Town wants to open map only road

[plpreston]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
Between my neighbor and my property is a road found only on the town map. Several years ago we requested the road be permanently closed and the easement split between the two of us - it was denied. He has maintained this property for over 40 years - I have lived here for 17 years. It appears that a party is considering building on a property behind me. There are 3 total accesses to this property on the map only. If the roadway by my house is opened - I will step from my deck directly onto the road. We only have a foot at the most from the sides of our homes onto this roadway. One of the other access roads actually has a porch built on it! The third access could work but I don't know that it is the one that they will use. Is there anyway we can block the opening of the road(s) - safety issues? We've maintained the property for years? At the time we requested a permanent closure to the road we were told not to worry about it - there were these "paper" roads all over town. I would consider legal action to block this - even if I lose - just to hold it up for a long period of time. I can provide a property map if that would help to clarify. Thank you

 

[FlyingRon]

You need a lawyer. "Mapping" is the least of your problems. The problem seems to be there is a public road ROW that you weren't able to vacate and there is nothing on the face of things that bars others from using it. Someone is going to have to investigate the history of this road/right of way, etc... and advise what you can do.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
Between my neighbor and my property is a road found only on the town map. Several years ago we requested the road be permanently closed and the easement split between the two of us - it was denied. He has maintained this property for over 40 years - I have lived here for 17 years. It appears that a party is considering building on a property behind me. There are 3 total accesses to this property on the map only. If the roadway by my house is opened - I will step from my deck directly onto the road. We only have a foot at the most from the sides of our homes onto this roadway. One of the other access roads actually has a porch built on it! The third access could work but I don't know that it is the one that they will use. Is there anyway we can block the opening of the road(s) - safety issues? We've maintained the property for years? At the time we requested a permanent closure to the road we were told not to worry about it - there were these "paper" roads all over town. I would consider legal action to block this - even if I lose - just to hold it up for a long period of time. I can provide a property map if that would help to clarify. Thank you

I do not know how large your property is, but one solution, which would likely be less costly, would be to offer an easement in a location that is more suitable than the existing "roadway".

 

[Mass_Shyster]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
Between my neighbor and my property is a road found only on the town map. Several years ago we requested the road be permanently closed and the easement split between the two of us - it was denied. He has maintained this property for over 40 years - I have lived here for 17 years. It appears that a party is considering building on a property behind me. There are 3 total accesses to this property on the map only. If the roadway by my house is opened - I will step from my deck directly onto the road. We only have a foot at the most from the sides of our homes onto this roadway. One of the other access roads actually has a porch built on it! The third access could work but I don't know that it is the one that they will use. Is there anyway we can block the opening of the road(s) - safety issues? We've maintained the property for years? At the time we requested a permanent closure to the road we were told not to worry about it - there were these "paper" roads all over town. I would consider legal action to block this - even if I lose - just to hold it up for a long period of time. I can provide a property map if that would help to clarify. Thank you

You and your neighbor could offer to purchase the third lot.