Actually, if the plans are on file with the building inspector's office, they are part of the public record and he has every right to see them. Just not the right to see the copy in the foreman's hands. If he really wanted to know, he should have gone to the town office.

 

If you like looking at the trees on the other side of the lake, then yes. Otherwise, don't be surprised if a developer comes in and puts up a bunch of condos over there.

 

Anytime. BTW, that was the 'engineering' answer. Give you the resource and let you figger it out ya-self.

 

Your freedoms end at my property line, same as mine end at yours. So, if the plans are on file with the city, freedom of information allows you to see them. That's fine. Go there, don't march onto my property and demand to see the prints. I can't say I'm real keen on the whole building inspection process anyway--it's supposedly for our own good, but insurance companies, banks and corrupt government officials are involved. So, no, it doesn't go against my "land of the free" statement. Freedom is not anarchy and vice-versa.

If you want that view to never change, then yes, you would have to buy the lake, too. However, lakes are a little different, as they are typically controlled by government entities. But, let's say you build a house because you like its view overlooking a forest. There's an empty lot between you and the forest. If you want that view, then you would have to buy that empty lot and the forest. Otherwise, if I buy that empty lot, it's my prerogative to build a 5-story mansion that blocks your view. Or, if I buy the forest, its within my rights to clear-cut it and make it a dirtbike track.

That's why I pretty much can't stand homeowner's associations and think they're basically un-American. Much closer to Nazism.

Jason

 

Actually if he was a engineer for the city then he should have access to all the plans and know what was in them. I don't believe that we need to get our neighbors approval on what I am spending my money to build. As long as it meets the requirements by the district and maybe any homeowners assoc. that is all he needs to know. I also would think that it was rather bold to drive up to another persons site, interfere with the crew.
I might have been a little more friendly to him and maybe avoid making a enemy (especially one with the city), but in the end it is my right to tell him to take a hike.

 

I can make up big words too.....


While I agree the guy shouldn't have been on your property, having helped my Dad's company build tyhier 20ooo sf warehouse. I've learned that if you want to get ANYTHING done (permits , inspections, whatever) you'll need the city guys on your side.

 

I dunno if this was said yet, because I was too lazy to read all the posts,(proof I ain't an engineer).

But I have known engineers, that eat their young!

 

Here's a reason to like them.

http://veryfunnyads.com/ads/25417.html

 

I think the OP was totally in the right. The civil engineer's a tool alright, his ONLY reason for wanting to see the plans was TO MAKE SURE that his (makomaker's) house plans weren't interfering with his (the C-E). The guy had NO right to drive up unannounced, through the middle of the job sight and hold up the workers (that makomaker is paying). IMO that 10 or so minutes should be BILLED to the CITY because this idiot decided to make sure that his house wasn't going to be next to a mobile home....

 

Disclaimer: I am a civil engineer.

That is the only thing I have in common with the trespasser that entered onto the construction site. He did either one of two things: 1. he poked his nose where it didn't belong on someone else's property as a private citizen or 2. he exceeded his authority as a city official and entered the property unannounced. If he was there as a city official (which he shouldn't have been as an abuttor), then he should have asked to speak to the owner/owner's rep.

Now, as for the OP, he stated in the title to the thread that he hates engineers so I really have to throw the BS flag on how this whole episode went down. But, if this is how it happened then it is pretty obvious he has an ax to grind with engineers. Fine. But the fact that this guy pulled this stunt has nothing to do with him being an engineer of any sort, he was just being a d-head.

I won't go on a long rant trying to defend my profession because of the obvious bias here already but I will say that the majority of the engineers I know are nothing like the peckerwood you mention. In fact, I would be willing to bet that none of my neighbors even know that I am an engineer. I go to work in jeans and boots, drive an F-250 when I'm not driving the Escape, do my own yardwork and house projects, drink beer on occasion, hunt, own a collection of firearms, have never used a sliderule, don't have pockets in my shirts so don't need pocket protectors and so on and so on. In other words, I am a pretty regular guy. How am I any different than any of you? Does it just build up your self-esteem to make fun of somebody because of their profession?

So, in short, take your stereotypes of engineer's and jam 'em somewhere. They are 99% wrong and you know it. Come by my house sometime and we'll have a beer and I will prove it.

And if you ever need an engineer, give one of us a call, we'll be more than happy to take your money.....I get $125 an hour for side work.

 

You sure don't have to prove anything to me....But, I may take you up on that beer some day.

 

Could you imagine if the guy would have been a lawyer instead of an Engineer!

Ok, we might have a problem here.....

I'm assuming that the OP is a contractor, and we all know they are ALL angels. ( talking from experience )

Please tell me this is an open invitation. Beer is on ice right?

 

In about 40 minutes it will be. Right now it is taking up waaaay too much space in the Freezerator. I have 40 pounds of ice and about 33 beers - all of which will be gone by Monday night. This is my first weekend off and at home all summer. I plan on taking full advantage of it.....

All I have to do first is sign off on a project that took all summer to complete and re-opens for business tomorrow - hope I didn't screw anything up. People might blame the engineer.

But yes, that is an open invite to anyone. Come on by...I am easy to find.

 

I watched an engineering student of UF try to fill in a dent on his car with 2 gallons of bondo instead of pulling the dent out. He didn't even sand the paint off first. I was rolling on the parking lot. After it dried, it had 3" deep cracks in it.

 

I imagine if you take any 20 year old kid off the street (engineering student or not), the chances that they can do decent bodywork are minimal. Give it a rest.