreed to ahead of time and this meeting was all just show.

I live in a very small town, it's all the same guys on all the planning, zoning, etc boards.  If those guys decide to allow something, it goes up.

[RayB]

Does anyone know if such close proximty to a commercial zone is good or bad for property values? People who have bought and sold homes here over the last 3 years have made crazy profits, but I'm fearful this might be coming to an end...

It all depends on the buyer.

[ChadTower]

Those tactics always fail if one of the unhappy parties happens to be an attorney.  A few key filings can cost a town and builder thousands of dollars, costing the attorney nothing.

[RetroJames]

Those tactics always fail if one of the unhappy parties happens to be an attorney.

[Stingray]

... some of those thin evergreen? pine?

Your picture looks like ceder, which would be a good choice IMO. They grow quickly and they're pretty thick. They make a pretty effective noise barrier.

-S

[Shape D.]

They'd be nicer if they were cider trees. 

Seriously though, the crappy part will be the smell and trash thrown everywhere by the no-goodnicks leaving the drivethrough and driving past your house.

[RetroJames]

... some of those thin evergreen? pine?

Your picture looks like ceder, which would be a good choice IMO. They grow quickly and they're pretty thick. They make a pretty effective noise barrier.

-S

Good eye, they are indeed cedar.  Do you happen to know what type of evergreen? pine? I am talking about?

[Stingray]

Cedar are evergreens, or am I misinderstanding your question?

-S

[Sephroth57]

the title of this thread gives me a picture of a woman on her knees, with mouths on all sides of her head

[DrewKaree]

... some of those thin evergreen? pine?

Your picture looks like ceder, which would be a good choice IMO. They grow quickly and they're pretty thick. They make a pretty effective noise barrier.

-S

Good eye, they are indeed cedar.  Do you happen to know what type of evergreen? pine? I am talking about?

What you are probably referring to are arborvitae, and there are several different types.  They hold their shape reasonably well, are less "spreading" than cedars, and require a minimum of care.  The larger varieties can grow to 12+ feet in just a few short years (think 3-5) with very little spreading width wise.  They are fairly dense (cedar is a denser plant) and make an excellent privacy screen.

[Jabba]

There you are Drew. Haven't seen much of ya bruth-a! I heard a nasty rumour that you've been detrhroned. Tell me it aint true!!!

[Tiger-Heli]

Good eye, they are indeed cedar.  Do you happen to know what type of evergreen? pine? I am talking about?

I was thinking probably Leyland Cypress.  They would work well for that application as well.

[DrewKaree]

There you are Drew. Haven't seen much of ya bruth-a! I heard a nasty rumour that you've been detrhroned. Tell me it aint true!!!

   They got me buddy! 

Nah, once we go dormant for the winter, he'll be staring at the business end of the DK express

Now Chad is someone to worry about.  He's got his sights set on overtaking Paige, and he has yet to post one of his arcade get-togethers complete with pictures of the girl he is diggin' on and showing the cramped quarters of his house. 

Chad, that is

[ChadTower]

 

[Stingray]

If Chad buys a scooter and a motor home we'll know it's contagious and may have to quarantine.

-S

[ChadTower]

I'd like a motor home, but not to live in.

[DrewKaree]

I'd like a motor home, but not to live in.

Uh Oh!  I heard that's how it started for Paige too!  Poor Chad....we thought we knew him so well

[Bones]

I heard a rumour that Chad is selling donuts from a motorhome parked on the side of the road.....

[DrewKaree]

I heard a rumour that Chad is selling donuts from a motorhome parked on the side of the road.....

Actually it's from a van.....down by the river

[NIVO]

aww man im very dissapointed............from the thread title i was hoping to see a new fangled vacuum. FOR SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME Chad 

[ChadTower]

Hey, at least I'm not whoring out for Gratis referrals on web forums!  Donuts are easier sales.

[ChadTower]

So, an annoying update.

The building is up, it has three small storefronts.  That was anticipated.  So far no evidence at all of the elaborate drainage they had in the site plan.  Maybe they did build it and I didn't see it going in but I doubt that.

But today... today was the most annoying part so far.  My wife calls me at work a little while ago.  "The builders just knocked on the door.  They said they are about to tear down our fence to put up the new one, and probably alter or remove some of the trees there.  I am still in my pajamas so I said okay do what you need to do."

  

We have a good wooden picket 7' fence there and several 50 year old trees.  We got a certified letter (as required by law) from the developer three weeks ago explaining that they would have to alter the fences and landscaping along the property line in order to put up their fence.  I showed this to my wife and explained that if they ever ask her that she is to deny them such permission and instruct them not to touch anything on our side of the property line.  I also called their office multiple times and left very clear messages that they are not to touch our fence or our trees except where an overhanging branch is physically obstructing them (that's the only case they are allowed to anyway).  So, three weeks later they knock on the door saying they still want to do it and my wife just goes "okay".

 

I tell my wife at this point that I don't care if she has her pajamas on, she needs to bring the phone over to the guy she talked to so I can talk to him.  After a minute of protest she does it and the guy goes all "well, those are my instructions, and my boss isn't here."  It takes me 5 minutes of repeated "you don't have the legal right to do what you are saying you want to do" until finally someone else grabs the phone.  Now I have his boss despite just being told he wasn't there.  The boss also wants to tear down my fence and possibly cut down a tree or two.  10 minutes later when he sees I'm not going to just let him do it he finally says "okay fine but we're not tearing those things down for you later" and gives the phone back to my wife.  I had to stop just short of threatening to sue him if he touched my fence or trees (or the $3000 shed I just had built inside that fence in the spring).

Sorry, lots of details, just had to vent.   

[shardian]

Didn't they offer you payment for altering your property?

If some business came to me and said they wanted to tear my fence and trees down, I would expect financial reimbursement.

[ChadTower]

No, they didn't, but since my answer was "hell no you aren't touching my fence or trees", I don't think a payment offer was an option anyway.

[AtomSmasher]

Wow, that sucks.  In California, we're trying to pass a law that should help stop crap like that from happening.   "Bars state/local governments from condemning or damaging private property to promote other private projects, uses."  Too bad that doesn't help you 

[JackTucky]

Wow, that sucks.  In California, we're trying to pass a law that should help stop crap like that from happening.   "Bars state/local governments from condemning or damaging private property to promote other private projects, uses."  Too bad that doesn't help you 

California has a law against everything.  Except shattering earthquakes, raging fires, lousy boob jobs, mispronouncing the state name, and turning away illegals. 

Jacktucky

[ChadTower]

Well, sometimes you just have to have an illegal raging boob job that shakes and burns.

[boykster]

Jeebus...your shed cost $3000?  Does it have shag carpet and gold plated plumbing fixtures or what?  I can get a plastic shed from Wally World for like $500

 

[ChadTower]

10x12 vinyl sided full framed gambrel... it's basically a small building with no electricity or plumbing.  It will be there as long as our house is... shopped around quite a bit, that's pretty much the going rate to have a shed company come in and build this type for you.

Very similar to this one but vinyl sided with shutters to match the house.

[JackTucky]

I bought a 12 x 18 with full height side walls, and a decorative thingy on the top (cupola?) for $2300 delivered.  16" on center construction too.

Jacktucky

[ChadTower]

To be accurate I don't think it was actually $3000... to be completely accurate I think it was in the $2700-2750 range.  It's been a few months so I'd have to look at the receipt.  When I first said $3000 that was just a throw in number during a rant about another topic.  Could have been had with pine siding for 200-300 less, I think, but we wanted it to match the house.  I wanted slower temp changes inside, too, because I store arcade stuff in there.

[Kremmit]

When they're done building but not ready to open yet, that's the time to place the dynamite.

[ChadTower]

Wouldn't it be better to get it in during construction so they'll never find it... then wait 6 months after opening?