Drivers on Baldwin Rd. looking for the Elk View Estates subdivision may have a hard time finding it.
The sign marking the subdivision’s only entrance and exit was recently replaced with a crudely spray-painted sign that reads ‘Rick Trailer Lot: Keep Out?
No, this wasn’t the work of trouble-making young vandals or fun-loving Halloween pranksters.
It was done by frustrated Elk View Estates property owner Rick Vellucci, a Lake Orion resident who purchased the property upon which the sign sits for $300 at an Oct. 9 tax auction held by Oakland County.
‘That property was up for sale,? he told Oxford Township officials during a special meeting last week. ‘Any individual could have bought that.?
The oddly-shaped, sliver parcel had been delinquent in its property taxes for at least 25 months and was put up for auction by the county in August and again in October.
Vellucci bought it because he was upset the Oxford Township Board did not buy the sign property back in May when it had the first right to do so. At the time, the board voted unanimously not to purchase it.
‘I went out and I bought it for pennies,? he told officials. ‘So what I do with it is what I do with it. Now you’re concerned about it? Why weren’t you concerned about it back then??
Vellucci believes the township should have bought the land as a gesture of goodwill towards the residents in Elk View given all they’ve been through and to prevent someone else from purchasing it and using it for purposes other than which it was intended.
He felt it would have been a small price for the township to pay considering all the problems which have plagued Elk View Estates from its inception and the more than $200,000 in tax money that was spent on the legal battle with the subdivision’s former developer.
‘The township couldn’t look out for them ? to buy that property for pennies?? Vellucci said.
But township officials said it wasn’t their place to buy this property for the subdivision using tax dollars.
‘We’re not here to be purchasing property hilly-nilly,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I voted no on that and I’d vote no again. The public would tar and feather me.?
As it stands right now, Vellucci is in violation of the township’s sign ordinance, according to township attorney Gary Rentrop.
‘It’s not even an intended sign for the subdivision,? he told the township board. ‘The residential community that was intended to be identified was Elkview Estates, not Rick’s Trailer Park.?
‘You can’t just put a sign up anywhere, whenever, however, you want to,? Rentrop explained. ‘The ordinance specifically identifies what signs can go up.?
‘It’s not a permitted sign in any event. I’m quite positive about that. The sign is unlawful under the Oxford Township zoning ordinance, period.?
On Tuesday, Vellucci was issued a notice warning him that he’s in violation of the ordinance and has 10 days to bring his new property into compliance.
Such a violation is considered a civil infraction. Vellucci could be subject to a fine and held responsible for the township’s actual expenses associated with enforcement of the ordinance including attorney fees.
There was also some question as to the legality of the sale because the sign property still belonged to Tammy Constable, wife of Elk View developer Scott Constable, when it went up for tax auction.
When the couple declared bankruptcy in 2005, Rentrop said the sign property should have been turned over to the court for disposition along with all of the Constables? other property.
‘Therefore she unlawfully held title and the transaction that ensued from that would therefore also be unlawful,? he said.
In order to set things right, Rentrop said the ‘whole process has to be backed up? and the property should go into bankruptcy court to be dispersed from there.
However, Jeff McGee was pleased that Vellucci purchased the property, instead of someone else.
‘I’m glad that this individual picked it up because he’s one of your neighbors,? said McGee, vice president of the Waterford-based Watson Group Financial Corp., the residential mortgage lender which was given ownership of five vacant lots and the two roads in Elk View after the Constables declared bankruptcy. ‘Maybe ultimately everybody can work towards reimbursing him for that.?
‘I’m glad I bought that property, too,? Vellucci said.