~ Retired and Starting My Future In The Foothills ~

[dsqard]

Linda I am so sorry to hear that there is such a huge snag in living at your little slice of heaven.

Unfortunately just because you think a realator is a professional doesn't mean that they are always very good. I am not saying that the realator that you dealt with is a bad person or that she lied to you, just didn't do true due dillagence on those codes. If you could find the code in two minutes then she should have been able to as well. I found this out on the first house I tried to purchase and on the house I am currently in. I really do not understand why they get 6% of the sale price (or whatever they get where you live) since all they seem to do is show you the property and after that it is all your leg work. UGH this really stinks Linda and I am saying lots of prayers that you get it resolved in your favor.

 

[Carols Clucks]

I got to thinking about your situation last night,

If any of the neighbors with adjoining property have an acre's worth of hillside or other unusable land, you might be able to lease that land for a really good price. If you can do that, maybe you can just "house" them on your land and have their "Run" on the neighbors.

I know way back in the day, the people who owned the lot next to us leased their extra land around a rental house to us for $1 a year, they did not want the renters of the house to "farm" the additional lands.

 

[gryeyes]

It's just such a HUGE issue I am gob-smacked at this turn of events. It's not like there weren't other properties they could have shown me with an acre or more, and they knew I wanted to buy in the area. They could have made more money with other properties, too. This is obviously a lack of due diligence, and not a little one.

I'm kinda numb right now, with alternating moments of insane mental spinning.

But at least I know the broker is also doing some "work" on next steps. Whatever they may be.

In my case, I am busying myself with mining the L.O.R.E. Forum!

 

[Buugette]

Be sure to breath... nothing happens till it happens.

Is there a link to the ordinance so others on here can review? I'm assuming you have a copy of your offer stipulating 100% contingent on the non-restriction of fowl?

All our thoughts are with you.

Diana

 

[gryeyes]

El Dorado County Zoning regulations: http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10765
Applicable section of the 326 page document is Chapter 17.28, residential zones, (page 137).

Note that nothing says "can't have poultry" but if it's not stated, as a right without permit, or as a use with permit, then it's not allowed.

And, yes, I have copies of my contingent offer with the declaration regarding "no restriction on keeping poultry."

I am hoping the neighbors to the back of my property can sub-divide their larger lots AND one of them will be amenable to a half-acre purchase -and I don't intend to develop or USE that land, just have it make my property size legal....

The courtesy letter did NOT state a particular code violated, just said "chickens on less than one acre." Pretty non-specific. The zoning regulations don't mention anything but a stable for the Residential Agricultural one acre lots. R1A, and I'm not sure if this property is within the Residential Agricultural district.

. So, if chickens are not permitted on lots under one acre, one would assume they are permitted on lots larger than an acre.

There's some work to be done here. Just gotta figure out what, exactly, is to be done. Could I reduce the flock size enough to convince somebody they are truly my pets?

 

[HHandbasket]

You shouldn't have to reduce your flock or get rid of a single one of your chickens, especially in light of the fact that you specifically told Ginger MORE THAN TWO OR THREE TIMES that your offer to purchase was ONLY contingent upon them ascertaining that there are NO RESTRICTIONS ON YOUR CHICKENS. That's pretty clear, cut and dry if you ask me. And I was there, in the room when you told her that you could only buy the property if there are no restrictions on your chickens. I was sitting right there, 3 feet from the woman when she wrote it into the contract and TOLD YOU she would make sure FOR YOU that there were no restrictions, and I witnessed the whole thing.

She was more worried about her trip the following week to her Costa Rican timeshare (or wherever it was that she went) than she was about doing her job.

 

[gryeyes]

Well, as of today, my real estate broker - who is absolutely outraged at somebody turning me in to Code Enforcement for "something as silly as keeping chickens in a rural area" - has already contacted the Board of Supervisors with the issue. "These are absolutely her pets, she doesn't eat them or sell them, they all have names, we inquired with the Planning Department and nobody found anything!"
She's provided copies of the Preliminary Report, Title search WITH the "no restrictions on chickens" contingency clause I was adamant about including, plus the county's "Right to Farm" declaration they're required to provide to buyers, my declaration that im not keeping chickens for commercial purposes, and has some other .......ummmmmmm.... tactics up her sleeve to deploy.

She's also considered the "buy some land from the neighbor with a large parcel" behind me gambit, too. That is, the thought is in her mind, simmering, but she's hoping it won't escalate to the necessity of broaching that subject with the owners back there.

I am not quite as terrified, now.

 

[theoldchick]

I moved my crew two years ago. I didn't have chickens though.....just moving my birds was bad enough. Also had a horse who was terrified of the horse trailer. I spent 3 years working with this horse and when the day came, he loaded perfectly and traveled quietly. When we arrived, he was shaking so bad he could barely stand. Sweating and terrified, he listened to my words and unloaded. His eyes never left my face as I quietly but firmly guided him backwards. Once unloaded the poor thing stood with legs splayed and eyes bulging. I let him graze a few moments to calm his nerves.

Anyway, I can imagine how flock dynamics are being disrupted during your move! I can almost hear all the squawking, honking, hissing and spitting going on at your new place.

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
I am so glad to hear they are on top of it! I think it also helps that one of the real estate ladies' sons is THE county sheriff. I'm also glad to hear that they DID do what they were supposed to do.

 

[dmccann]