Our next door neighbor called the City... PHOTOS!(pg1)

[JuliaEeyore]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
In our area, applications for changes to homes that require a permit are posted in the local paper giving those interested the opportunity to attend a zoning board meeting and challenge the proposed changes before a permit is issued. No guarantee for satisfaction, but no surprises either.

I'm a lurker round here... But I just wanted to agree with PAW briefly and say that my town was the same way.

We have a MINISCULE cottage (583 sq. ft!) and we finished off the attic and added a triple dormer (adding 200 sq. ft. in a loft=like office space). Wasn't adding ANY height whatsoever, just bumping out a bit, but it ran in the paper AND everyone on our street was notified of the zoning board meeting by our town. If ANY wanted to show up and say they had a problem with it, we wouldn't have gotten the approval.

Our neighbors would have been stupid to complain, as it didn't infringe on anyone, but they were offered the chance.

I'm surprised that the OP's town/development/area doesn't have something like that. That's when the neighbor's should have spoken up... but like most here have said, they can't really stop you from doing what you want to your own property, as long as you have all the town's approval to do so!

Sorry it has made strained relations even more strained...

Julia