Garrick Youngberg said...
Hello,
We have owned our little place for just over two years. I have read many comments here and had a bit of a sour attitude regarding the whole HOA thing. Now I am aware that often the Bad is spewed about more often than the good. Worth noting is that some of what is told, is factual.
What I also have noted, is that more often than not, the bad is made by anonymous contributors; therefore I give little credence to their statements.
So I wanted to share my interaction with the HOA board, specifically the tree committee. Apparently back in Aug 2020 it was noted that our trees have exceeded the height allowed in the CC&Rs… We were informed right before Christmas. At the same time my wife went back into heart failure... Déjà vu Right back to 11 years ago when she was diagnosed.
So of course I was a bit upset at the timing, and right in the middle of when we can’t leave our RV onsite. Last year with Covid restrictions we didn’t get up to the property until later in the year. So it would have been nice to know right away instead of Christmas time.
However putting all baggage aside, I responded to the letter from the HOA tree committee. I politely made my case and my points. (Including a bit regarding the RV discrimination rumors)
To my surprise, I received a well written and informative helpful response, along with solutions to points I had made. We were provided clarification of the RV policy which will be helpful for us to comply in the timeline set out. This response has also dispelled one of the RV discrimination rumor(s)for us.
And NO we are not allowed to have our trees taller than 16’ so I still have to trim our trees etc. However we were allowed a reasonable timeline to come into compliance. For that I am grateful.
Do I necessarily agree with the 16’ height restriction; heck no! In fact my wife and I last year drove the ENTIRE length of all the J place streets including the one behind our property. Ironically we noted the houses along the dunes block more of the Ocean view than any of the trees inland. In fact most trees even the non-compliant ones don’t come close to adversely affecting the view. You can still see most of the houses which are blocking the view of the surf/Ocean. (and yes I know all about WA and its position on views)
We do like the mature trees as there are still a handful of folks that go by WAY to fast at our end of I street. If the trees weren’t there, those vehicles could go right through our property if they had to swerve for the deer. Will our trees make it after trimming? Not sure, hope so, if not, we are looking at other things to plant.
In the end we just want to come up to Our property enjoy the place, our awesome neighbors who have become friends, and relax from the pressures of life.
Hope this summer is better than the last was with all the restrictions.
19 comments:
This comment was posted on the TREES PAGE. He did use his name of Garrick Youngberg. It is refreshing to see such honesty. Thank you Garrick for your comment/observation and honesty.
I agree George. Mr. Youngberg is honest and fair in his comments. I think it is true that the HOA does pretty well on most counts. I think a factor that tends to be a matter of contention is that the HOA isn't built to facilitate change, unless it is to increase enforcement criteria or pressure. Members have 2 options on such matters-accept conformity, or be forced to conform. So most of us weigh our options, and choose to conform. That dynamic can be very empowering for those with position on the BOT. RV issues have been contentious at times. Both the Tree restrictions and RV issues ebb and flow. There's a few problems come up and go nowhere once taken to the BOT.
Well done
Well said
Question-Walking around the neighborhood, there are many trees in the right of way, not part of a property boundary. Are those trees restricted by the HOA rules? If so who is responsible for the maintenance and if not then what is the point of restrictions? **asking for a friend
I say go to small claims court and easily win.
Make them pay!
Protecting views is illegal.
End the tree policy!
George Steve, and supporters, thank you.
Steve there is a 3rd option which originally was my 1st thought! SELL and let cards fall where they may! The trees become the new owners problems! (calm prevailed after the storm)
Right now my main focus is on my wife and her health. This tree thing is really a 'fart' in a Cat 5 hurricane to me. I could if I sold the place use the $ for a down payment on a nice 5th wheel and travel about. But then you get and HAVE to deal with campground regulations UGH... along with people that REFUSE to discipline their offspring, pickup after their pets etc etc. Surfside even with its speed bumps is still better so far.
If she wasn't ill I may have sought other solutions. We are hoping and praying things turn out well and she gets better we want to have our place.
Right now I cannot afford the time or effort other than comply.
Garrick
Sure, go ahead. I would like to hear how you explain away the fact that you willingly purchased property in a HOA with covenants you signed off on.
The small claims court idea is phoney, wrong, ridiculous, laughable, and nobody will do it.
Good try!
1051 - we did not sign up to be controlled by a splinter self interest group.
Most HOA's allow members to modify and update covenants. We don't, by design. That way all power is held by you and your buddies.
If this place showed any vestiges of fairness, you and yours would already be gone.
Keep your broken record. Its old and stale, kinda like the author.
You need to work on your terminology 2:38 because unfortunately for you that splinter group is the majority of members who vote.
Very cruel statement 12:17, recently in same situation, but mine went from diagnosis too death in two weeks. You better hope karma a myth.
9:05....I totally agree about the lack of empathy for the sake of tree compliance. The HOA should be able to accomodate member hardships in the interest of good will and emotional support. There's more to be gained by showing a capacity to care about the welfare of members in crisis.
852 - carefully organized, and instructed who to vote for.
Does the majority support a Board that doesn't follow their own rules, but simply makes them up as they go? Witness Steve Cox. He doesn't follow the party line - they shut him out in direct contravention of standing policy.
Hello, 9:05 thank you for your post :) and yes Karma is real. I have seen it several times. In fact, one person is not of this earth anymore.
I like how it makes my point for me {12:17} May the good lord bless you; as no one else will. ;)
The whole point of both my posts was how even though we were given a Lovely Christmas present, working with the HOA goes better than doing "Anonymous" bashing on blog sites. All things considered I appreciate that the HOA is working with us so we can come into compliance. And in this day and age anonymity is mostly a myth. If you have connected to the internet, you have been tracked some how somewhere.
And Steve, I feel the HOA, in my case, has worked with me based upon all factors. If my wife wasn't ill we would simply either trimmed ourselves or paid to have it done. Since our medical bills are through the roof... We get to do it ourselves.
There is some work to be done with regard to the HOA, that takes time and effort. Unless one is retired it is very difficult to be involved when one works 50-60 hours a week and does not live full time onsite. Of course if i didn't work that much wouldn't be able to have the place.
Garrick
PS what I don't see mentioned in the blogs; is the Benefit the Full timers get from the part timers who pay full price for using 1/4 of the resources. But I knew that also going in.
To 9:05:
I believe there might be a misunderstanding here. My comment was directed at 6:09 about going to small claims court. If that is indeed you then obviously I wouldn't know anything about your health so my karma is just fine.
Yeah, right 12:01.
You forgot to mention how they also barred people from being candidates and those that do somehow magically make it through they steal their votes and rigged the election with proxies. Give me a break.
And to answer your question, yes. The majority of those who vote support the Board they voted for.
Because the BOT refused to appoint a replacement for the resigned Trustee Chris Chandler, as is clearly required in our Bylaws, there were not enough candidates to have a contested election. No doubt, the closure of open meetings and restrictions associated with Covid 19 contributed to fewer candidates. But the seated members knew who would be running for another term, and surely suspected that there may be an uncontested election.
There have been no claims of stolen votes in this past election, and a straight mail-in vote is how it ought to be done, not allowing votes to be cast by anyone but the member to which the vote is credited.
Only about 270 votes were cast in the last election, out 0f a possible 2040 or so. oddly enough, I am still the runner-up with 6 votes. I got 92 votes in the last election, 4th highest among 7 candidates. I had a lot of support, but the Board refused to even acknowledge that I should be appointed. The resignation was not announced for 2 to 3 months at least. About 6 positions have been filled by appointment due to resignations in the last few years, ALL were the runner-up in the election.
I'm not whining, but I am saying, this is special interest Trustees refusing to follow their own precedents, and special interests refusing to let the voting members make the decision about who should be elected.
I will say Mr. Youngberg, you sound concerned about the BOT coming back on you. Actually, the BOT had made an announcement that they would not be sending out any compliance notices until the new year. So that's how concerned they are about you personally. They made an exception and sent you a notice anyway.
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