Were You ever Forced to be Passive-Aggressive? It happened to me when I still lived in New Hampshire, before I divorced my second husband (and his girlfriend).
Our home was on top of a hill we affectionately called “Heck’s Hill” and for many years, ours was the only house within several miles.
A builder in town, well known for his rude arrogance, bought a huge parcel of land behind and beside ours on the right. His intention was to build a road around us, ending in a cul de sac to the right of Heck's Hill. That’s where he planned to build eight homes.
The road would go up the left side of our hill, wind around behind our property, and continue on to create the cul de sac and eventual eight driveways.
The builder claimed an easement for some of our property to make a cut through the hill so it was level enough for his road. Otherwise, he would have to take his road much further out for level ground and it would cost him a lot more.
We were advised by the Planning Board to attend the meeting since his plan concerned us. The easement would take 150′ from the back of our property to allow for the slope. Then his road would be cut into our hill with a 25′ drop. It seemed like a lot, but we were urged to agree because according to the Planning Board, the builder agreed to only take the necessary three trees at the top of the 25' cut. This would be well away from our rock wall and the in-ground swimming pool.
Our home was totally surrounded by woods, including the trees to be removed for his road. Most of the trees were old and established.
Just inside the tree line on top of our hill in back, was a rock/stone wall, which went almost entirely around our home. The stone wall was only a couple of feet from our in-ground pool. In the photo, you can see the concrete deck around the pool and under the slide. Just outside of the deck, you see the dark rock/stone wall. You can also see the wall to the left in the photo behind the cabana and house.
“In the State of New Hampshire, it’s against the law to destroy, or remove, an existing stone or rock wall as they are deemed to be historical.”
The day the bulldozer and other machinery arrived to make the cut into our property, the bulldozer operator came up to the house and let me know he would start cutting down trees in an hour and if we had a pet, to make sure it was kept indoors.
When they left, curious me went out to the back of our property where they had placed orange ribbons around trees to be bulldozed. Two of the largest trees were within a foot of the rock/stone wall and only a few feet from the pool. The dozers had already taken three trees down they weren’t approved to remove. They used to be beside the white birch in the photo.
Horrified, I called the builder on his cell phone and told him that was not what we had agreed to when we met with the Planning Board —it was not even close. I told him, per our agreement, okayed by the Planning Board, he would have to move his road further out, because he was NOT approved to make his cut that close to the existing stone/rock wall, or the pool.
By already taking out the three wrongly marked trees, and more that were planned, it was obvious he would have to take part of the stone wall, too. His plans would make the 25′ cut down for his road within a foot of the rock/stone wall —we would have a sheer 25′ drop off (a cliff) there? I told him that was unacceptable and dangerous. I had eleven grandchildren that often came to swim in our pool!
He said, “Hey, plans change. The additional feet of moving the road any further out would make it cost prohibitive. Get over it, lady. The road is going in where I say it’s going in.”
I told the builder we were going back in front of the Town Planning Board and let them decide. We would leave it to them to make the determination, because there was no way my husband and I would allow the him to take more than the 150′ easement just on his say-so.
He said the Planning Board wasn’t going to be meeting for another three weeks and he didn’t have time to take shit like this from me —-he had a job to do and the equipment was already there. Then he hung up on me.
Now I was angry. I went inside, got a rifle, loaded it, and planted myself on the rock/stone wall behind our pool and I waited with the rifle laying across my lap.
When the drivers came back, I told them to get off our property or I would use the rifle. They were very upset and I told them to go call their arrogant employer and tell him I was going to sit right where I was until the Planning Board met —-I didn’t care how long it took.
I’m normally an introvert, but I said it with all the bravado I could muster. (Oh boy, I was actually thinking. The police will be here any minute and I’m going to be in so much trouble …)
No police ever came and when the builder called the Planning Board to complain, they put an immediate hold on his whole project. They decided to convene and review both sides of the agreement again in two days’ time.
The Planning Board heard both sides and the arrogant bully was forced to move his road further out. It’s visible at the very top of the photo.
Satisfying … oh it was so very satisfying.
I could feel what was coming from the beginning and also feel my stomach tightening. My total distrust of and disgust with Demon Developers runs deep in me. In fact few things rile me up like the taking of legally owned property for what the government determines is "for the greater good." (Right of Eminent Domain). We recently bought the empty lot next door to us because a developer was intending to cut down a gorgeous ancient tree and build 4 cheap "shotgun houses" to rent out to college students and frat boys for late night shenanigans and destructive behavior. But no everyone can do that. The value of our property and home would have been diminished by this project. No one wants to live near these types of "domiciles." I'm so proud of what you did, CJ! You stood your ground while it was still yours to stand on! That's the Heroe's Journey! Once you win a battle like that, you're never the same. I Salute You, Comrade!