Freeda - my first thought was a trellis - wouldn't a strategically placed trellis, covered with a vine, help in your case, or is the light too high up to be screened? We have grapevine growing all over one of the walls of our house and vigorously spreading into the lawn. It's actually invasive. It also bears edible fruit. It forms a dense cover from late spring to first frosts. It needs sun. Also, around here people plant juniperus virginiana Skyrocket to form tall and thin hedges (sunny spots, too). I am aware that in the U.S. some restrictions on erecting dividing "screens" - fences, trellises, hedges - probably apply, depending on the area. Also, that constructing such a "screen" - if there is enough space - might make you look unfriendly. But - if you are on non-speaking terms with your neighbour - a screen will do no further harm, and if you are on speaking terms, I imagine he would understand and forgive you building one.. Your being on his south side might be a tricky bit, if such is the case. Around where I live property owners are not shy at all to show others (neighbours, passers-by) that they are not welcome. High fences are raised, constructed in such a way as to obstruct the view. Front gates are covered with metal screens as if we lived in Hollywood. Walls are very few because the climate is too cold. But otherwise.. we all commute to the city from here (1 hour one way) and when we finally get home at night we want to relax. Judging from what their fences look like, most people need privacy for this. So they do protect their homes from unwanted attention, and it is legally allowed (or at least widely tolerated - I have not actually read the existing regulations).

Mind if I'm honest? Since this is along a driveway, and measures only 40' long, I'm assuming it is in the front yard, which is a pretty public place anyway. If you're only going to be there a few years, why not just put up with the lack of "privacy" in what isn't really a very private location anyway? Sorry to seem inquisitive or argumentative ... maybe there are factors you didn't mention.

"... Goldspire Ginkgo, very columnar variety that is yellow in the fall and should mature to 14' - 16 tall and 5' - 6' wide." Oooh ... I don't think that's gonna happen. It will become much larger. Whenever size information comes from selling sources, it's 100% of the time going to be wrong. And they're stating a size after only a few years of growth, where the tree will not stop. Figure at least double size of whatever you're told. A fat clump of lilac in the tree form sounds like a great solution to the back right bed. You need some groundcover there, too. consider lily of the valley (so long as there's shade.) It does great there. Gotta be some Hosta somewhere, too. And daylilies in the sun. (From DeKalb originally.)

I have a red twig dogwood in very deep shade. It is about 8 feet tall. It has never flowered, but is doing fine. Of course it is deciduous.