A Brooksville couple, Donna Hartl and her husband, were excited about buying a vacant lot in January for $17,500. However, their plans to build a home on the property have been derailed due to an unusual easement owned by Duke Energy.
According to Hartl, she did her research with Hernando County government and received approval for building a single-family residence, but when they arrived at the site last month, they found out that Duke Energy had an easement over the entire property. The couple was told that they could not build within 100 feet of any utility pole, including a large concrete transmission pole on the land.
Hartl explained that the easement was filed in public records in 1955 and prohibits buildings or structures within 100 feet of the right of way. This means that the couple’s septic system and well would have to be located far away from their future home, leaving no space for construction.
Despite zoned for agricultural or residential use, the Hartls are still not allowed to build a residence on their property due to the easement. They will continue to pay taxes on the land, but with a reduced value of 50% to $6,691 after Hernando County adjusted the assessment.
Duke Energy stated that the easements and setbacks are in place for safety reasons, while also protecting equipment and ensuring reliable power delivery. The company emphasized that it is not involved in real estate transactions and encourages property owners to research the history and terms of their properties thoroughly.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/brooksville-couple-discovers-barred-law-234937962.html