Am I crazy, or is my neighbor?

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

I live in a nice small community in Colorado. We live close to town in a 1950's development. Lots are really small, I have a front yard that is ~50x60 feet, and a back yard that is about 30x50 feet.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old and recently put a small swingset with a small slide in my front yard. I know front yard is uncommon for swingset placement but I didn't want to take up our entire back yard with it, and it's a great use for a larger front yard which we otherwise dont use.

Yesterday my 60 year old neighbor comes over and tells me that the swingset is hideous, she 'can't believe' i would think it's OK to put a swingset in my front yard, and that is 'an invasion of her privacy' since we can see in there windows from our front yard (which are 15 feet from our ground level mind you because we live on a hill!

This really pissed me off but the last thing I want is a feud so I calmly told her this is a good thing for my family and i'm sorry she doesn't see it that way.

Am I crazy or is she? Is a swingset in my front yard really a terrible thing?

 

[Snatchomcfly]

I live in a nice small community in Colorado. We live close to town in a 1950's development. Lots are really small, I have a front yard that is ~50x60 feet, and a back yard that is about 30x50 feet.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old and recently put a small swingset with a small slide in my front yard. I know front yard is uncommon for swingset placement but I didn't want to take up our entire back yard with it, and it's a great use for a larger front yard which we otherwise dont use.

Yesterday my 60 year old neighbor comes over and tells me that the swingset is hideous, she 'can't believe' i would think it's OK to put a swingset in my front yard, and that is 'an invasion of her privacy' since we can see in there windows from our front yard (which are 15 feet from our ground level mind you because we live on a hill!

This really pissed me off but the last thing I want is a feud so I calmly told her this is a good thing for my family and i'm sorry she doesn't see it that way.

Am I crazy or is she? Is a swingset in my front yard really a terrible thing?

It's your land so you can do what you want(to some degree). It's is not like you put some offensive sign there. Some people are just miserable and need to complain about everything. Let the kids play and enjoy it.

 

[1977Brewer]

It's your land so you can do what you want(to some degree). It's is not like you put some offensive sign there. Some people are just miserable and need to complain about everything. Let the kids spy on your neighbor and enjoy it.

I just installed a giant swing set in my back yard, wonder if you can see my neighbors house from it now.

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

It's your land so you can do what you want(to some degree). It's is not like you put some offensive sign there. Some people are just miserable and need to complain about everything. Let the kids play and enjoy it.

Yeah this lady definitely falls in the 'always miserable' category but it still made my wife and I ask ourselves, are we in the wrong here?

 

[Roadliner]

there's more to it in a neighborhood than just being 'your land.' As what your neighbor does to their land affects the value of yours. Then there is also the neighborhood covenant if you have one. That may not allow structures like a swing set in the front yard.

I'm not sure I'd be super excited if my neighbor put a swing set in the front yard either, but..... If it is a nice set and is very well maintained, I'd live with it. Either way an "invasion of privacy" as the complaint is stupid.

 

[Tin4]

Yeah this lady definitely falls in the 'always miserable' category but it still made my wife and I ask ourselves, are we in the wrong here?

I have one in the front. I would check with you HOA if you have one, but aside from that, some people just choose to be miserable.

 

[Sammy86]

I agree with what people have been saying...it is your land and you can do what you please...however you do have to keep in mind that what you or another neighbor do does in fact affect value of property.

I have a crazy neighbor two houses down who has junk cars and a huge trailer/Winnebago in his driveway...there was a house for sale and it couldn't sell...finally the people trying to sell complained to the city and got the cars out of the driveway...house sold the next week.

Just be mindful that since the swing set is in the front you should try to maintain it and not let it become an eye sore...you never know what your city laws are that may not allow you such a structure there.

 

[Rockn_M]

As long as it a nice swing set and if you don't have a home owners association then I think your in the clear.

Not sure how its an "invasion of privacy", so by that logic standing in your front yard, doing yard work or driving down the street is an "invasion of privacy". That just doesn't make any sense.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Covenenants and restrictions may be the only litigating factor, however, some municipal codes have restrictions for structures in the front yard.

For example, in my jurisdiction, structures accessory to residential have to be located behind the front wall of the main structure (house) and within required setbacks. BUT things like swings are not required to have permits.

So, outside of C&R you may have a setback violation (around here front yard setback is 25 feet from curb) that your neighbor "could" cause you some grief over. Really just depends on the zoning laws of your locality and how strict they are with regard to accessory structures.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

my neighbor pulled that invasion of privacy thing on me once. I was so mad I stormed out of their bedroom closet and left!

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

We dont have a HOA but I didn't check with the city if this was allowed or not before doing it. I doubt she will call and bitch to the city because there are many things I could do to retaliate and she knows it, like reporting the monster pot farm she has going just the other side of her fence.

Also I understand what people are saying about property values and junk cars, but it never occurred to me that often used and well maintained swingset is equivalent to 2 junk cars in my front lawn, come on?

 

[Zuljin]

Screw em. Put up a slip and slide, a margarita machine and a blow up pool. Call up all your friends and have a good time.

 

[JonM]

Whoah - pot farm?

 

[day_trippr]

How did you not ask her if she was high?

Cheers!

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

Whoah - pot farm?

Yeah they have 5-10 monster plants. The husband smokes constantly, which I think is just so he can tolerate his wife. With the new CO laws you can have 2 plants/household so it's not a major violation, but still it's something I could tit-for-tat her with if it ends up going down that path, which I hope it doesn't because honestly I have enough **** going on in my life.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

Whoah - pot farm?

Its for the glaucoma...

 

[agrazela]

We need pics of your front yard with the swingset.

And of the pot farm.

 

[bobsstory182]

Yeah they have 5-10 monster plants. The husband smokes constantly, which I think is just so he can tolerate his wife. With the new CO laws you can have 2 plants/household so it's not a major violation, but still it's something I could tit-for-tat her with if it ends up going down that path, which I hope it doesn't because honestly I have enough **** going on in my life.

It's actually 6 plants per adult in the household at the state level, unless you live in a city that has restricted it. I love in Colorado too and wouldn't want to see you try to use that but having the wrong facts.

 

[Hello]

I'm moving to Colorado.

 

[NervousDad]

I'm surprised that you were able to get a permit to put it in your front yard. I've never lived in a township that would allow a swing set in the front yard.

 

[Hoppity]

I don't think I've ever seen a swing set in a front yard, or a pool, a grill or patio furniture for that matter. Those items are in backyards or side yards in every urban/suburban community I've ever seen. I've never been to Colorado, though. I know they do things differently out there.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I don't think I've ever seen a swing set in a front yard, or a pool, a grill or patio furniture for that matter. Those items are in backyards or side yards in every urban/suburban community I've ever seen. I've never been to Colorado, though. I know they do things differently out there.

you should see NE Wyoming and western South Dakota...

 

[Quadrupled]

My opinion is really dependent on location. If you are my neighbor in a subdivision setting then I'm going to be pissed. If you are my neighbor on a wooded street without an HOA/etc., where everyone has a larger sized property, then I'm cool with with it. Go up to a few acres of land and you can paint the house hot pink and I'd not care.

Regarding an invasion her privacy - this is nuts.

 

[1977Brewer]

I'm surprised that you were able to get a permit to put it in your front yard. I've never lived in a township that would allow a swing set in the front yard.

He didn't and what kind of fancy ass towns do you live in? My towns only front yard rules are grass under 6" and no cars on lawns. That's it.

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

I'm surprised that you were able to get a permit to put it in your front yard. I've never lived in a township that would allow a swing set in the front yard.

Yeah I didn't ask the city if I could do it (via a permit) I just did it. It's not a fancy ass place like that.

The slide is still curing from a concrete step I had to make at the bottom, i'll post a pic when I can get one.

 

[Zuljin]

He didn't and what kind of fancy ass towns do you live in? My towns only front yard rules are grass under 6" and no cars on lawns. That's it.

It's 12 inches here. Everything's bigger in Texas.

 

[Cyclman]

If her husband has to be continuously doped up to deal with her...my recommendation is homebrew whenever you see her.

You can't please everyone in life, and if your HOA or city codes don't say anything.

One of my coworkers has his house painted orange with blue trim, big Broncos logo on the garage. Now that's bad. But not banned...

 

[1977Brewer]

It's 12 inches here. Everything's bigger in Texas.

...I'm also in Texas.

It might be 12". Dunno, never let it go too long.

 

[blizzard]

Long story short - that lady is crazy, not you.

It might not be ideal, but it's not like your kids are spying on her. If she doesn't like kids and families, Golden might be the wrong place for her.

 

[ong]

It wouldn't even occur to me to care that someone had a swing set in their front yard! I'm just glad no one complains (too much) about my giant hops poles.