simplyputsi 0 #26 May 8, 2009 Quote>Id like to see her try and stop me getting my main from her property If you tried, and she (and her husband, and her two sons) "escorted" you to the property line, and broke your arm in the process, she'd be in the right - and you'd be in jail if they decided to press charges. This is a simple case of neighbors going at each other. She has a right to what happens on her property. If you are foolish enough to put your main parachute in her tree, she does not have to let you come get it. A much better situation is that she doesn't mind if you come and get it. The best way to make that happen is to try to be a good neighbor. If loud music bothers her, turn it down. If she doesn't like bonfires near her property, have them somewhere else. If she doesn't like people landing near her property line, land away from it. If her fence gets knocked down by a swooper by accident, buy her a new and better one (and make sure it has a gate!) Calling her a crazy bitch and then trying to knock her down to get to your parachute will have the opposite effect. So decide if the feel-good you get from looking down on her will make up for the loss of your $2000 parachute if it comes to that. This is the best post yet. I had a similar situation where I live, but didn't involve parachuting. Lets just say it was similar. The best course of action for the people being complained against is to see it from the side of the complainer and come up with solutions to make them happy. There is no we are not doing anything wrong, you have made someones life unpleasant and the local government is going to want to know how you plan on making it better for them, not you. Stick to making them happy and it will all work out. Hope the best for all.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicGuy 0 #27 May 9, 2009 This is probably a dumb question that in all honesty, I could most likely find the answer to if I searched around for it - but hey, I'm feeling lazy. Is there anything that USPA can do to help this situation? And if so, have they stepped in at all? Just curious.. best of luck to Sky's the Limit! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #28 November 5, 2009 Follow up to this story. It looks like they can sell jumps but now there is no camping permitted. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091105/NEWS/911050327/-1/rss11 Smithfield sets limits on skydiving school Township allows parachuting down, forbids setting up camp November 05, 2009 The fate of a Smithfield Township skydiving operation is no longer up in the air. After more than two and a half years of hearing arguments, the Smithfield zoning hearing board made a decision Tuesday about Sky's the Limit. Parachutes will continue to float down at the airport, but camping will not be allowed. In April 2007, Smithfield's interim zoning officer issued violations to Sky's the Limit and the Pocono-Stroudsburg Airport where the skydiving business operates. The airport is in an M-1 industrial district where aviation operations are permitted. The zoning officer cited the airport and Sky's the Limit for the retail sale of food and beverages, the retail use of the airport for skydiving and camping activities. He ordered the activities stopped, which would have closed Sky's the Limit. They appealed the decision. The disagreement between the businesses and Smithfield moved from the Smithfield zoning board to court, where it remained undecided. The judge sent it back to the zoning board and required it to accept more evidence. Township supervisors authorized more than $30,000 in attorney's fees in an attempt to uphold the zoning violations. "It's sad it wasn't dealt with in a more direct manner, without attorneys and hearings," said Jeff Root, owner of Sky's the Limit. "I don't see where the township was helped. We would have been close to where we are now by sitting down and having a conversation. It's extremely draining." The zoning hearing board addressed the three violations in its decision. 1. Retail sale of food and beverage. The township failed to present sufficient evidence to establish the retail sale of food and beverage occurred on airport property, the board decided. Drew Wagner, the zoning officer, testified he did not observe any evidence of food or beverage being sold, nor did he notice any signs of food or beverage available for purchase. Wagner based the violation on an advertisement on Sky's the Limit's Web site describing a Saturday night pig roast. There was no mention of a fee for the roast. Root and airport owner Bob Strenz testified they do not sell food or beverage. The appeal of the violation was sustained. 2. Retail use of airport for skydiving activities. Wagner said charging jumpers to sky dive made it a retail operation. During arguments, Wagner and Smithfield solicitor John Hiscott said Sky's the Limit could charge customers at another location and bus them into the airport. Wagner admitted in testimony that dog kennels, animal hospitals, day care centers and other businesses allowed to operate in the M-1 industrial district accept payment for services on site for their services. The zoning board said off-site ticket sales defied common sense and would place an unfair burden on the operation of the business. The board decided skydiving is a valid accessory use of the airport. 3. Camping. Campers have been on the property since at least 1984, but camping is not listed as a permitted use in the zone. Camping is permitted elsewhere in the township. At least one Sky's the Limit employee may be living in a camper as his residence on the property. The airport said pilots sometimes use the campers overnight or throw a tarp over a wing for a tent. The board said camping or hotel accommodations would have to be found off site. Root had been planning a companion business just before the zoning violations were issued. That project and the additional commerce plus 20 jobs it would have brought was put on hold while he waited to see if the skydiving business would survive. Litigation was expensive and it may not be over. Root may appeal the decision to end camping at the airport. "It is a taking of rights of property owners. It is going to be looked at very hard as to how we want to proceed in that matter. We could appeal," Root said.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #29 November 6, 2009 Congrats on winning two out of three, and the big one, which allows skydiving to continue there. As for the camping issue, how close are you to a property line with different zoning? Can you buy/lease a plot of land on the edge of the DZ to set up as a camping area? Since they're not going to allow camping there, a way to bring further pressure in your favor is to warn any pilots you see camping there overnight. Get them on your side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyIsLove83 0 #30 November 6, 2009 This is my DZ and I overheard some talk about this crap when I was there. It's so ridiculous. The place is great, the people are absolutely amazing. They made me, the newbie girl, so comfortable there. And as far as the bonfire mention - I can neither confirm nor deny the prescense of bonfires. Seriously - people need to get a damn life. And I agree with everyones statement about giving her a tandem and see what she says after that. Ugh. So frustrating! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyIsLove83 0 #31 November 6, 2009 Just to add one more thing...the campers and 'alleged' bonfires - they are nowhere NEAR anyone. Left around 2am and I walked to my car and could barely hear anyone. I drove down the driveway and couldn't even SEE anything anymore. This lady is full of crap. Best time I ever had though....ahhhh, I miss it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
