Maine Neighbors' Driveway Feud Escalates to Fortress of Concrete Blocks
A years-long dispute over a shared right of way has led to crippling legal fees and a potential sale of a family home.
A once-picturesque street in Greenville, Maine, overlooking Moosehead Lake, has become the scene of an acrimonious dispute between neighbors over a shared driveway. The conflict has escalated to the point where a fortress-like wall of concrete blocks, a cattle gate, planters, and warning signs now obstruct the narrow access strip.
Emily Patrick and Aaron Crossman, who purchased their home in 2020, rely on a legally established easement that runs through their neighbors' property. This easement provides the only access to a parking area behind their house, as their home lacks a separate driveway. The arrangement dates back to 1982, when previous owners created an easement for a 24-foot-wide strip of land extending 125 feet from the center line of Lily Bay Road.
Escalation of the Dispute
The feud reportedly began with disagreements over property boundaries and maintenance. According to the neighbors' lawyer, Chris Uphouse, the dispute intensified when Crossman allegedly performed drainage work and trimmed trees without permission. While the trimmed trees were later confirmed to be on Crossman's property, the arguments soon escalated.
In 2023, Patrick and Crossman returned from a holiday to find a six-foot concrete-block wall erected along a portion of the driveway. A judge subsequently ordered the removal of all barriers impeding access by May 19, 2024. While some obstacles were moved, the concrete blocks and other impediments remain, reducing the usable width to about one car.
The Chretiens, Patrick and Crossman's neighbors, maintain that the barriers are necessary to prevent their neighbors from parking in a manner that blocks access to the rear of their property. Their lawyer described the issue as a fundamental disagreement over the extent of the right of way.
Impact on the Family
For Patrick and Crossman, the consequences extend beyond an unsightly driveway. The couple has five children, including a young son with a rare genetic kidney disorder and mild cerebral palsy. Patrick expressed concern that the restricted access could hinder emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, or delivery trucks bringing her son's medication.
She also noted that the narrowed passage makes it difficult and potentially unsafe to turn around, forcing the family to reverse down the driveway onto a busy road.
Legal and Financial Strain
The dispute has led to a series of mutual accusations and legal entanglements. Court documents indicate that a judge found Crossman in contempt for impeding the defendants' use of the right of way and harassment. The Chretiens have also installed motion-activated cameras, which Patrick views as an invasion of privacy, while Uphouse stated they were intended to document misconduct.
Greenville officials issued a violation notice stating that the barriers breached the town's fence ordinance, ordering their removal and the application for a permit. However, Patrick claims the town has not enforced the violation.
After years of legal battles, failed mediation, and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, Patrick and Crossman are contemplating a settlement. Their lawyer has withdrawn, and they cannot afford to hire new counsel. The potential for a jury trial is not expected until 2028. The terms of the proposed settlement are confidential, but Patrick indicated that even if an agreement is reached, they are unlikely to remain in their home.
Finding a new home in Greenville's competitive market that can accommodate their large family presents another challenge. "If we settle, I cannot bear to stay here next to these neighbors and we can’t afford to buy here in the hometown we love with the market being what it is," Patrick stated.