Your city, and your tractors, and vehicles

I am almost ready to take my plans to the city to divide what is left of Dad's, and Mom, home place. My Mom left my brother, and my self equal parts of two acers each. There are tractors all over the place probably 15 half of them do run the others are parters, along with my brothers junker trucks, around 9 none run. I think when the city sees all these things I may have a problem. Anyone of you ever have to deal with this? Stan

When dad died my sister and I had to split up the girls in the family cathouse. The city had a fit.

You may want to check on local ordinances concerning that. About fifteen years ago our local Sweet Old Boys, (read the capital letters) decided to clean up our county and passed an ordinance stating that you could not have over two vehicles on your property that did not run or were not being driven. Now I live out in the country on a little traveled road, but no matter, I had to get rid of about 25 vehicles including a 69 Dodge Super Bee, two 69 dodge Coronet 2dr hdtps, a 52 Ford, two 53 Fords and a 54 Ford. All classified as antiques or collectible, but when those people make up their mind, you would have more success fighting a tornado with a peach tree switch. That's why I say check out the ordinances first, it may possibly give you something to work with. And Good Luck.

You must live in a dump. Why would you have all that? You clowns out in the midwest live like pigs

Old friend and landlord died about ten years ago. He had six tractors, sixteen trucks and about a dozen cars around the place, not to mention about every type of machinery used in this area. Most of it was covered by weeds and woods; most of it hadn't moved from where it was parked for at least thirty years. After discusssing it with me and several other friends, she decided to sell it. We got an auctioneer who had a guy who came in and got all six tractors running. Everything was dug out of the brush. Anything worth restoring went to the auction. Everything else got scrapped. Money was up on scrap, so she made a small fortune in rusty iron. Even the tractors sold well. Big surprise was the only tractor we didn't get running- an unstyled 'B' with a set of workers which had been parked for many years. It went for $2100. Just one idea.

Yeah check with the town... off the record. An employee or someone NOT the inspector. Around here, farm equipment is OK, but cars, trucks trailers are limited to a couple...unregistered. If you put plates and pay excise tax on all of them- or a build a taxable building to store them in, any number is fine. Biggest thing? 'Tidy up the place'. So's it doesn't look like Dogpatch. And usually, if they tell you to get rid of it, if you slowly keep plugging away, that counts, keep a steady noticable improvement. If you do nothing, like the 'hoarders' show, you will be given a deadline date. That's bad.

Whoa!! 37chief is in California if I remember right.

And are you sure you want to start a war with all us midwest people? DOUG

To each his own, unclepatty, I don't know where you live and don't care, but just stay there!

That's the azzhole that's been on here all day- kinda hope they can block him--

Hey Stan,

I have never delt with that personally. But, there was a elderly fella across the road from me that died a couple of years ago that had some stuff around his property that needed to go. Finally, his widow did this past year. Couple old ACs, and a fairly big IH that was setting back in the woods. Camper, couple of pickups. Lot of stuff that was an eyesore, but was what it was. Still a couple of corn cribs that look like they are going to tumble down in a big wind or storm, and a barn that needs to be razed. But, its thier, her property and it is what it is. If she needs help with something, me or some neighbors gladly do what we can. Oh yeah, just remembered, is a house further back on the property needs to be razed as well. Belonged to their son, but he had a stroke about 20 years ago and has been a vegetable in a nursing home since.

Good luck Stan, and you are correct. County zoning guys might come out and hassle you.

Mark

A gentleman I know that lives in my county had the county come down on him for a similar situation. If I remember correctly they made him remove most of it. He could keep tractors outside uncovered because they were farm history, but not cars. They made him put the cars and other things under roof or they required he hall it off.

Depends on what the local laws say and if they ever enforce them. If the "city" land-use cops didn't care before - why would they now? I know some places have land-use regs that limit how much junk you can keep per acre before being classified as an official junkyard (that requires a license). So breaking into smaller parcels might be an issue? That sort of thing is very common where I live - but no real city here. Many old farms with owners dying and 100s of acres being parcelled out - often with old trucks, tractors, and farm implements all over the place. Usually winds up with an on-site auction, car crusher - or both. Then a bunch of small modular homes and/or trailers get put in and the rural/farm landscape is ruined.

Well the tractors, trucks and related can be cleaned up removed, would seem that would just be a code violation if applicable in your location, but the best thing you can do if submitting a variance for a subdivision or just plans for approval and record, is to make sure you have everything addressed and are prepared for any other issues, the last thing you want to do is go before a planning board or what have you and look like a deer in the headlights. The reason I say this is that I used to attend a lot of these meetings for customers/clients, and other people attending/submitting proposals, plans what have you would always show up unprepared, or with things not addressed that should be. Immediately gets tabled. I think the worst thing a person can do is just that, because the board, plan examiner, once rejecting or tabling a submission or proposal, is likely to more heavily scrutinize same. They remember you from the first submission. Just the same not everyone will get an approval the first time either, but I've always believed in being complete and prepared, I've had several clients who thought I was over thinking or preparing, however if one of the board or examiners or what have you decided to take me to task on something or raise an issue for the board to hear, I always had an answer, often times it never occurred, but was good to be prepared just in case.