Improvement to Access Easement

[Jim Anderson]

I/we recently inherited a 1/2 acre lot with a small cabin on it, It had all originally belonged to my Mom, but then she suddenly passed away a few years ago and left it to me and my Brother. Prior to passing, Mom had subdivided her original property into a front lot with the main house on it, and the back lot with her little "retirement cabin" on it. The access road is basically an easement thru the front yard of the front 1/2 acre lot (which has State road frontage) as well as a full size ranch house on it. My easement hugs the edge of the front lots property line, but at one point it is a mere few feet from the edge of the house on the front lot.  So obviously the current owner of the front lot property with the nice ranch house on it is less than happy about my road easement thru his front yard and going so close to his house, but he bought his property with full knowledge of it it, and the easement was completed  long before with the services of a lawyer, a surveyor, and it was all properly recorded with the county.  At this time the "road" is merely car tire tracks across his front and side yard.   I tried to talk with him and see if he wanted to buy my little back lot and you would not believe the ignorant and offensive things this guy said.   Well, now I could care less about his feelings and am curious if I can bring in 40 yards of rock, and pour a nice concrete road from the state road to the edge of my property and still be within my legal rights.  So my main question is how extensive of improvements, changes, etc can I make to this 20' access easement that goes thru his front yard and right next to the corner of his house?

Thank You for reading, and I appreciate any and all advice ya'll can share. This question has been gnawing at my brain for a while now.  :)

Cheers,

Jim