We are ready to build a new house... picked out a lot etc... We have walked the land and did not notice anything, but with further research found the back of the property to be considered a 'wetland'. I know that means we cant build on it, but what else does that mean? I am looking on line with out lot of luck.... Hubby is on his way out there again (with the builder) to re walk it and see since it rained so hard yesterday, maybe it will give us a better idea of if it actually stays wet. It is several acres and I dont mind not being able to 'build' on the back half but I worry about resale value (if we ever did to sell) and what laws and restrictions there are....
I dunno, we have wetland behind us and I don't see where it has brought down the value. If anything, it makes the property more appealing because we will never have neighbors directly behind us. Cons... I dunno maybe mosquitos, bugs, reptiles, critters? Not a bad thing, esp if your son loves nature.
An actual designated "wetlands" (as opposed to simply a wet area in your backyard or a marshy area) carries certain specific allowed uses and non-uses as defined by the Corps of Engineers. A Registered Surveyor should be able to inform you as to regulations governing these areas.
My builder called the surveyor and he said we couldn't build any structures there.... I guess I need more answers. We would like to fence in the yard and I cant figure out if that is allowed, I also saw that you shouldn't have livestock, which we do want to put horses out there. Since it is 'dry' most of the time I think it would be ok for the horses. (they could not be kept in standing water, but occasionally wet would be ok) I am afraid of buying a useless piece of land... we really want it just to NOT have neighbors, so for us that works! I hate to pay for 4 acres and only really be able to use 2....
My guess, and it is a guess, is that they do not want livestock back there do to the damage they could do to the watershed and feces issues.
If there is a stream near your wetlands it will cause lots of stipulations. The government can regulate what grows there, whether you can clear the land or even mow it. The riparian buffer which surronds stream could extend onto your land even if the stream is on someone else's land.
We cant find a stream or anything out that way.... about 6 acres over they saw a small puddle of water but that was it! So I dont know. The builder has a list of questions from us that he has to get answered first... so we did not sign today, maybe Tuesday. They are already saying it will be Jan now before we are done, ugggg.
