I would not contribute. They chose this battle. There could be a hidden agenda going on.
Wish them luck, and then ignore the situation.
I had an aquaintance that fought a battle over a calf that fell in front of her car on the freeway. She did not want it destroyed. Once she won that battle she had it butchered and put it in her frezzer.

For what my two cents are worth... I would not contribute either, I don't see where these neighbors come off asking you to fight their battle for them. You should have been consulted before they started any action as to your feelings on said subject and what support you would be giving. It is my opinion that unless land has been in some kind of protected reserve whoever owns the land has the right to develop it. Of course if the plan is to put a garbage dump in the middle of multi-million dollar homes that's a different story. The only way you can be sure there's no development on any particular piece of land is to own it. Such a uncomfortable position for you to be in Cameron, wish them well and leave it at that. After all is said and done these neighbors could up and sell at a later date to someone who really doesn't care about such development and where would you be then.

Annette

I agree with the advice given, Cameron. Development is just the way it is, everything changes. Developers usually have big bucks and a lot of clout. I think it would be money down the drain to fight the developer.

Lorna

It's just so awkward. We keep having to make excuses not to go to these "parties". There is one tomorrow afternoon. I'm pretty sure no one else in the neighborhood will go either. We keep getting emails to report on the proceedings and to report the cost and invite us to these fund raisers. Fortunately, the HOA didn't sign up the neighborhood to fight this legal battle.

Cameron reply to their email saying you wish them all the luck in the world but that's all the support you feel you can give at this time. It's not fair that they keep doing this, it almost seems to be a form of intimidation to me. I feel for you being put in this position. I think if you state your position in a friendly manner they will except it. If they don't that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

I think Annette's last post is spot on. What an awkward situation to be in, I feel for you Cameron, we all have to pick our own battles and you did not pick this one. Good luck, Martha

From Lorna: Development is just the way it is, everything changes. Developers usually have big bucks and a lot of clout. I think it would be money down the drain to fight the developer.

I agree, Lorna, but every so often, the citizens win one. A town near me fought with Wal-Mart to prevent a store being opened in their community, and they prevailed -- no Wal-Mart. A bit farther away, Meijer's, a chain that is big in Michigan, apparently tried to throw their weight around by starting lawsuits against individual township officials. They are now having to answer for their actions in court, chuckle, chuckle.

I spent a few years on my township planning commission, where we would approve or deny developers' site plans. As long as the proposed development met all the zoning ordinance rules, we had no choice but to approve it, whether we liked it or not. Well, we would technically have a choice, but denying the plan would be a sure loser in court.

I'm not sure exactly how the anti-Wal-Mart folks kept Wal-Mart out of their town, but they did.

ThinMan

I'm not sure what the people are against with the neighboring development - maybe they moved where they are to get away from "developments", I don't know. And if you aren't sure, maybe you could ask to hear them out (if you really care to). If not, I wouldn't make an excuse as to why you are not planning on going to their party. A simple, "no thanks, we already have plants but it is so kind of you to ask" is nice enough.

If you are in the position that you are happy to remain distantly polite but not buddy buddy with the neighbors, I think you should be fine. After all, they hired the lawyers and you did not - and I have no idea if they hired them why on earth they expect someone else to pay for them.

GGG

We had a different but similar situation here. We were fighting the legislature in our state to keep our rural schools open. We were all for the cuase. Many of us carried petitions and we managed to get the law moved to the ballot but it fell short in that the law took affect before the state's residents got a chance to vote. Still we continued to fight in any way we could. Then a few, who had started the petition drives etc. decided that big name attorneys should be hired to continue the battle. What ended the fight for me was when they sent an email asking for funds to pay for this new leg of the battle. Often I had solicited funds from my friends and constituants. The email stated that they were not interested in $20-$50 dollar donations, they were after huge funding. They talked, in this email, as though they had single handedly gotten the cause as far along as it had gotten and now it was time for the real supporters to step forward. They gave no thought to the hundreds of people who had gone out and done all the educating and leg work. At that point, I sent my own email to the group asking them if they really believed that it was only a few that had made the difference. It seemed to me that $20 from 100 of my friends and $20 from all of the other supporters and their friends would add up to quite a large sum of money. I washed my hands of the situation. The law was already in place anyway and had been denied by two state supreme court rulings. We tried. I think that was the end of the support for a lot of people. "The cause" never even makes the news anymore. Might have been different had they not insulted all those who had helped them. I think we were all equally invested in the cause up to that point.

Maybe it's time to set your neighbors straight on just how far you will go to support their efforts? I think it's hard to support a cause that doesn't personally effect you or your investments. If your neighbor's sole purpose in this battle is to protect their own investment in their own properties then I think they are misguided in the effort to enlist help. I think honesty is the best policy in all situations. They'll either get over it or they won't. That is their own choice and does not reflect on you or your family.

Good Luck,
MeMo

Thanks everyone. If our neighbors approach us, DH and I have agreed to express to them that we don't feel that we have a stake in this legal action. I appreciate having a great sounding board here!

Cameron

I live in a rural area, between two volunteer fire departments. A developer owns vacant land across the street from where I live. He wanted to put in 120 townhouse style apartments. People from all over this area showed up at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to protest. Nobody from this community spent a penny. The Commissioners said they had never seen such a turnout. The developer's plan was denied because the rural infrastructure here cannot support 120 new households. (Schools, roads, public transportation, law enforcement, sewage facilities and fire department services, or lack thereof, being the infrastructure.)

Lorna

Dear Cameron ~ I really feel for you being put in an uncomfortable situation. You did not ask for this. It is NOT your problem, it would be if your property was next to the land the developers want to develop, but that is not the case. I do hope your neighbors wills cease and desist soon, once they realize that it is their ballgame and the ball is in their court. To have parties to raise funds for their defense is rude and inconsiderate. You and your DH will do the right thing and the burden will be off you. You are kind souls trying to mind your own business. Bless your hearts.

Hugs ~ FlowerLady

I agree- I wouldn't contribute either. I might even make it clear that while you support their fight, it is not YOUR fight and you're not going to donate.

Development is everywhere. It's a shame really. In this neck of the woods, there are so many new plazas & buildings going up, while thousands of others sit vacant for no reason. Why ruin valuable forests when it's not necessary?

Tracy

What is it with all this development that is really not needed, it just seem to put others out of business. Up here a new one opens, end result one is forced to close.

Annette

Originally, there was a Wal-Mart planned for the site. The entire community went to the planning meeting and opposed, so the developer changed to a smaller retail store to fit on 20 acres (along the highway) of the 64 acres (woods remain). The community was satisfied except for the neighbors with adjacent property.

I think you are making the right decision here Cameron. Since you don't seem to have even the smallest passion for this battle, writing a check would amount to insincere suck up. Wish them all the best and forego the intimate little shake downs, erm, dinner parties. If they should be classless enough to hold that against you, well there you have it. Sneeze muffins to them!

Steven