Dear PoPville – Zoning Loop Hole?

Photo by PoPville flickr user johnmcochran2012

“Dear PoPville,

I have lived in my house in Brookland for five years. My home was originally on a double lot that was subdivided before I purchased it. The empty lot next store was in a tax sale mess plus I was told it was too small to build. 5 years later a neighbor bought the lot. He has since found a family to purchase it and they are trying to building a house. It has taken forever to get permits but within the past few days they passed zoning. The Lot is not big enough for a detached home so zoning is allowing the builder to build “half a semi-detached house” Pretty tough to understand. Well in order for it to be a semidetached one wall is projected to be built right on my property line. Less then ten feet from my house, there will be a 3 story house. There will be no way in my mind to build this without coming on my property. The builder knows I’m upset with the situation so he has little to no contact with me.

Have you heard of anything like this or seen it happen before?

Just to make it clear in case the family that is purchasing the lot happens to see the post. I by no way shape or form want to hurt their family and future home. But just want to protect my home and family. I am trying to talk to the family because the builder will not about my issues. My home is a stand alone home, and the other adjacent home is as well. So this “semi-detached” will never have another side. Seems crazy! I have asked the city what I am supposed to do because there is no way they can either dig a foundation for pour a slab with out being on my property. Plus there will be no way for the owners of the house to ever access this side of the house without having to come into my fenced yard. I just don’t want it to come off like I want to hurt the buyers. So just wanted to see if anybody has had a similar situation.”