Small Drainage Easement on Property

[DigiSLR]

As some of you know, I have been looking at building a new home. I think I found a lot in a subdivision that I like. It's a HUGE corner lot (compared of course to the rest of the lots in the subdivision.)

There is a SMALL Drainage easement on the back edge of the property, and the property backs up to Denton County Fresh Water property. I know I'll need to talk to the Realtor or Builder, and get the exact details, but would any of you be able to tell me what to expect from the easement on the property? How can I find out exactly what Denton County uses the neighboring property for? Currently there is a small water tank (not water tower) on the property. There are no loud noises and no lighting at night that appear to cause any disturbances.

The easement is actually very small in comparison to the property and located on the far edge. (15 feet x 41 feet)

I've included a small jpg of the property.

Thank you for any and all feedback!

[toverman]

Congrats on locating a site you like.

From my experience, if you find someone to tell you what Denton County is using the adjacent property for, you'll probably get an answer. As for what can happen in the future, nobody can really tell you for sure. Build a fence as sturdy and tall as the neighborhood will allow and have a buffer of trees in your yard along the fence line to block out anything that might pop up later. Chances are, nothing will, though.

If the lot is significantly larger than the ones on either side, just be careful to not overbuild the house. You never want to have the biggest house in a subdivision because who would want to buy when there are starter homes (an exaggeration in this case) next door? We have friends in far north Fort Worth who have a 2,500 square foot home with 1,200 square foot homes next door and across the street. The little homes are getting a little trashy, and might even become rentals some day soon. So much for zoning rules that make sense!

[Digigeek]

The probable effect of the drainage easement is that you must permit water to drain across that part of the property and will likely be restricted from constructing anything that would prevent the blow of water such as a fence. In addition, the easement likely allows someone to construct drainage systems through that part of the lot. You really need to get a copy of the easement to see what it provides. They are on file with the county deed records.

I would place a call to the Denton water utilities office to see if you can get information on what the use and future intended use of the adjacent property is, and hope it is not for a water treatment plant in the future.

[crazeazn]

call your Denton MUD

[bondarnes]

I have a drainage easement on one side and across the back of my property about 500 ft. total. It was basically a drainage ditch until I brought in a Bulldozer and built a couple of dams to create two ponds. I built a little footbridge over the narrow end of the smaller pond and that is one of the favorite sets at our studio. I figured out a way to turn a lemon into lemonade.

[DigiSLR]

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess I'll hunt down someone in Denton County water district.

As for over building, no that's not going to happen. We wanted a corner lot simply becuase its one of the very few lots I can have a 3 car garage.

Hmm, Water treatment plant, as in Sewer? That scares me, but it's Denton county FRESH water, not waste water... I hope that makes a difference...

[DigiSLR]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I have a drainage easement on one side and across the back of my property about 500 ft. total. It was basically a drainage ditch until I brought in a Bulldozer and built a couple of dams to create two ponds. I built a little footbridge over the narrow end of the smaller pond and that is one of the favorite sets at our studio. I figured out a way to turn a lemon into lemonade.

Did you have to get any special permits or approval to do that? From the small amount of info I have read so far, Drainage Easements need to be unobstructed...

[Torrey]

If there's anything unsightly on their property, red-tipped photinias make great blockades all year-round. We have a wall of them in our backyard about 15ft tall...you wouldn't know that there's a 3-story apartment complex behind them if you couldn't see the apartments through the neighbors yard.

[DigiSLR]

Thanks everyone. Thanks to your advice, I've found out that the water company land is actually a well and pumping station with a small storage tank. No worries of a waste water plant. :-)

Now to get the details of that easement...

[pintail]

Originally Posted by Digigeek

The probable effect of the drainage easement is that you must permit water to drain across that part of the property and will likely be restricted from constructing anything that would prevent the blow of water such as a fence. In addition, the easement likely allows someone to construct drainage systems through that part of the lot. You really need to get a copy of the easement to see what it provides. They are on file with the county deed records.

That's my understanding as well. I have seen folks put a fence across it, but at the level of the height of the sides of the drainage easement. The key seems to be not blocking the flow of water. I'd suggest getting a copy of the easement, and then taking it to a real estate attorney for an opinion, before throwing down tons of cash.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by DigiSLR

Did you have to get any special permits or approval to do that? From the small amount of info I have read so far, Drainage Easements need to be unobstructed...

The larger pond on the front of the property actually created a retention pond which helped with flood control except for the April 2007 flood. The small pond in the back simply overflowed back into the drainage ditch once it was full.