rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
| reply to jc100
Re: Not as bad...
Believe it or not, modern subdivision easements extend from the street all the way to your home's foundation. Yes, this means they can come and dig up your yard anytime they please. Jack hammer your driveway whenever they want. Destroy your flower beds without notice.
They do have to restore them but some items, like big trees, cannot be replaced and you just have to live with it.
This is not a bad law because if a gas line is leaking, you certainly want the utility to come in an fix it and not have to get permission from six different neighbors only to find out two are snow birds and out-of-town in Florida for the next four months. Unfortunately it fees like a "bend over" moment whenever it happens but it's one of those Star Trek moments where "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one".
I suppose the challenge is that with any power like this, there's bound to be abuse. In my opinion, that's why local franchises were good. If a cable company has to come in and please your local municipality, it's a bit closer to home when a local alderman can complain rather than your state's attorney general. I also see the other side in that local franchises are not efficient since it is necessary to get agreements from thousands in each state. There's no perfect solution but I would certainly rather deal with inefficiency versus losing your voice about what happens in your own community. That's why I generally oppose state-wide franchises because the easement power will be abused -- no question about it. |
