Semi-Recessed/Semi-Inground Pool

I have been doing very very very preliminary research on the possibility ... just the barest possibility ... of installing a semi-recessed/semi-inground pool.  

I've reviewed the regs in Maplewood but other than the 10' set back I"m not sure what is allowed.

Has anyone given this any thought or anyone you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Marty

Check with code enforcement at town hall for further information as to required process and regulations.  

joan_crystal said:

Check with code enforcement at town hall for further information as to required process and regulations.  

 Thank you Joan.  I found the town regulations on-line but I will check in with the town.

Keep in mind the cost of opening/maintenance/repairs each year. My neighbor finds those costs too expensive, so now has a mosquito pit to deal with instead.

It used to be you had to get approval from the planning board for any kind of inground pool.  Don't know if that's still true these days.

I'm not too familiar with a semi-inground pool.  What size were you look to build?  I have a 16 x 32 inground pool.  I'm guessing it was built in the 70s, I heard even then it took some work for the previous owners to get the plans approved.

As far as maintenance, if you know what you're doing it's not too bad.  And you can save money if you're able to open and close it yourself.  We just replaced our liner which was a bit pricey - but hopefully we won't have to do that again for another 10-15 years or so.

Overall, any costs incurred towards having a pool have been worth it.  

Random thoughts about this thread: 

Yes, I have heard the process in Maplewood is challenging. I have also heard that they don't allow new built-in pools (urban myth)? 

My neighbors of 25 years bought their house with an in-ground pool and the Dad has hated it for all 25 years. Opening, closing. He's concerned about the liability. A few years ago his neighbor behind him was landscaping and punctured one of his filter lines. It's always something.

I'd add that from a real estate resale perspective it's one of those things that potential buyers might love or not. Rest assured, there will be inspection issues surrounding the pool. 

Soul_29 said:

Random thoughts about this thread: 

Yes, I have heard the process in Maplewood is challenging. I have also heard that they don't allow new built-in pools (urban myth)? 

My neighbors of 25 years bought their house with an in-ground pool and the Dad has hated it for all 25 years. Opening, closing. He's concerned about the liability. A few years ago his neighbor behind him was landscaping and punctured one of his filter lines. It's always something.

I'd add that from a real estate resale perspective it's one of those things that potential buyers might love or not. Rest assured, there will be inspection issues surrounding the pool. 

Urban myth.  Pools are allowed but will need the appropriate approvals.  Certain setbacks required, etc.

Thanks to all for the input.

I'm pretty sure the no built-in pool thing is an urban myth ... probably the underlying issue is that built-in pools are expensive to build and expensive to maintain ... easier to tell the family they are simply not allowed and we should just use the Maplewood Pool!

I have reviewed the portion of the town Code which covers the zoning requirements for pools and there are some pretty obvious gotta haves such as fees and permits, 10' property line set back, proper security fencing, etc.

I have a call out to the person listed as the best contact in the building department on this stuff and I'll update this thread if there is anything surprising.

At the end of the day I'm not sure where I'll end up on this but the thought of semi-recessed (more expensive than above ground but much less expensive than built-in)  sort of caught my eye at least enough to do a bit of research.

I'm not opposed to in ground pools per se but if you do get one I certainly hope you will do a good job of locking it down.  Hundreds of children drown every year in pools, some on their own property and some on neighbors lots.

With such great pools in Maplewood and South Orange, its hard to see how it would be worth the expense.

Klinker said:

I'm not opposed to in ground pools per se but if you do get one I certainly hope you will do a good job of locking it down.  Hundreds of children drown every year in pools, some on their own property and some on neighbors lots.

With such great pools in Maplewood and South Orange, its hard to see how it would be worth the expense.

With COVID-19 not going anywhere soon, the public pools are a bit dicey.

Klinker said:

I'm not opposed to in ground pools per se but if you do get one I certainly hope you will do a good job of locking it down.  Hundreds of children drown every year in pools, some on their own property and some on neighbors lots.

With such great pools in Maplewood and South Orange, its hard to see how it would be worth the expense.

 privacy, convenience, not having  to deal with rude people at a public pool, with covid, not worrying about being exposed to strangers, flexibility of use.

Here in Texas, it's boom times in the pool-building industry thanks to covid. Of course, you get a lot more use out of a pool in this part of the country.

kthnry said:

Here in Texas, it's boom times in the pool-building industry thanks to covid. Of course, you get a lot more use out of a pool in this part of the country.

 Backyard pools were very common in my neighborhood growing up in Houston several decades ago and I think it has just increased over the years.  Interestingly, most pools down there were heated - which extends the pool season even longer, while I believe that pool heating is much less common here (except for indoor year-round pools, which are usually in fitness facilities and similar.)