Friday, March 09, 2007

HOA rules come under attack
Here is an HOA that has banned outdoor recreational activity in the common areas, including the sidewalks, streets, driveways, and landscaped areas. Result: children can't play outdoors. The property manager says they can always go play at the high school. And this isn't even a seniors community. The excuse is fear of liability, but there has never been a suit. The real reason seems to be cranky neighbors who hate the sound of children at play. This is a great example of why there have to be some limits on the kinds of behavioral rules HOAs can impose.

Although Oak Park is known as a family-oriented community filled with children, one neighborhood forbids kids from playing outside and some homeowners are angry. Country Vistas III, a quiet development of about 147 town houses and single-family homes off Oak Hills Drive, is ruled by a homeowner association whose bylaws prohibit recreational activities on common area sidewalks, streets, driveways and/or landscaped areas. There is also a "residents' right to quiet enjoyment" rule. Several residents who have children are frustrated by the regulations, which they see as restrictive and unfair.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a stupid rule. BUT perhaps the solution isn't government regulation, but getting some of those children's parents involved with the community, running for the board, and changing the rules.

Why do we seem to want to paint everyone as a victim whose problems are completely out of their control and require government intervention (we know how well that usually works).

Anonymous said...

I know this one only too well, and no matter how involved the parents become in continually doing ALL for the community, THESE TYPES, in power will not change! They will be targeted, harassed, threatened, fraudulently sued and worse!
I know PERSONALLY from running a board, for years! The decent law abiding, educated, logical, honest person is used as a pawn, getting stuck handling every conflict and problem dumped on them, for EVERYBODY! Then, YOU, become the easiest meal ticket, for these abusive boards, and...
The stories, and victims, are all out there, and TOM SKIBA CAN READ THEM LIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING. POSSIBLY, TOM SKIBA SHOULD DO SOMETHING FOR THE INNOCENT PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHO HAVE BEEN SO HORRIBLY VICTIMIZED! THESE BOARDS DID NOT EMPOWER THEMSELVES!

Anonymous said...

Excellent point, anonymous, these boards did not empower themselves but had help in the legislative arena with getting more laws enacted empowering the associations.