mike spence
Active Member
What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania
I've had a property partially taken by the state for a highway project. I've posted a few things about this in the past. It was a complete clown show that I might never get over.
I have new questions/problems now.
In addition to acquiring/taking land, they had a temporary construction easements around the house and some buildings there. The easement was to allow room for demolition.
On the property there were five large spruce trees. These were planted by my great-grandfather, and they'd basically be the only thing left on the remaining land. One of the trees was on the acquired land, three were on a temporary easement, one was not on either the acquired land or temporary easements.....they were all cut down!!
On another part of the property there was a large walnut tree on the edge of a channel easement......it was cut down too. I don't think they're even doing anything in that particular area.
My basic question is do they have a right to cut down these trees?
While I'm here, there's another issue. The state did not pay to use the driveway. I was told demolition was to be done from the highway (somehow). The company that's doing the job said they needed the driveway and have paid to do so. There is a stream crossing as part of the driveway. It's a large culvert, but was not wide enough for them. They are replacing the culvert, which I'm all for, but doing it in a substandard way.
The culvert there now (I say now, but it might have already been replaced) is seven feet in diameter, and they are putting two four foot diameter pipes in to replace it. By my math that's about a 33% reduction in cross-section. This is a small stream that turns into a raging river when it rains hard. I've seen the seven foot pipe with 5 or 6 feet of water in it many, many times in the past. I can see this culvert flooding out once every year or two. I also think the pipes will collect debris at the front, or worse, inside the pipes.
I believe this company will have to come back to me soon about digging a ditch on the remaining land. It's something that was not in the original plans. So I will be talking to them again.
What do I do? Thanks
I've had a property partially taken by the state for a highway project. I've posted a few things about this in the past. It was a complete clown show that I might never get over.
I have new questions/problems now.
In addition to acquiring/taking land, they had a temporary construction easements around the house and some buildings there. The easement was to allow room for demolition.
On the property there were five large spruce trees. These were planted by my great-grandfather, and they'd basically be the only thing left on the remaining land. One of the trees was on the acquired land, three were on a temporary easement, one was not on either the acquired land or temporary easements.....they were all cut down!!
On another part of the property there was a large walnut tree on the edge of a channel easement......it was cut down too. I don't think they're even doing anything in that particular area.
My basic question is do they have a right to cut down these trees?
While I'm here, there's another issue. The state did not pay to use the driveway. I was told demolition was to be done from the highway (somehow). The company that's doing the job said they needed the driveway and have paid to do so. There is a stream crossing as part of the driveway. It's a large culvert, but was not wide enough for them. They are replacing the culvert, which I'm all for, but doing it in a substandard way.
The culvert there now (I say now, but it might have already been replaced) is seven feet in diameter, and they are putting two four foot diameter pipes in to replace it. By my math that's about a 33% reduction in cross-section. This is a small stream that turns into a raging river when it rains hard. I've seen the seven foot pipe with 5 or 6 feet of water in it many, many times in the past. I can see this culvert flooding out once every year or two. I also think the pipes will collect debris at the front, or worse, inside the pipes.
I believe this company will have to come back to me soon about digging a ditch on the remaining land. It's something that was not in the original plans. So I will be talking to them again.
What do I do? Thanks
