'What's the big issue?' asks homeowner after city bulldozes driveway over zoning laws – alternative 'will cost $20k' | 2YJY87S | 2024-04-23 12:08:01
A HOMEOWNER had his driveway destroyed by a city that he does not live in which has seen him re-think his move altogether.
Aaron Rasmussen bought a plot of land in Hale Township in Mcleod County, Minnesota in 2023.
However, due to the shape of his plot, Rasmussen's land is on the border of Hale Township and Silver Lake City.
While his home is in Hale Township, he was given an address for Grand Avenue which is in Silver Lake.
Despite this, the city wants him to access his own property via a different road.
The homeowner had initially cut the curb to give himself access to his modular home via a driveway from Grand Avenue.
However, crews from Silver Lake City were quick to bulldoze his driveway in August last year and block his attempted negotiations.
"I don't even want to live here anymore because like all the problems I've been having," Rasmussen told CBS News affiliate WCCO News.
"I went to the city council and asked for a permit and I offered to replace the whole curb, pay $500 a year to use the road, agree to all the city ordinances, [and] be annexed," he explained.
However, Silver Lake denied these requests citing zoning issues regarding his modular home which is fitted with a septic tank.
'STUCK'
"I don't get what the big issue is, it seems like I'm doing something crazy, but it's just a driveway!" Rasmussen added.
He noted that before buying the piece of land, he ensured that all of the correct permits were in place.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> The only solution offered to Rasmussen by Silver Lake is to construct a driveway that can be accessed by Railroad Street in Hale Township.
However, due to the unusual shape of his plot of land, Rasmussen says this would cost him around $20,000.
A driveway on his property with access to and from that road would have to go through his backyard, through trees, and under power lines.
"If I knew about this, I would have never built the house here," he told the outlet last year.
In addition to the financial and practical concerns of the driveway drama, Rasmussen also noted his concern for his grandfather Don Kielas.
After the city removed his driveway, the senior citizen was left in a home with no access for emergency vehicles.
"I don't see why all of a sudden they would make such a deal over this," Kielas said.
"I think I'm pretty much just stuck at this point," Rasmussen said.
The city of Silver Lake and Rasmussen have been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, see the story of a neighbor who was accused of "trespassing" by parking on their own driveway.
More >> https://ift.tt/ZxjsEOQ Source: MAG NEWS
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