Dear Editor:
My neighbors to the east of me are almost the perfect neighbors. I mow their grass, shovel their walkways and rear porch on occasion. In return, they bring me over homemade cake, pie, and homemade bread. They never borrow anything, and watch my house when I am away.
I purchased my home in 1999. It is the first house on the south side of East Glass Road in Brandon Township.
Shortly after I purchased my home I was notified that the township/county had intentions of realigning Glass Road to correct the problems of the intersection with M-15. The move was going to require taking about 40 feet off my front yard. At that time I had 51 feet from my house to the edge of the road. After several years of negotiations in 2004, it was agreed that they would move the road 19 feet at the west end of my lot. Taking approximately 35 percent of my front yard. It would also require approximately 10 feet of easement beyond that for possible utilities or a future sidewalk.
I was assured this was all the work that was to be done on the road and no further encroachment would take place for many years. I was not happy, but life goes on.
Now they are making their entrance to the restaurant off Glass Road rather than M-15 and are adding a deceleration and acceleration lane to the south side of Glass Road, and that moves the road over another 12 feet to the edge of the easement, reducing my front yard by about another 30 percent approximately 20 feet on the west side. Give me a break!
Not only does this reduce the size of my yard, but also increases noise and dirt in the air. It also creates a safety concern at my home, as well as to people traveling on Glass Road, as visibility is greatly reduced exiting my driveway and exiting the new proposed restaurant.
That’s enough of my ranting about my problems, as you can rest assured I am now not the perfect neighbor.
Scot Wolfe
Brandon Twp.