What will HOAs come up with next?

[BobSch]

$100 fine for not showing up for meeting?

http://www.capegazette.com/storiescu...ore082208.html

[shoottx]

If you think that is stupid you should see the lunacy unfolding in a suburb just north of us:

Frisco man primed for battle with HOA over pickup in driveway
09:57 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By IAN HAMILTON / dallasnews.com

Jim Greenwood is parking his 2007 Ford F-150 in the garage, but he’s not through battling the Frisco homeowners’ association. He says the association has declared the iconic Texas truck not upscale enough to leave in his driveway.
“I’m hoping that based on all the activity and noise that they might change their tune,” he said Monday. “These people [with the association] are in a position of leadership, ideally to serve their constituency.”
Earlier this year, the Concentra Inc. CEO began getting notices from the Stonebriar HOA threatening to fine him for parking his truck in his driveway. They say pickup trucks are not allowed in the driveway – although other luxury vehicles, including the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Mark LT, pass muster.
Bill Osborn, a board member with the association, had explained that those vehicles are “fancier,” “plush with amenities” and do not look like pickups. Most domestic pickups are banned.
Mr. Osborn said this rule has been in place for decades and the fine would be $50 per violation.
"From our inception in 1989 until this spring our restrictive covenants excluded all trucks from overnight parking in the street or driveway," Mr. Osborn said in an e-mail. "Mr. Greenwood felt his Ford F-150 should be allowed. The HOA Board denied his appeal as he has garage space and a(n) F-150 did not fit the criteria."
However, Mr. Osborn said Monday that the issue may be revisited.
Mr. Greenwood said his family has a car, a Suburban and his teenage son’s truck, but only a two-car garage.
"I don't want to mess with the logistics with what's in the garage and what's not," he said.
Since WFAA-TV (Channel 8) publicized Mr. Greenwood’s story this weekend, the controversy has sparked hundreds of comments on dallasnews.com and other sites from people sharing HOA complaints and criticizing the associations’ operations.
“I think it's past time for HOAs to be declared unconstitutional! Bad enough the government dictates our lives ... now homeowners’ associations dictate what type of vehicle you own! I recommend the Ford company sue the heck out of them!” wrote one dallasnews.com reader.
Others, however, suggested that Mr. Greenwood should have understood the rules when he moved into the gated community.

[Kristofor]

Hmmm, 3 open seats on the 5 member board, and forcing people who don't want to attend to do so. Seems like it would be pretty easy to come up with 3 folks who were willing to run on the disgruntled ticket then vote to rescind the requirement for people to attend.

For an encore they could pass a new regulation that requires a majority of residends to attend any meeting where someone wants to propose new attendance regulations, requirements, fees or fines. That should eliminate the possibility in the future unless people decide they really want it.

Kristofor.

[crokett]

For HOAs, rules is rules. For the guy parking the pickup in his driveway, if they were truly banned and he didn't read the covenants when he signed up well then that is his own fault. The one that is fining people if they don't show up to vote that is pushing it.

One more thing, if you don't pay dues, fines, etc an HOA can forelose on you and has far less restrictions than the banks.

I have not lived in a house covered by an HOA and don't plan to do so.

[Pappy]

Heated mirrors, auto-diming rear view, 6 way power seats, power lumbar suports, digital read out for outside temp/time/fuel economy data, steering wheel controls for the cd/cassette sound system, and heated seats. Would my Ram have enough amenities to pass muster?????

[JeffW]

Heated mirrors, auto-diming rear view, 6 way power seats, power lumbar suports, digital read out for outside temp/time/fuel economy data, steering wheel controls for the cd/cassette sound system, and heated seats. Would my Ram have enough amenities to pass muster?????

The RAM might, the Playpen would not. LOL

[atgcpaul]

I learned my lesson about HOAs when I lived in San Diego. I appreciate what
they try to do for the community but some things are a little overboard. No
HOA was my number one request when we moved back East. I just learned
last week that the largest HOA in our area also has a pickup truck ban. Seems
pretty ridiculous to me.

Paul

[pierhogunn]

well, unless they enforce a ban like that from Day 1, any attorney can get the HOA in hot water using the concept of esstopple, if you didn't stop it for a reasonable amount of time, then you have no grounds to stop it now, even if it is in your rules.

and I'm sure that a few hours in a law library would provide the homeowner plenty of ammunition to use against the HOA in this case.

[cabinetman]

We bought a villa in a HOA in the mid 90's. For some officers on the board whatever power they thought they had made their life worth living. We called them "Condo Commandos".

We despised the whole arrangement but complied with the rules. The fine is whacked out, but I can't understand why a resident wouldn't want to attend a meeting and have a voice (vote).
.

[Uncle Cracker]

I am on record as HATING HOA's. But it is a function of the attitude of those entrusted with that responsibility that is at the core of the issue. It's really only the horse's patoots that cause all the trouble, but the HOA's do seem to attract those with Napoleon complexes.

[dbhost]

As far as HOAs go... The restrictions that I am under currently are NOT what I signed up for when I bought. (The size limit for the shed radically shrunk, as well as other changes), that is however, not what irks me most about mine. I get fix it notices that have nothing to do with my property. (I got a notice regarding a swing / seat in my front yard in disrepair, I don't own one, and have never had one on my property, ever...). The last time I got a letter from my HOA, I suggested an excellent opthamologist. We used to have a symbol for the Democratic party as the president of our HOA. He has been gone for a couple of years now, but we still are dealing with changes he implemented. We rarely get a quorum in our homeowners meetings, but when we do, bad stuff happens.

The guy in Dallas, if he moved into the neighborhood fully aware of the restriction on pickups, that's his blunder, but honestly, I own a late model F-150, and it is WAY more decked out than an Escalade. Just because my decking of choice is BFG Mud Terrains, a Warn Winch, and 6 Pro Comp Stainless of road lights... doesn't mean it's less valuable, just not as snotty IMHO... I still have the PW / PDL / Tilt / Cruise / etc... Of course the very idea that pickup trucks would be banned in ANY neighborhood in Texas is simply obscene, and evidence there are people in this state that have no business being here...

[ragswl4]

I owned a townhouse years ago that had an HOA. One day in my front door was a letter from the HOA which levied a $25 fine on me for the doggy-do in the street next to my carport.

I decided to go to the next meeting with a bag of the frightful stuff and when asked if there was any further business, I stepped up with the bag, stated the problem and the fact that I did not own a dog and perhaps that could do a little more research before fining folks. I was graciously forgiven. Got another letter the next week.