Builders nightmare? Notify Nearby Homeowners Letter

[Sunny Burns]

So I received this certified letter in the mail... crazy that it costs almost $7 to send. The mainman said he had like 30 to send around the neighborhood.

The building in question is across the street, one old house on a huge lot. It was bought like a year ago and has just sat vacant for the last year. I do see landscapers mowing every once in a while but that's it.

Anyway is it common for builders to need to have a public hearing to tear down and build? or only if it goes against code? I feel like this would be a nightmare...

[Frank Chin]

Over the years, I got a number of them. If the owner of the property needs a variance on the property, a public hearing is held, a zoning board meeting is convened to approve it. For instance, there's two most recent such letters I received:

1. A house across the street from my rental had an enclosed breezeway connecting the garage to the house. As it's not in the original building plan, a variance is needed to approve it's construction which had been there for 30 years, so the sale can be completed. Otherwise, the house is not up to code.

2. An empty lot a block from me owned by an auto dealership wants to pave over an empty garbage strewn yard they own converting it to a parking lot sent a letter informing us of a variance hearing. The variance was denied because it's zoned R2, for SFH and 2 plexes, not a parking lot. So it remains a garbage strewn yard. BTW, the auto dealer invited everyone they sent the letter over for coffee and donuts to explain what they're doing.