Margo Amgott lives in Greens Farms. It’s a great spot. She even has a pond.
Unfortunately, it’s in her driveway. The water is a result of a nearby construction project.
It’s made life miserable for her family. Still, she manages to see the glass — er, pond — as half full. On Thursday morning, she wrote:
Westport, welcome to our newest water feature!
Our neighbor always had a pond. We were jealous. Now, thanks to other neighbors’ construction, we have one too!
Margo Amgott’s neighbor (the one with a real pond) helps out with the pond created by her other neighbor (the one with the construction).
Sure, sometimes I selfishly wish I could use my driveway, go home without putting on waders, or get the mud out of our grass and our shoes. But lakefront living has its little inconveniences, I guess.
This is so exciting. I wonder who I talk to about getting our lake on the town map?
Thursday afternoon, it rained. Briefly, but hard.
Margo no longer had a pond. By then it was a lake:
(Photos/Margo Amgott)
No report yet on what it looks like after yesterday’s downpour. Fingers crossed!
Sounds like it’s time for a meeting with the excavation neighbor, their contractor, and Margo’s lawyer.
The contractor is responsible for any and all damages. Netting is suppose to be in place around the property below the dirt line to capture any and all runoff.
Same problem was on Kings Highway South, and it was corrected after neighbors came forward, spoke to the property owners and contractors, and the flooding/runoff situation was solved.
Definitely need to up our enforcement of you inspections, violation enforcement, and even fines.
I suggest you consult an engineer and a lawyer.
Not to worry, Margo. At the next reval you will learn that your assessment has been boosted owing to the fact that you now own waterfront property.
Yes, Margot does have a lake at the bottom of her driveway but my poor brother (in photo) has a lake in his driveway, basement and entire yard not to mention his pond (now the size of Lake Michigan) which is full of mud and suffocating his fish and turtles. All of this because of the new neighbors who think that placating my brother with a pizza will rectify the issues. If anyone has any suggestions as the town wasn’t helpful, please please comment. My brother is too nice. I’m angry for him
And thank you Margo for making this issue public.
One would think the aggrieved patties could get a lawyer and get a restraining order to halt construction while seeking damages from the contractor and/or neighbor. If the contractor doesn’t respond quickly, hire someone to clean out the clogged storm drains and just add it to the damage claim.
That, of course, could take some money and a bit of time. However, your brother probably has an easier path. He should call his insurance company and file a claim for the damage to his house/property. The insurer will probably take immediate action to remedy the issue so their liability doesn’t increase and then they and their team of attorneys will pursue the contractor and/or neighbor for damages.
Has anyone determined what exactly the new neighbors’ contractors did to cause this? It’s totally unneighborly to let this go on without rectifying this situation as soon as possible. If it also caused damage to the driveway, lawn, and Basement in Mary Byrnes’s brother’s place the neighbors amd contractor should be held liable to rectify the problem as well as repair and replace any damaged property that was caused by the flooding muddy waters. The contractor should have insurance that you can contact to get them to inspect the issues and make claims against their policy.
Good luck. When you say the town was if no help, did the neighbors file proper permits and did town have inspectors check out the work to see if it was in full compliance with the scope of work being done and I would contact the conservation dept to see if this was in violation of injuring the natural pond.
Thank you for your comments. If you know of a good lawyer, send them our way!
A good lawyer will help solve the problem.
Thank you all for your helpful comments and support. I’ve consulted a few lawyers and an engineer. They all say that the town has to step in. Meantime, of course, I continue to beg the homeowner for help – deaf ears. Nice for them that they are on dry land!
Why jump to a lawyer? That should be a last resort. Basic adult to adult conversation and problem solving makes much more sense to me..?