Negotiation
LEARNING EXERCISE: THE COMMON DRIVEWAY
For more than 30 years David and Shari Wilson lived and raised a family in their dream house that they purchased shortly after theirmarriage. Now in their retirement years, the Wilsons have encountered an unexpected problem—their new neighbors. Until six months agothe Wilsons’ best friends, Edna and Hazen Vrooman, lived next door in a house they built shortly after the Wilsons moved into their home.Because the two lots were small, the Vroomans and Wilsons agreed to have a shared concrete driveway poured the year they both builtdetached garages in their backyards. The two families never had a problem sharing the driveway even during the years when their childrenbecame teenage drivers and both houses had more than two cars. Everyone parked in the back, inside or near the garage, or else on the street,thus leaving the driveway open for entering or leaving either garage.
Last year both of the Vroomans died and their house was sold to a younger couple, George and Amber Green. The Greens have three teenagechildren, all of whom have cars. On several occasions since the Greens moved in, one or another member of the Green family has left a carparked in the shared driveway, thus blocking it from use by the Wilsons. On Memorial Day the driveway was again blocked, causing Mr.Wilson to call Mr. Green, and the following conversation took place:
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MR.WILSON: |
Mr. Green, one of your cars is blocking the driveway again, and we need to leave. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Sorry, I’ll find out which one it is and move it. |
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MR.WILSON: |
Thanks, but this problem seems to occur every day, can we meet to discuss how to resolve it? |
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MR.GREEN: |
Sure, I’ll be right over … (The Wilsons meet Mr. Green on their front porch.) |
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MR.WILSON: |
We want to be good neighbors, but we should be able to get in and out of our garage without waiting for you to move a car. |
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MR.GREEN: |
I understand. I tell the kids to park on the street or in the back, but you know how kids are these days. |
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MRS.WILSON: |
Well, when our kids and the Vrooman kids were young and drove cars, we never had this problem—they knew not to park inthe driveway. |
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MR.GREEN: |
I’ll talk to our kids—they are not bad kids, just forgetful. |
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MRS.WILSON: |
You’ve said that before, but the problem has only gotten worse. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Well, as long as we’re here together … Your oak tree is well past its prime. Last week I had a tree surgeon look at it becauseseveral large limbs have fallen on our property. He said it needs a considerable trimming of the deadwood, which could cost$3,000. He also said it needs to be done soon! |
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MRS.WILSON: |
Edna Vrooman and I planted that tree together as a sign of our friendship the week they moved in. Whenever I look at it, I thinkof her—she was my best friend. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Sorry, I didn’t realize that—I’m sure you miss her—but some of the dead limbs reach out over our house and if they fell theycould injure someone or do some real damage. |
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MR.WILSON: |
Since you are bringing up other issues, can you ask your children not to hold their band practice in the garage so late in theevenings? They are good, but it keeps me awake. |
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MR.GREEN: |
We could set a curfew for them, if you can have your tree trimmed. |
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MRS.WILSON: |
But what about the driveway? We must be able to get in and out without calling you every day. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Well, the driveway is right on the dividing line of our two properties, I had it checked out at the courthouse by my lawyer. Shesaid we can do whatever we want on our half of the drive. |
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MR.WILSON: |
But half a driveway is no good, you’d be driving on the grass and mud. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Maybe we could look into widening it? |
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MR.WILSON: |
That would be expensive! It’s so long, and we live on Social Security and just don’t have the money for something like that, orfor trimming the tree. |
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MR.GREEN: |
Well, we are not getting anywhere today. I need to talk with my wife and our lawyer … |