A HOMEOWNER was left frustrated after city bosses blocked access to her garage as part of a major project she had no idea about.
After she admitted to hitting the obstruction with her vehicle, neighbors said she should be charged with destroying city property.
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Lisa Hatherley, owner, told local ABC affiliate KSAT that she was fighting the surprise installation of a median in front of her garage in San Antonio, Texas.
The first saw the structure when she arrived home and found the concrete median newly poured.
“There is no way to access my driveway without destroying my yard or destroying my vehicle as it passes through that median,” she said.
The concrete medians were installed as part of a municipal project.
The safety initiative prevents drivers from driving around railway crossing bars, which are lowered to signal an approaching train.
City chiefs said the planters would allow the area to be designated as a quiet zone.
There is no way to access my garage without destroying my garden or destroying my vehicle driving across this median.
Lisa Hatherley
The medians signaled to drivers that they should avoid honking horns as they approached the intersection.
Hatherley said he did not live in the house that is close to the railroad tracks.
But she was speaking on behalf of her tenants, who needed easy access to the rental property.
The position of the new median meant tenants could not turn left into the driveway because it was blocked.
And Hatherley couldn’t reverse the trailer without hitting the median – which she ended up doing.
She uses the trailer to transport maintenance materials and appliances to and from her various rental properties.
CHAIN
Hector Cardenas, president of the Alta Vista Residents Association, called the police when he noticed that the wet concrete had been damaged.
“It’s ridiculous. I can’t believe that a woman, a homeowner who doesn’t even live here, would be worried about backing up a trailer,” Cardenas said.
“Another three thousand people in this neighborhood want the quiet area. This (work) has been going on for a year.
“Destroying city property, you should be in prison.”
However, officers confirmed that they would not cite her.
What to do if your garage entrance is blocked by construction?
Legal issues and disputes between neighbors can arise when it comes to blocking private driveways.
Private construction crews do not have the legal right to block your property, according to Backyard Blogger.
But if any road construction temporarily blocks your driveway, builders should finish it as quickly as possible.
They must also allow you to return to your property.
Homeowners may need to create a physical barrier to show builders where their property ends.
For example, use safety cones, safety fences or “do not block” signs.
April Alcoser, spokeswoman for the city’s Public Works department, told KSAT that all residents have been informed of the work.
Community meetings with question and answer sessions were held in the area.
However, Hatherton said she was not informed of the project.
She called for alternative solutions to protect drivers.
NOISE COMPLAINTS
Alcoser and the District 1 city council offered to widen her driveway — for free — or move it to the other side of her house.
But Hatherley rejected both suggestions.
“If they don’t like the noise or the horn, or if it bothers them, they can choose to live somewhere else,” she said of noise-sensitive neighbors who wanted a quiet area.
“A disgruntled resident drove over a median in a quiet zone in progress, destroying it and putting city crews at risk,” Councilman Diego Bernal said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our hardworking men and women deserve better. The neighborhood does too. That’s the point. The work will continue.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
