Barb-
worldnetdaily.com
"Couple forced to move home 3 feet at cost of $40,000
House on quiet little lake illegal by inches and neighbor complained
Thursday, March 8, 2001
By DAVID FISHER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
STANWOOD -- For two days this week, crews worked on Lonney and Stacey Ford's house on Martha Lake to get it ready for its big move.
They cut it from its foundation, attached steel beams to its base and hooked the beams to two 20-foot cranes.
At exactly 10:21 a.m. yesterday, the two cranes tugged on their load. The house creaked, groaned and rose into the air. Its big move was on -- 3 feet to the left.
It was more of a hop, really. A $40,000 hop, compliments of an unfortunate inheritance, a long-running neighborhood feud, a fast-growing rural area and a county rule that is meant to give neighbors their space...."
"...The Fords, faced with the choice of cutting 3 feet off their house, moving it or fighting, chose to fight. They applied for a variance from the county's 5-foot setback, a rule that has been on the books since 1966.
They got some sympathy from the county's planning staff, who recommended in writing that a county hearing examiner let the house stay put because forcing a move or a renovation after so many years would be "unduly harsh."
Hearing Examiner John E. Galt disagreed, ruling that the Fords failed to show that no harm had been done to a neighbor's rights...."
Regards, Don |
