First sign of progress from the road

 

 

September 17: No Goshen property can be dual use, so the commercial billboard on Lincoln Way needed to come down. Dennis did not find the ground mushy.

Hope! A pre-existing driveway

Can you see the drive through the middle?

Access to the property has been a time-consuming issue for two major reasons:

1. There is no direct access to a public road.
2. The property includes significant wetlands.

Yes, the property has frontage on Lincolnway, northeast of downtown. However, the wetlands/flood plain are in that part of the property. The east side is the Pumpkin Vine; the north side is the city limits and Amber Meadows development and the west side is the county garage, a residence and other industries.

 

We want to preserve land and have the shortest possible driveway. We tried several routes, but are needing to use the already existing legal easement of Herman Street off Steury Street.

 

Next issue was that if we destroyed wetlands of more than 0.1 acre, we had to rebuild wetlands AND have them inspected by Army Corp of Engineers (ACE, although I don't know if that is an official acronym) several times a year for perhaps 5 years. Not only was this expensive, but invasive.

While exploring the land with friends, Dennis discovered a culvert and weeks later, an existing driveway. Perhaps if we were only improving an existing drive, the application process with ACE would be easier?



First view of the land

February 2013

Dennis found the land while yet again scouring ads and maps of Goshen and surrounding areas. He had been doing this for several years but never found property he really liked. Years ago when he first he took me to see properties, they were all over 5 acres. I thought I misunderstood the term "downsizing."

 

In February, while looking at a lot for a sale in a development, he noticed a huge amount of undeveloped land south of it.

 

35 acres



Double oak in winter

 

He called Lavon Troyer, the owner, who hesitated about 30 seconds before saying he'd consider selling it. We were interested in just the northern 8-15 acres that are not wetland. However, he didn't want to deal with the land at all any more and said we'd have to buy it all. We haven't bought the land yet, waiting to be sure we have access, electricity and all.

 



Scrub trees

That first February day of ecstasy, Dennis called and asked Rich Meyer to scout out the land. He declared it fantastic so we made a quick trip out to see it ourselves. After seeing the view from the hill, the Pumpkin Vine trail along one side and several deer stands, noticing the winter quiet even in an industrial area, we decided this unusual piece of property was worth pursuing. I have to wonder . . .if we had known how difficult all the permissions and access would be, if we still would have made this choice. I think we would have. Once the house is built, we will be more sure.



Four wheeler track: land is in use

                                                             




(I never take photos with my mouth open, as is the norm these days, so I have no idea how Dennis took this one!)