Clifton Park residents fear soil erosion

its all the rain we got this month.

Unfortunately for these residents, it is the homeowners responsibility. Why would it be the town's problem to fix? This is what happens when you build your houses on sand.

From the news clip, it seemed that the property BEHIND the property of the homeowners was sinking, slowly coming up to thier property line....I think the city should do something....who is responsible for the property BEHIND the fences of these people....?

Let me see...

Residents buy houses on the edge of a ravine.

Ravine starts to erode.

Somehow that is the fault of the Town?

One f l a g. More Fun.

On e f l a g. More Fun!

I agree with the town. It is the homeowners responsibility to fix their problem with their property.

Is it THIER property when it's behind thier property line?? Just a question.....

Maureen wrote:

I agree with the town. It is the homeowners responsibility to fix their problem with their property.

It sounds like it is a problem relating to the ravine, and therefore, should be the responsibility of that area (town). The town was fully aware of this problem for quite some time and should have done something by now. How long are they going to let this go on?

No I disagree. I think it is sad and all that, but it is still the responsibility of the homeowner. It is not the fault of the town when people build their houses on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. It is not fault of the town when the shoreline erodes and collapses, swallowing houses every year, either. Those are the breaks. We need smaller government involvement and more people that stand on their own two feet and accept responsibility for their problems. Why should the other taxpayers have to pay to fix these sorts of problems?

If they want to really look at this, perhaps they should start with the builder who allowed homes to be built on unstable ground.

I agree.

NYMom wrote:

If they want to really look at this, perhaps they should start with the builder who allowed homes to be built on unstable ground.

Aren't those all condos? Therefore, site prep, approvals, environmental impact studies, etc should have taken place prior to building all of those units. The homeowner is a in a buyer beware situation. The developer and town share responsibility for skimming on the due diligence. No one noticed the ravine back there???

Skibum wrote:

Aren't those all condos? Therefore, site prep, approvals, environmental impact studies, etc should have taken place prior to building all of those units. The homeowner is a in a buyer beware situation. The developer and town share responsibility for skimming on the due diligence. No one noticed the ravine back there???

I agree. the town should be part responsible. They issue building permits.

That's called reality. Research your land BEFORE you buy it. Find out what a builder has/hasn't done to prep your land the same way you would your house. A little responsibility and work at the start and they wouldn't be in this predicament. You wouldn't build part of your house on water and complain of flooding. Taxes cover community and civic buildings not homeowners mistakes and irresponsibilities. Sounds an awful lot like these people that walked into bad mortgages knowing that they couldn't pay them and hoping it would work out crying "waaah" to officials because they're losing the houses they never should of had to begin with. So essentially, people like myself, at least modestly informed and responsible are supposed to work hard to pay for themselves and to help pay for you and your ill-informed irresponsible choices too? Doubtful.