As reported in the "tree" minutes.
Tree Report/\Discussion:
Scott presented his report for August, 2019. Nine (9) new complaints were added to the existing one hundred and five (105) complaints and twenty-eight (28) were closed. At the end of July, 2019, we had eighty-six (86) outstanding complaints. Scott is working to automate the report process and will present a written update next month
In most homeowners associations, covenants are designed to provide the HOA members a community that is neat, clean and safe.
Not this one. Surfside is all about trees. The vast majority of complaints are about trees.
This is because an elite few are controlling everything. They dominate the Board as well as committees. This allows them to keep the focus on tree heights.
They continue to make trees a safety issue to support the discriminatory practice that serves their own special interest of a view. A main function of an HOA is to preserve property values for all, not just a select few. It is a proven fact that trees enhance a property and their value.
These same selfish elite continue the same old talking points of "You knew the covenants when you purchased here", "Irresponsible owners who did not take care of their trees" and trees "blowing down" in storms.
A half dozen people write all the tree complaints. They are not a representation of the members or J Place owners. With a high number of tree complaints, they want the members to think many people are making complaints about tree height violations, when it is only a few. These same few people will do anything to have it their way. In order to spread their propaganda, they are destroying other committees as well. As we have seen in another topic posting, the hell with enforcement of other covenants, as shown by their own violations.
These few have done more damage to the reputation of our community than any other issue or members. They are destroying our community and pushing the members to the point of no return.
They need to be removed from all aspects of our association, if it's not already to late.
56 comments:
It is not all about the trees. It is all about the covenants. Enforcement of existing covenants is not wrong. What is wrong is ignoring the covenants. Everyone agrees there should be rules, few agree what those rules should be. HOA’s have rules. Some have a lot of rules, some only a few. All members when the join Surfside agree to follow the rules. If we are going to encourage members to ignore some rules, who gets to choose which rules are good and should be followed and which are bad and should be abandoned. Do we live within the rules or do we pick and choose the rules we think are good?
7:33 should apply their statement to the bot. As they have proven over n over to be the real rule breakers. Again, why now, and not in the past? Its all about a few individuals. Duh!
733 - keep droning on.
Let's look at your statement about ignoring the Covenants. Why does that not apply to the current board? They use the covenants when they personally need them, and the membership can't change that. Fair and equitable? Hardly.
The last place we were told to blindly follow the rules was Nazi Germany. How'd that work?
If you want people to follow the rules, you must give them a voice in the process. Right now we have none.
as usual, we can go a day on this blog without someone mentioning the Nazi's?
Exactly 10:50. Same old stuff from the drama queens.
I would like to add also, another day, another tree topic with J hate and the same old stuff repeated over and over. Want to discuss talking points? Fine.
Fact:
You did, or at least should have been smart enough to know the covenants when you bought here. I and many others did and it was the reason we purchased here. If you bought and are unable to change things to your liking, that's your penalty for not buying somewhere that suited you.
Fact.
There are many examples of people who didn't take care of their trees or waited for a complaint to be made. Meanwhile the tree has grown too much over the limit to be taken care of properly, which could have been avoided if the owner did so when they should have. Some are the same people who leave the cuttings out to rot even though there is a free chipper site for them to use. They don't want any part of taking care of their property
There are also countless examples of properties where the owner did take care of things properly and they have a lot with green trees that are compliant.
Fact.
Anyone who says that there is no potential damage from trees with the storms we get here is a fool. Others have given examples of where it has happened in our area. I also find it interesting the host makes light of this when he used the tree damage from storms excuse to justified his neighbors cutting their trees down.
And to say that it's only six people righting complaints is a flat out lie. There is your propaganda people.
Nice try 1:33
You continue the same old BS, no matter the different ways you keep saying it. Facts? Your facts. Show me your proof. I can show you mine. Just drive around surfside and take a look. Your the fool if you think people will believe your facts.
FACT: its all about the view.
133 - is it a nice world you live in? Reality negotiable?
Your 'facts' are nothing but the opinions of a self interested, self absorbed gnome. You attempt to stir fear, and people are calling it what it is: fear mongering.
We didn't sign eternal contracts, and this organization is so far sideways that it just needs to go away. Considering its past performance, that shouldn't be too difficult to achieve once people get serious about it.
It would take a year of really increased dues to get the attention to change anything. It's coming.
So What if it is about the view? The members with view property paid a premium for that property with a promise in the covenants that no trees or buildings would be allowed to get high enough to obstruct that view. For all of you who think the courts will protect trees over promises, put your money where your mouth is. File a law suit. You will find plenty of case law favoring covenants over trees. You are trying to reinvent the wheel with rhetoric. This very same battle has been fought in the courts of Washington State many times. Covenants always win.
Repent from your evil ways 11:16 Your evil thoughts and actions will only give you a view of Hell. Case law will do you no good in Gods Court.
11:16, then why did covenant have to be changed to eliminate view wording, and all the denial bout views n pinning it on safety? Huh?
There is no promise of views in the covenants - that is baloney. Living on the ridge, there will always be a view of the Ocean in the distance. In 1967 when our 4 plex was built, it was barely a safe distance from the shore. The shore in 2019 is about a block away, with dunes 24 feet high. In the 3 years we have owned our place, a second ridge of dunes has begun to form, and the shore is noticeably further away.
Nature is altering your view whether you approve or not. The Tree Policy is not legally defensible, as it is not trees that are obscuring the view. In recent years, homes 24 feet high have been built 8 feet apart along much of G St. This policy does nothing but punish owners who have trees on their property to placate J Place owner's need to be special.
There is no justification for the annual processing of over a hundred "complaints", that are entirely bogus, and nearly all are submitted by ONE Trustee - every year. The costs of legal counsel, sending notices, threatening compliance action, levying fines, cannot be justified by any rationale.
But there is NOTHING in the covenants that states there is a "promise" to J place owners. It would be entirely discriminatory, and the State HOA RCWs forbid discriminatory covenants. Surfside BOT is perfectly fine with it's discriminatory policy, which would never prevail in Court.
Mr Cox you really should stop adding your lengthy commentary on every subject. I know the blog host protects your comments and deletes almost every differing opinion. You can stop anytime now!
Mr. Cox speaks well and from facts. The rebuttals are empty thoughts with nothing to back them up but repetition.
746 - Mr. Cox, with intelligent and timely comments, is most welcome. You, however, a person who wants to stifle free speech, is called out for what you are: a self serving boob. Begone, troll!
When I see a Cox post I go zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I'm with 1:33 and 11:16, we are of the minority on this blog (of probably about 15 posters max), but we are with the majority outside of it!
Good, we know who to blame. Do you have a lawyer also? Shoa probs cannot be solved without major increase in dues. Then enjoy your current majority.
The aggressiveness and empty threats quite simply verify the hate and weakness of the opinions of a small minority in Surfside. Please use the energy of your venom and threats to find property that better suits your preferences. We will all be better off and happier.
There is no data to verify your statement. The HOA is not willing to stage a community-wide evaluation of each member-household's opinion on this. I'm not sure what your problem is, as I am simply stating the facts. Photos of our 4plex when it was built show the surf a short distance away.
We did not buy the place as a view property, and love it the way it is. But enormous amounts of sand are being deposited annually, greatly affected by the Columbia River jetty, and nothing humanly possible is going to prevent it. Accept that, and give up on this elitist worthless policy. The community will be a much happier place once this is history.
The accumulating sand is created by the jettys. It provides for many Surfside members some protection from the king tides and the possibility of tsunami activity. Again, the true prejudices and jealousy of Cox is apparent in his comments.
When I see "you agreed to the covenants" I go Pfffffffffffffffffff
10:00....What are you talking about ? I was referring to the tree policy, and the HOA's unwillingness to change it. Why are you telling me what I already know and wrote in my comment ? You are a moron. You are incapable of understanding the written word. "WE DID NOT BUY THE PLACE AS A VIEW PROPERTY, AND LOVE IT THE WAY IT IS."-9:41 and "NOTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE IS GOING TO PREVENT (the accumulation of sand caused by the Columbia River jetty." Jesus !!
1000 - actually it is the opposite- you are showing your native stupidity.
More of Cox, less of you!
Don't buy your story Mr. Cox. . . and never will because it does not hold water. POP!
11;08....It's not a "story", simply facts, moron #2.
1108 - you lower the collective intelligence when you post. Remember, silence is golden!
Methinks Cox is either a liar or a self deceiver. His property was listed as "Remodeled Dune Front Condo along the Ocean". . . ownership to Mean High Tide.
These are the condos that preciously had illegally bulldozed the dunes to create an ocean view where the sand had filled in the view. Methinks Mr. Cox believed he was going to get a bargain ocean view. His jealously of those who have an ocean view is obvious as he pits himself against the tree covenant.
Sorry, that should be previously not preciously.
Methinks, 326, that you are an idiot. Try spinning faster.
Dear "Methinks".... I do NOT live in that building ! There are 2 4plexes side by side, and I live in the one to the north. I'm quite sure you have made these same accusations in the same pitiful way before, and got the exact same answers. You are truly a moron !
If we wanted to live on the ridge, we would own a place on the ridge. Our place is beautifully remodeled, and we have great neighbors. The view from the ridge isn't that great, and I can stand at the water's edge in five minutes. Wouldn't trade it for the ridge. Only the HOA sucks - everything else is great.
The methinks moron thanks Cox for the protest to his actual motivation. Hollow it is. BTW, the sucking HOA is not going to go away. Whining and misrepresenting the same crap over and over on this blog gives you a limited voice and nothing more. He is like the nagging wife. Most of us ignore him.
You claim to be proud to ignore the facts, satisfied with an HOA that sucks, and to have no problem ignoring me. Yet you have spent a lot of time making ridiculous accusations and trying to discredit me. I don't "whine" or have to "misrepresent" anything to point out what needs to be fixed in the community. Where the Tree Policy is concerned, it's already too late to remedy, and it doesn't directly affect my property, just overall property values.
Your comment here makes no sense, and what's with the Yoda-speak ? "and hollow it is" - I have no idea what you are referring to. Look both ways before crossing streets.
It's just Clancy hitting the bottle early. Can't you see him standing out there in his bathrobe, scanning the properties with his binoculars, mumbling incoherently, and taking regular pulls from his Jack Daniels bottle?
That's funny ! That's a funny image. Thanks for the laugh.
Funny, the people's opinions who visit my house on the ridge concerning the views are the direct opposite of Cox's. To say the view isn't great is an interesting remark. Can you sit in front of your window and watch whales go by and breach?
And again with the false property value claims.
"It's all about the trees".
Right. Just like this blog and host is all about the hate.
1001 - this blog and it's host are about fairness, something we should, but don't get here.
You calling it hate doesn't make it so. You, yourself, are the hater, and you relish it. Know you will be met strength for strength.
Myself and my readers from the Observer and my blog love this sh☆t. Keep it coming, making Surfsides the joke of the Peninsula. And hilarious remark about Clancy, he's well known for other indescretions in the area.
The depth of water Whales require to forage and swim is considerable, so they do not swim close to shore, offshore from Surfside. I'm sure you can see them with a telescope, but they're barely visible without one. If you like the ridge, good for you. But as hard as you insist, I do not long for a view. There's a great view from the top of the dunes, and I generally walk on the beach daily. I'll bet many J Placers rarely walk on the beach.
To each their own. I'm happy with the place we own. Accept that and otherwise, go try and convince someone else how much they envy you. Maybe write a few tree complaints.
9/12 @ 8:17 - Mr. Clancy is a beer drinker along with some wine at times. Been at his house a couple of times and refute your JD claim. Disagree with his actions all you want but defamatory slanderous comments are unwarranted.
Laughing again as you fools allege my comments made by Clancy. You have no clue. I like it very much that you have no idea who I am. It is shameful that you accuse innocent members because you are narrow minded and dim witted.
It doesn't matter if you are Clancy or not. What does matter is that you are like him. A know it all blow hard that doesn't know his a__ from a clam hole. He is a despicable excuse for a board member. It is a fact that he is known through out the county, and not in a respected way.
As was asked in another thread - what is the process for removing a sitting Board member? Is there one?
All depends on votes. Btw ignore commenters like 10:55. Just a troll that prob not even live here. His life is this blog, ignore n ruin his entertainment.
You are so wrong 12:38.
Methinks 140, 1238 hit a little close to home. It doesn't really matter - plenty of fools out here, thinking nothing is ever going to change.
I don't see what is so special about the ocean view from the ridge. It's actually kind of ugly with all the hovels in view. Looking at someone's roof isn't that exciting.
Right 10:54. Actually the houses on J Place themselves are nothing special to look at. Those below have a view looking up the ridge at them. I am sure they would rather see trees than those 3 story boxes.
I live on J and have an almost 180 degree view of the ocean. I enjoy watching the whale migration using my eyes. I enjoy watching marine and fishing vessels on the ocean. I enjoy watching the birds migrate and eagles hunt. I enjoy watching deer and bears traverse the dunes. I even enjoy listening to the waves crashing on the beach. So much is happening out there that people who don't have a view are missing...
All houses between me and ocean do a fantastic job of keeping their trees trimmed. While a majority of them would likely never block my view, there are a few that are close enough that they will if not trimmed.
Honestly, there are MUCH bigger things we as members should be concerned with besides trees. Asbestos debacle, un-permitted Carbon treatment and holding pond, EPA investigation, L&I fines, RV/TRASH area remodel...all these could cost us a TON of money in fines and legal costs. And yet everybody wants to complain about trees...c'mon man...we ALL need to do better at picking our fights, especially when they impact our wallets! How about we start with the BOT? They MUST come clean and explain to their members what in the hell is going on with our association. No more gag orders! They are being frivolous with our money and are not operating in an open manner as dictated by law.
4:20pm, Very well said !,
The tree issues, may seem like a small problem to you, but I can assure you that it is not for the members who have to abide by those covenants. The appreciation you have for nature, should extend as compassion for your neighbors below you.
September 14, 2019 at 7:28 PM said...
The tree issues, may seem like a small problem to you, but I can assure you that it is not for the members who have to abide by those covenants.
September 14, 2019 at 4:20 PM replies...
Every single member of SHOA signed a legal document and agreed to abide by the covenants of the association. Now I don't know what everybody was thinking when they signed that document, maybe they thought their trees would not continue to grow...but the fact of the matter is they did sign the document. Until those covenants are modified or changed we are ALL required to abide by them as written.
Anybody can challenge the validity and legality of the covenants. All it will take is one owner who has been threatened with fines or lien against their property is take the association to court and prove that what they are forcing you to do is illegal.
Of course you could try to make a case to the BOT to change the covenants, but we all know they will never allow that since they live on J. But it would be a good first step, and any documentation from the BOT about why they will not make a change would be nice to have when you get to court.
Bottom line...complaining about it here on the blog over and over ad nauseam will get nothing accomplished.
It keeps getting talked about because more and more members are seeing how wrong it is. They are finding out that you can sue and win. George and his blog are making members more aware of the injustice and the members have rights to make changes. You can be sure that the J Placers would like to shut down any opposition to their covenants. Get used to the ad nauseam, it will continue until this travesty is finally ended, one way or another.
Great topic and narrative George!
Great work!
Well said 2:49. I'm glad that 1:37 recognizes the issues that are being kept from the members are serious matters, and require public disclosure. I'm also glad to hear of their appreciation of nature. Each tree tends to develop character as they grow, and trees allowed to grow as arborists recommend are always a natural thing of beauty.
There is a disconnect in this owner's thinking, and a desire to make the Tree disaster in Surfside go away. Owners with whittled dying trees wish it would too. It makes no sense to pretend that individual trees 3 blocks away should be J place owner's concern, or right to demand tree cutting. We all have things we love about Surfside, so there should be respect for each owner's happiness and private property - trees being part of it.
Post a Comment