My father and his brother owned a piece of property on one of the finger lakes in New York State. My fathers brother moved and since the properties were so linked (shared driveway, shared access to beach, shared water supply to cottages) my father brought my uncle's property (they were split into seperate lots around 15 years ago).
Since my father has purchased the property, the neighbor of my uncle's old property (my fathers new property), has been constantly harrassing my father.
This harrassment consists of many things, so many that I won't list them all at this moment.
My fathers purchased property has a dock which has a catwalk which extends a little over the property line about 10 feet from the beach. Since the dock has been there for forty years it was grandfathered by the town. We keep a couple of small boats on the beach next to the dock, these boats are on my fathers property.
The neighbors latest stunt was to erect a seasonal dock right on the property line (about one foot from our existing dock). I can no longer get the small boats (rowboat, kayak) onto the lake. My neighbors new dock restricts my access.
My neighbor never intends to use this dock, he put it there just to restrict our access. My neighbor already has three docks on his property (he has about 200 feet of beachfront property).
We've contacted the sheriff and the town's code enforcer. Both told us there was nothing they could do, the law allows a seasonal dock to be put up at the property line. The sheriff agreed that it was total harrassment.
Is this considered harrassment and is there anything that we can do about it? It doesn't seem fair or right that someone can block another persons water access to their own beach.
Any information or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Since my father has purchased the property, the neighbor of my uncle's old property (my fathers new property), has been constantly harrassing my father.
This harrassment consists of many things, so many that I won't list them all at this moment.
My fathers purchased property has a dock which has a catwalk which extends a little over the property line about 10 feet from the beach. Since the dock has been there for forty years it was grandfathered by the town. We keep a couple of small boats on the beach next to the dock, these boats are on my fathers property.
The neighbors latest stunt was to erect a seasonal dock right on the property line (about one foot from our existing dock). I can no longer get the small boats (rowboat, kayak) onto the lake. My neighbors new dock restricts my access.
My neighbor never intends to use this dock, he put it there just to restrict our access. My neighbor already has three docks on his property (he has about 200 feet of beachfront property).
We've contacted the sheriff and the town's code enforcer. Both told us there was nothing they could do, the law allows a seasonal dock to be put up at the property line. The sheriff agreed that it was total harrassment.
Is this considered harrassment and is there anything that we can do about it? It doesn't seem fair or right that someone can block another persons water access to their own beach.
Any information or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
