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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2001 : 12:03:15 PM
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I just read a news story about a problem a local contractor (Dufour, from Hinsdale MA) is having. The lease on their Lenox, MA bus yard is running out soon, and they're looking for somewhere else to park the 17 buses. They found a lot that would work, and they can get a lease on, but neighbors objected, and the zoning/planning board denied their application for the permit to park the buses there.
The neighborhood is zoned commercial, and all the houses that are there are only there cuz they're grandfathered in.
People objected that it would take away from the residential quality of their neighboorhood. (the property owners sat in the lot one morning and counted 6 truck companies legitimately using the road)
Parents complained that it would make it less safe for their kids. (aren't kids supposed to be in school during the times when buses are out? plus, aren't buses like a zillion times safer than cars? also, wouldn't a bus lot slow down traffic, preventing people from speeding through the neighboorhood?)
Rather than fight it, the company gave up and is looking for another site, but who's to say they'll get permission to do it there?
Any thoughts?
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 12:07:48 PM
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I think that this was a sad situation. I mean, school buses are "children friendly" vehicles, so I cannot see the objections the homeowners would have with that.
I'm not sure about this, but aren't school bus compounds usually zoned as commercial? And as you said, this was a commercial neighborhood.
I'd have to say, I feel bad for Dufour and wish them luck in finding a new location. I feel bad for the homeowners because their stupidity caused them to lose a bus yard which could have made their neighborhood a little nicer.
"Gotta love those buses!" |
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 12:12:56 PM
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Actually, I think it's a good thing that something like a bus yard would detract from property value in today's market...it'll make it easier for me to find a house I'd enjoy living in. 
If I lived in that town, I'd find them a place to park right across the street, and then show up on their doorstep to welcome them to the neighborhood when they moved in. 
Too bad they can't park down here (contract says it has to be in that town). My school's campus has plenty of unused space that would make a perfect bus yard, and maybe the rent would give us enough money to fix the housing situation...
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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BusCritic
Active Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 12:28:08 PM
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As long as it isn't a fleet full of AmTrans I don't see any problem. No no just kidding, if it is zoned commerical how on earth can they deny it??? That really gets me- if they don't want to look at a bus compound or a business they shouldn't have bought a house in an area zoned commerical.
As for it being unsafe- I might agree if you had a 20 16 year olds parking there cars there, but bus drivers transport children everyday they are about the safest drivers to have in any subdivision.
If it's not a Thomas Built Bus, I would rather walk to school. |
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 12:34:50 PM
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my mistake, the lot is zoned for 60% commercial, 40% residential. but still...
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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B. Busguy33
Top Member
USA
3444 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 2:40:04 PM
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Hi Phil,
I believe that since the majority of the land (that is 60% of the land) is zoned for commercial use, then Dufour should be allowed to use that area as their new parking lot for the buses. If the area is adequate to park all of the buses there, then Dufour should be allowed to occupy the space.
Is it a possibility that they may be able to renew their contract at the Lenox yard before it expires? I would think that Lenox would let them renew the lease, unless someone else is paying a higher price to lease it...but still...Dufour should have top priority for that property in my opinion.
Bob
(B. Busguy33)
"Blue Bird: Always flyin' high above the rest... 
Blue Bird: One of America's Best!!!  " |
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 3:57:58 PM
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One thing I didn't make clear, this would still be in Lenox. It's just in a different part of the town--the contract requires that the buses be kept in the town. I'm not sure why they can't renew the lease, but it's on private property somewhere.
But you're right, they should get priority, since they're a private company contracting with the local government.
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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cowlitzcoach
Advanced Member
USA
325 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 06:10:17 AM
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Zoning and zoning changes and the change in uses those sorts of changes make is always a problem for the people who were there first.
Recently a new prison was built in Oregon. Most of the homes around the area where the prison was built are executive type homes in the $250K+ price range.
Unfortunately for those homeowners their property values have tanked big time.
In order to increase their property values the homeowners have been trying to get their property rezoned to some sort of commercial zoning. So far, they have had no luck.
One homeowner has started a protest in order to force the issue. He has started to plant school buses in his yard and in his neighbor's yards. When he is finished he figures he will have at least fifty school buses planted nose down in his neighborhood.
Picture it if you will, fifty school buses with the first ten feet of the bus underground and the back bumper twenty some feet in the air.
I think I would rather have a bus garage next door, thank you very much.
Mark O.
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 12:04:06 PM
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So he's gonna buy 50 new school buses and put them in the ground? If he wins, then what is he gonna do with them? No matter how old or what kind of buses they are...THE POOR THINGS! 
Stop at: www.buses.cjb.net |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 08:34:07 AM
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It's good that the neighbors fought it. I would do the same too! Who would want a bunch of buses next to their house? (Unless the Blue Birds!!!) Who would even want to smell those diesel fumes???????? NOT ME!
"Blue Bird---Flying High Above the Rest!" "Blue Bird---Never a Pest!" "Blue Bird--- America's best!" "Blue Bird--- Welcome to the Nest!" www.blue-bird.com www.busexplorer.com |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 10:50:30 AM
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I'd LOOOOOOVVVEE a bunch of buses next to my house. Not many people who live near our current bus lot mind, so I don't see why these people would. Also, the buses will only be there at night...gone most of the day.
Stop at: www.buses.cjb.net |
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BusDiva
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 2:20:31 PM
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Interesting:
My location has had this problem for the past ten years- when i was in middle school. He he he
The location I am at currently houses 40 buses. We are in an old military factory that at one time during the 30's manufactured tanks for the army. The land is zoned commercial and retail however, the wording is exactly to allow buses to be parked here.
10 years ago, Vancom rolled their yellow and black babies in there and parked them. Surrounding the compound is a historic area of the town. Ana rea that is coming back and addign to the value of the property. However, 10 years ago, when Vancom came in, all these people in the area now had to deal with headlights, red and amber warning lights, diesel fumes, strobe lights and horns honking at 5:30 in the morning.
Now, sure it was a surprise to them, however, just 7 feet past the fence we line up the buses is the back door steps of our historic area. Was this fair or nice? Fair and legal yes, nice- hell no.
Here is an area trying to come back and we now downgraded the area. Washign of bsues is not allowed, running the buses for more than 10 minutes is not allowed and speaking loudly is not allowed.
Now, in the other viewpoint, if you are selling your home, do you put for NICE FEATURES: home has newer furnace, newer windows, Central air, refinished hardwood flooring, bay window overlooking 40 school bsues that check theirlights at 5:30 a.m.. Sounds bad in my opinion.
Asd much as I love my job and yelow and black, I think it was kind of poor on ouer part but when there is no where else to park the babies, what do you do. We read deeply into the city's words.
We won, not the neighbors.
It's the little things that count |
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INTERNATIONAL_74
Senior Member
94 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 5:04:22 PM
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I am inclined to agree with BusDiva, although if my district wanted to set up shop next door, I'd help them move in. (I love buses)
I live in a tight-knit conservative town. Once, neighbors protested a small auto sales lot with like three cars in it.(The land was also commercial) I can honestly say that my neighbors would have a field day with the district if they tried to do that. The planning commission would put a stop to that quickly.
Have a good day!
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2001 : 07:09:09 AM
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In my town, people seem to like to help out the district. There doesn't seem to be much disrespect towards the drivers (except red light runners) and people don't complain about the buses unless there is a safety issue (there are some though.....). If a bus lot had to be built near someone's house, the district would probably try to work with the people to make it better. And as I've said before, there hasn't been many, if any, complaints about our current bus lot which is in a residential area. Plus, the location where it's going to be moved because more space is needed is in an industrial area. It's way too small. A couple years ago, some staff and some buses had to be parked in the field behind the lot. Have a nice day!
Stop at: www.buses.cjb.net |
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2001 : 07:44:16 AM
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We had a similar problem ourselves.
One of our 7 bus compounds, Central-East Compound, was trying to be forced out by homeowners. The compound is right smack in a residential neighborhood. Eventually, they moved half the buses to a new compound, but Central-East is still there today. About 100 buses park there.
Another one of our compounds was shared with the public transit bus compound. They leased the land to us, but now the school district purchased it, and kicked all the non-school buses out. Then, another compound was leased on land belonging to a construction tycoon. They tried to kick us off, but the school district purchased the land and now they are trying to undergo some major renovations to the compound building.
"Gotta love those buses!" |
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B. Busguy33
Top Member
USA
3444 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2001 : 2:29:56 PM
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In my area, 1 bus lot is at an elementary school. About 40 buses park there, and it is in a residential area. A nearby bus lot was also in a resedential area, but they built a new bus lot in a commercial area. The other lot for this town is behind a liquor store and a gas station. (Figure that one out.)
My district's bus lot is right in the middle of a neighborhood and is next to a small store. About 90-100 buses are parked there (during school vacations and the summer...some buses park at home during the school year). At my previous school district, the bus lot was just outside a big residential neighborhood, but it was also right next to a major interstate.
Bob
(B. Busguy33)
"Blue Bird: Always flyin' high above the rest...
Blue Bird: One of America's Best!!! " |
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newbeetlebugblue2000
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2001 : 09:41:55 AM
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You can park them at my house! I would love it! Really! In my district, we have a bus lot behind the middle school and whatever buses are not kept there are kept at it's driver's home.
Ryan Lane
NewBeetleBugBlue2000@yahoo.com |
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2001 : 1:34:11 PM
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I would love to live next to the bus yard!
If the people that live there have a problem,
put up a chain-link fence and grow ivy on it.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
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BlueBird44
Top Member
USA
1639 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2001 : 5:59:36 PM
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In town limits we are not allowed to park School Buses or Tractor Trailers and such. Some people do and get away with it other don't. That means I will not be able to park a bus at my house. A company that used to be in town for awhile parked them in so there is a grandfather clause on that house. It is for sale but I am not sure if the grandfather clause would go out I would love to be able to park buses there. But I can't afford a house and I can't afford a bus. But I think if it dosen't look awful those people shouldn't complain all they got to do is put up a fence.
BlueBird44-"44 Best Bus EVER!" |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2001 : 12:09:53 PM
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I'm glad this came up. There was a new law passed in my town stating that no commercial vehicles can be parked on private property. You can only do so if you have 5+ acres, in which you can only have a maximum of two parked there. Now, I have 2 acres and obviously park my bus there. It's insured commercially, so would I have to move it? Nobody is bothered by it, so it shouldn't matter. And, I cannot afford to store it somewhere...I obviously don't have a job, if you know my age. The village council (the town is too small to have a mayor or anything like that) voted 4 to 3 on this law, so it passed. However, there was very strong opposition to this by citizens. One guy interviewed by the paper stated that it would be like an invasion of privacy. He said something along the lines of, "Ok, so maybe I don't like the color of your house....are we gonna get into that?" I hope the council gets their act together!!! Do you think this law would apply to me? What should I do if it does?
Stop at: www.buses.cjb.net |
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newbeetlebugblue2000
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 08:53:16 AM
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The BusBoy, you are saying that there is a strong opposition for having your bus at your home because your neighbor doesn't like yellow school buses? Please explain.
Ryan Lane
However, there was very strong opposition to this by citizens. One guy interviewed by the paper stated that it would be like an invasion of privacy. He said something along the lines of, "Ok, so maybe I don't like the color of your house....are we gonna get into that?" I hope the council gets their act together!!! Do you think this law would apply to me? What should I do if it does?
Stop at: www.buses.cjb.net
[/quote]
Ryan Lane
NewBeetleBugBlue2000@yahoo.com |
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Phil4747
Top Member
USA
695 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2001 : 09:46:43 AM
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I think he was opposed to the law, and in favor of having whatever you want on the property. He asked about house color as in "What's next? Are you gonna complain about the color of a house?"
Also, if the bus isn't registered (just sitting in your driveway), then I don't think it would be covered under the law. But once you register it as commercial the law may apply.
—Phil
"It's the same way some people are obsessed with cars. I'm just weird." |
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"Not in my backyard"
