Letter: Westwood Corner Lot Owners Treated Unfairly

Do you own a corner lot in Westwood? Are you frustrated ever time you try to do something on your property  you are told you need to get a variance to do that, while you neighbor next door to you only has to apply for a permit? Are you aware you pay more in taxes being a corner lot than your non-corner lot neighbor?

Are you aware that every property has a 5-foot easement in front of their house,  on a corner lot there is a 5-foot easement plus a 22-foot setback in your “back yard” that you are not allowed to do anything with unless you apply for a variance.

Many put shrubbery to create a privacy screen, to put a fence up in your “front yard” — which is really is your back yard on a corner lot — you must request a variance. To install a pool or addition if your lot size is not big enough to accommodate a 27-foot overall setback you need to apply for a variance with start-up fees starting at $800 and going up from that base, while your neighbor can apply for permit and pay permit fees only. 

Other towns in this area use smaller more reasonable numbers for their setbacks or are based according to the zone they are living in with in the town, which are based on smaller size lots. One size does not fit all. On May come to the Mayor and Council meeting in Westwood and express your frustration in a proper forum. It is time to look at these double standards.  

Peggie Maisch, Westwood