Sunday, July 12, 2009

Claim to Fame



My neighbor called yesterday and asked have we looked at the little newsletter insert in our water bill yet.

No, we had not, but went to the part to see, per her direction.

The newsletter is a little public service newsletter that is stuffed with the water bill every month. It tells festivals and concerts on tap and other items of public interest, plus remind us of county ordinances that are being abused.

There was a picture of our neighbor's house across the street.

I thought whoever took the picture was kind. If they pointed the lens just a little to the left to show the driveway there might be old car engines, four or five junked cars, tools with grass growing around them, fast food packages*, and maybe a couple of boats waiting to be repaired. And if you think that is terrible, don't look in the back yard.

Here is the text that was with the above picture:

The front lawn is not a parking lot

Staff reports

According to the Cobb County Code, vehicles may not be parked in the grass or unimproved surface between the roadway and the home’s front setback. In the R-30, R-20, R-15, R-12, RD, RA-4 and RA-5 zoned districts, parking allows only one vehicle, one boat and one recreational vehicle, or any combination totaling three, in the rear or side yard on a hardened surface.

In the R-40, R-80 and RR zoned districts, any combination of boats and recreational vehicles exceeding three must be screened from public roadways via a buffer (approved by the Cobb County landscape architect) or fencing.

A hardened surface is either concrete, asphalt or a heavy tar and gravel mix. The use of concrete blocks, pavers, runners or other similar materials will be considered as a treated and hardened surface as long as it is installed permanently in the ground (not loosely on top). When parked, all tires of the vehicles must be on a hardened surface.

Violations of this code will result in a notice of violation issued for compliance. If the property remains in violation, a citation will be issued to appear in Magistrate Court. County code states per OCGA 36-1-20, violator may be incarcerated for a period not to exceed 60 days and/or fined $100-$1,000. More detailed information is available in the county code on the county clerk’s Web page at www.cobbcounty.org or by calling Code Enforcement at 770-528-2180. Additional information is also available at the Code Enforcement Web site.

4 comments:

Jean Campbell said...

So, did he move the vehicle, or was he so flattered to get his abode featured in the newsletter that he parked a second car there?

Eddie said...

Nell,
I see no change at all...unless that is, they added some more cars in the grass. Yesterday I noticed there was a black RV I haven't seen before, parked in the middle of the yard, and the boy's jeep.
They are not the reading type, so I doubt if they know of the their picture in the newsletter. He told my neighbor the other day that he has received 4 citations and he is getting tired of it.
I take that means they are getting on his nerves.... they better quit finding things wrong - right?

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for the people who have nothing to do in their lives but to complain about things like this. If you don't want to live in a neighborhood where someone parks a car on the grass, live in a neighborhood where there are strict covenants. Let's worry about more important stuff people.

Eddie said...

Thanks for your sympathy! It is much needed since our property values have gone down dramatically due to the county ordinances being ignored by our neighbors. The ordinances are there for all to obey! We have lived here for 30+ years and worked hard to keep up our property and pay for it so we aren't in debt during our senior years. I might add, this neighborhood was not always like it is today!! You are saying that my right to live here and abide by the ordinances is less than those who choose to not abide by the law and live in their squalor? Only time will tell if you feel the same when you have reached our age.