Thursday, July 25, 2013

The problem with planned communities | Milford PA | Local News

The problem with planned communities | Milford PA | Local News: Pennsylvania's Uniform Planned Community Act of 1997 regulates homeowners' associations that own or maintain common areas. Typically, a homeowners' association will own, maintain, or control open spaces, entrance gates, streets, street lights, walking trails, beaches, hydrants, storm water management systems, and on-site septic systems, unless these services and amenities are dedicated to the municipality in which they are located.

Peifer said the Uniform Planned Community Act is a good document but it has no “teeth” to it.

John Crerand, president of the Alliance of Community Associations, said the Act needs to be amended so that the answer to every problem arising between homeowners and their community boards of directors is not always “sue me.” This is the only legal route an individual homeowner can take, but it is cost-prohibitive, he said.
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The article goes on to cite a host of ills plaguing Pennsylvania's version of Privatopia including double property taxation -- a local government tax bill plus another from the HOA.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Homeowner’s association digs in over Brandermill garden war | WTVR.com

Homeowner’s association digs in over Brandermill garden war | WTVR.com: CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR)–A garden could soon cost a Chesterfield family a lot of money, because their patch of flowers and vegetables has upset the homeowner’s association.

Chris Gilson loves his vegetable garden and loves teaching his daughters and other neighborhood kids how to care for it.

But a controversy is growing.

Gilson says it started when the Brandermill Community Association (BCA)sent a notice of violation and asked him to remove this planter box.

“We got another letter stating removing your vegetable garden and planter box or else get fined $10 dollars per day,” he said.
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Planter box threatens property values; could ignite another housing market price collapse.  Film at 10 on Channel 6, WTVR, Richmond. 

Adam Silberman, Banker: jumps out of seventh-floor window following fight with building co-op over his poodles | Mail Online

Adam Silberman, Banker: jumps out of seventh-floor window following fight with building co-op over his poodles | Mail Online
"According to his father-in-law, Paul Lord Ender, the banker had been depressed after neighbors complained about the couple's dogs barking and playing in the lobby, prompting an ongoing battle with the co-op board. One dog had already been sent away, The New York Post reported.
Police also found 'crack paraphernalia' during a search of the couple's apartment at 860 Fifth Avenue near 68th Street, according to The Post. It wasn't clear, however, whether Silberman used the drug himself. A family friend of Silberman's, Michael Moss, insisted Silberman did not abuse alcohol or illegal substances.He said the banker's troubles were all down to his high pressure job and beloved pets.
'The stress was too much for him,' Moss told The Post, adding that his own daughter took one of the French poodles off the Silbermans hands last week."
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But he survived the seven-story fall, albeit with serious injuries, because he hit an awning on the second floor. I thought that only worked in Jackie Chan movies.