Any Ideas On what to do
 

Any Ideas on what I might do with this situation. As you can see this transformer on some other thing is around 4 feet from the back of my new house. I'm so mad right now I cant think straight. Any help would be appreciated.

make lemonade
 

Well I guess you'll have to make lemonade out of lemons! Plant some nice greenery around it...if they'll let you. Have to disguise it somehow. Didn't you see this prior to building?? It could be worse but not what you wanted in your back yard. Sorry....

Green thing!
 

There have been several threads about this. It's been referred to the "ugly green thing". I have no suggestions. If it was me, I think I would in fact plant some sea grass around it.

Penguin, sorry to hear about that.

Re: any plantings - Refer to the following parameters from SECO:

http://www.secoenergy.com/planting.html

Bill :)

I don't understand why you are mad.

Ya have to have them.

But haven't you heard, Gracie? NOT IN MY BACK YARD!! Both houses we've had have had them in our back yard. We planed some Mewliegh Grass around the first house. Haven't done anything here yet. Waiting for the lot behind us to have a house built before we do any landscaping back there.

I showed my husband and he said you had better be very careful digging around that you may get electrocuted. Please be careful and call MissUtilities or whom ever it is that located utilities before you dig. I'd be upset too though it that makes you feel any better.

Also, according to my husband, if you aren't happy now; you are going to be a whole lot more unhappy when they set the other transformer on top of the pad. The photo shows a pad where another green transformer will be set.

Green monster
 

Every house has some kind of underground utility box or boxes in their yard. We planted a beautiful butterfly garden surrounding ours. Hibiscus, lantana, firecracker plants, verbena. We put the bird feeder there along with a small bird bath. It's really quite lovely. The utility man was here this week and he commented on how nice it looked. He had no trouble getting into it for inspection even though the plants are quite close. The frost did get some of our plants, so I think I'll go with some grasses to supplement.

When I said "we planted", I meant to say McGowan's planted. I'm sure they know the depths and hazards of digging around the transformers.

Are you serious. Would like that thing 4 feet from your back door, not somewhere in the backyard. 4 FEET FROM THE BACK DOOR:cus:

I totally understand about the utility boxes in the back yard and agree that disguiseing them with plantings is a great idea, but as I said its way too close to the exit door of the Lanai and it seems too close to even plant shrubs around it. Thats my dilema. Does anyone know of some kind of a code saying how close it can be to a dwelling?

There is one between every other lot line. You don't have any back yard and it has to go somewhere. If you look at the other homes, everyone will have somewhere on their lot or close to their lot.

If you didn't want something like that close to your home, you would have to have paid for a larger lot.

Or built a smaller home. :)

Did you get a copy of the survey or th drawing of the layout of the house on the property? I'm betting they are within the code guide lines, but you could probably call the county zoning office or building permit office to see what the minimum is.

Yes Greg I looked at the platt of survey and it shows the utility box 11 feet from the dwelling.

I wish I would have know that it can be an issue based on lot size. I just hate surprises.

How confident are you that the house is built in the correct place? Something seems very wrong in regards to the right-of-way and where your house is located. It would seem to be encroaching on the right-of-way. The photo shows your sod. I assume that is your property line. The boxes would normally be put there, but the house is very close to the right-of-way where you aren't allowed to build. I don't know what you would be able to do now. I hate it for you.

Penguin, I'll trade you...you come up here and look outside at the cold, dead looking trees and grass and approaching snow clouds..front AND back of my house...I'll come down there and check out your green box. Heck, if I end up with one in my yard, I'll just name it and drink a toast to it every day...it helps to maintain the lifestyle!

I hear ya Trish, I'm here in northern IL and not driving a golf cart. I will take your advice and have a cocktail every day. I will also give it a name but I would not be able to tell any of you, at least not on this forum:laugh:

Have you closed on the house yet ?

I'm so sorry you have this and do agree you should dig into why it shows the box is 11 ft from the house on your plans but ended up being much closer. In the mean time, I'd suggest getting some large pots and planting something big and leafy in them. Pots can be moved for access so you can put them closer than seco allows plantings

Here is a picture of ours, not yet planted around. It is near the property line in the back. We planted bottle brush in front of the others. Pots are a good idea.

bk...you have NO say where they place your house. We tried to have ours face the other street. No go.

Planting
 

I would complain to your sales person. It looks like your screen door in the open position is about 2' away. Maybe they can change the door to the side of the lanai. Also I would wait until you have neighbors and work with them to plant around the utility boxes. ( The green box is a padmount transformer and the box with wires sticking out is for cable tv) When planting around the transformer one side has a "bolt" low and center. This is the side a worker needs to get to to open. The other side has the hinges. Keep in mind they have a "right-of-way" to the utility boxes and can cut down anything you plant too close. The good thing is, once all the houses are done they rarely need to get in the boxes.

It looks as if it is four foot from the pad that comes out your lanai. Our pad that comes out of our lanai is about four foot square, I am pretty sure those pads are all about the same size. If it set on the lot line would that be eleven foot to the lot line?

It has to be at the edge of the lot line I think. Half of ALL of us have them I think. It is true that it depends on the size of your lot. This is a very good thread indeed and a heads up for folks. They are necessary evils but you will have about a fifty percent chance of having one placed in the back of your property line. So beware.

We are having so much fun, I am not angry. It is what it is. BUT EVERYONE NEW, remember this when you are picking your lot size.

Here is ours.

They will not move them. You could ask to have the door moved to the other end of the lanai. Or go with GG's idea, pot. I understand pot plants are very bushy.:1rotfl:

I thought you had to have a setback of a certain distance from the easements Grace. I mean, you can't build within a certain distance from the property line and the easements. I don't know to be honest. My husband said they are everywhere and everyone has them. Nothing you can do about it.

I know we bought a house for my husband's father on the golf course on the historic side. The property has a box like that but it is about 40 feet from the house on the corner of the lot. But it is a huge lot. I think the box for the houses on our cul-de-sac is hidden in a nice little park in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

What can you do except set out beautiful pots with lovely plants.

GG, I think that the transformer is only four feet from the back of the house like he said and is ridiculously close. If his transformer were as far back as yours is, I don’t think he would have started this thread.

Penguin, exhaust all avenues before accepting this. If all else fails, I’d move the door and smother the ugly beast with vegetation.

I could not agree with you more. The other picture that was posted clearly shows the transformer at least 10 feet back from the home and that would be fine with me. I realize the transformers have to be there but the 4 feet away is what set me off. After looking at the platt, it looks like they built the house too far back. The platt shows the house 10 ft from the property line. I'm no surveyor but things dont look right. I believe the transformer is in the correct place but the house is not. This issue IS being looked into by my sales rep so lets see where this goes. Again I ask,what leagally can be done and if nothing I will definitly try to have the door moved and plant pots, but for now does little for my frustration.

I have not. I close on Jan 20th, thats kinda why I'm scrambling for help and info on this issue.

Just sent you two PMs.

If the house was put in the wrong location this is certainly a time that legal representation to purchase a new home in The Villages would be required. Do not let them railroad you into closing before this is resolved. Scream as loud and long as you have to on this one ... I would.

We don't have power lines so don't have to worry about spacing plants

:agree: STRONGLY !

Just Wondering
 

Penquin, Just wondering if you bumped out your lanai or garage and what type of house you built. This may account for such close proximity to the transformer. Thanks so much for bringing this up as we will be building a designer home starting in Feb. and will certainly keep an eye out for discrepancies etc. Good luck!

I know one thing for sure. If it was incorrectly placed too close to your house or incorrectly as to your contract with them in any way, if they messed up, I feel very sure they will fix it.

You won't have to do anything legally. First thing tomorrow, call the warrenty department, or your builder, or both. I know it will be made right. If you are in TV measure the distance from your house to the big green thing.

Don't worry. They are out to make you happy. They have nothing to gain by pulling a fast one.

Sorry to hear about your problem and understand why you are upset.

I agree, those utility boxes are a little to close for comfort.

Please let us know how this all turns out.

JC and JOHN, I had no bump outs on the house,lanai or garage. I hope to remain optimistic like Gracie is saying and I hope she is right. I have a legitimate beef and I intend to make it right.

I looked at the plat map and it does look like it is supposed to be on the lot behind you.

Quick question, does the transformer box make niose, I heard they kinda hum.

I don't think so. We had one at our other house too in Hadley. They just kinda sit there and wait until you plant something in front of them and they sort of disappear. That house had a really small back yard and it was in the corner of the yard.