Views worth fighting over: private covenants, many obscured by time, are often resurrected in battle to preserve nice vistas.

Views worth fighting over

Private covenants, many obscured by time, are often resurrected in battle to preserve nice vistas

On countless hillsides around the Puget Sound region, disputes are cropping up with increasing frequency. The issue? Views.

The stakes in disputes between the "haves" and the "wanna-haves" can often be quite high. An otherwise ordinary home placed on a lot with a spectacular view can cometimes fetch almost twice the price.

In this market, the value attributed to a view may be measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars; only waterfront settings will add more to a home's value.

Disputes over views are becoming commonplace as the "wanna-haves" (those who desire a view) vie with the "haves" (those who already own property with a view) for value-added vistas.

A common dispute arises when one property owner tries to enhance the value of his property by creating a view. Sometimes, this is achieved by removing vegetation. More often, an owner tries to capture or enhance a view by erecting a new building or adding to an existing structure. …