Jim, that's quite true. I am no "expert" nor predictor of the future, but it has turned out very well after 26 years in this location. I didn't mind the cows; heck, I lived in the country for most of my life. But the pasture is now empty because the owner died and his son eventually sold off the herd. I don't think they can put cows back now (time under the grandfathering clause has expired), but another fortunate thing happened. Well, unfortunate in one way, fortunate in another. A nearby property of several hundred acres was wooded until a 4-lane boulevard cut thru about 10 years ago. The owner vowed so long as he was alive, the property would be kept pristine except for periodic harvesting of timber. His heirs, however, couldn't resist the several millions in developing the property. We on this street "drew up" in fear of having this street becoming a thru street to the neighborhood bringing unwanted traffic and crime. We, of course, protested the development, and it fell on deaf ears. It turned out that the "back" access to the neighborhood was on a street a block or so away, the new neighborhood was built in such a way as to make it nigh impossible to use my street as an access to "Willow Creek", as it is now called. The neighborhood I am in is (sort of) insulated as well as isolated from the newer "cookie cutter" neighborhood just across the woods. So, again, I
seem to be protected from further development or unwanted encroachment. The pasture and woods serve as a sound and visual barrier to this neighborhood---A divider between my "old", but not decrepit, neighborhood and the new cookie-cutter, throw-together new! The few "crimes" we have experienced seem to have coinicidentally begun to occur AFTER this new neighborhood was build with its mix of wealthier and (ahem) less affluent people. Prior that, crime was non-existent here! Funny, eh?
However, my city is more lax with regard to zoning and WRT antennas. On putting up wires and dipoles, they really don't give a rat's ***.
So while I am VERY defensive with regard to property rights and HOA's, etc, I am also fortunate that there are lots of older homes around here without what I regard as nonsense regulations, HOA's, covenants and restrictions. I also believe the older homes such as mine are built better, and with more craftsmanship, than the slap-shot, throw-together lookalikes. The same man built this neigborhood between 1954-1960. I would be curious to see which houses are still standing 50 years hence: mine or "Willow Creek"! IF they GAVE me one of those houses over there, I would SELL it and KEEP the one I've got! AND my antennas!
