We are building our new house and have plans to add a ground mount solar in our back yard. My county requires that if the panels are closer than 50 feet from our property line, we need to install an opaque wall or vegetation that grows higher than the panels to obscure the view from the affected neighbors. To avoid that we can get written permission from the neighbor to not install the wall or plant vegetation. Our plan makes the end of our arrays to be within 40 feet of the property line.
I talked to our neighbor. The old couple said they are worried about the views. I told them that the panels will point to the South and they are on the East side of my property and they will not get any glare. I offered to pay for whatever vegetation they want either on their property or my property to keep their aesthetics. They wanted to see my plans. I should not have shared it, but I emailed the plans to them.
They have replied that they don't will not give me permission as I am installing a "huge" system at an "industry level power plant". He says the system is too big for my family! How the heck would he know what is the size of the system my home would need? That it would be an eyesore and has also urged me to drop the idea as it would affect our views too! He has acknowledged that I have been generous to offer to pay for any vegetation and went on to say that I would maintain the vegetation (which I did not offer). I might sell my property and the future owner might not maintain the vegetation and some wild animals might destroy it. And finally, he has said that he has forwarded my plans to the HOA president to "look into it"!
I know I am on solid ground and nobody can stop me from installing the system on my property. I can simply make 3 arrays instead of 2 and be within the 50' from my property line and that would make it a "bigger eyesore" to them.
I want to maintain good neighborly relationships. How should I respond to this?
I talked to our neighbor. The old couple said they are worried about the views. I told them that the panels will point to the South and they are on the East side of my property and they will not get any glare. I offered to pay for whatever vegetation they want either on their property or my property to keep their aesthetics. They wanted to see my plans. I should not have shared it, but I emailed the plans to them.
They have replied that they don't will not give me permission as I am installing a "huge" system at an "industry level power plant". He says the system is too big for my family! How the heck would he know what is the size of the system my home would need? That it would be an eyesore and has also urged me to drop the idea as it would affect our views too! He has acknowledged that I have been generous to offer to pay for any vegetation and went on to say that I would maintain the vegetation (which I did not offer). I might sell my property and the future owner might not maintain the vegetation and some wild animals might destroy it. And finally, he has said that he has forwarded my plans to the HOA president to "look into it"!
I know I am on solid ground and nobody can stop me from installing the system on my property. I can simply make 3 arrays instead of 2 and be within the 50' from my property line and that would make it a "bigger eyesore" to them.
I want to maintain good neighborly relationships. How should I respond to this?