Arc meeting
 

Hi,
I wanted to get my driveway painted with a design. I submitted the form description to the ARC and then attended the meeting. There was 1 rep. from each district, total was around 15-16 and 1 on the phone line. Kind of an impressive set-up.

On their agenda were 122 requests. These folks are busy. I waited my turn listening to roof colors, expanding driveways, and wanting to post signs to keep people out of their yard.
Well the sign didn't fly and there is a no sign rule except in your window.

The ARC is not there to make the rules, they are there to interpret them for you and see if what you want will fly. They also have a past record of things done to the exterior of a home. So they have history. Oddly enough, if a change was made that wasn't approved, then no modification can be made to that change. And they said there is no grandfather rule.

They even said the pledge of allegiance after roll call. It was highly recommended that if you had a request it would help if you were there to answer questions or you may get denied from lack of understanding. Attendance is key............AND attendees are sworn in to tell the truth.

After 1 hour they finally got to me and denied my request. The picture I wanted on the driveway was larger than they allow. They said that a figure/emblem/animal/etc. could not be greater than a 5x5. I was disappointed but I was still impressed with how they handled themselves. All 15 or 16 district people vote on every case.

So if you file a request with the ARC, it's smart to go to the meeting. What I don't know is if someone does something without a request, will it ever come back to bite them. Maybe some of you will know that. Please chime in..........:wave:

Very interesting thanks for sharing

I disagree. Why waste the time? Anything reasonable will be rubber stamped essentially. I've done 4 ARC applications all approved.

The older I get, the more valuable my time is. I certainly wouldn't be wasting it at a venue like that. If an ARC application is not approved you can always put in a new application that is compliant.

It's never a waste of time when you take the time to learn how our community works. I wish more people wasted time to attending meetings. It would increase understanding and decrease unfounded complaints.

Great post. Very informative.

I will definitely plan on attending a meeting in the future so I can make sure that I am prepared when I eventually submit a request.

I'm pleased to hear they are professional and on top of the issues. Our former HOA/neighborhood in Orlando hit the 12 year mark in 2022 so it is starting to take on that ragged, neglected, "nothing-gets-enforced-anyway" look.

What impressed my wife and I when we first toured/considered the village for our next-25 years home was how "nice" everything looked." Our Village home is a substantial investment and we want to protect that asset for our future.

It is the dedicated volunteer groups like the ARC that help that happen.:coolsmiley:

Sincerely, thanks for your feedback.

Rich, there have been several cases where people were found to be out of compliance with deed restrictions and had to have the work removed and returned to original condition, landscaping is typically the biggest offender, followed by driveway expansion, house paint colors, and other alterations done without approval. On a side note, many times you can call or stop by the ARC office and ask if want you want to do is likely to pass, I have done this twice to make sure the actual document submitted would go through the first time.

Agree, they have always been been very kind an helpful.

If a contractor is submitting for you, always verify/check it with the office yourself to make sure it was done and it's correct.

Tinker, You're right on the mark. I just commented a few days ago on how helpful the "arc lady" above Starbucks has been in each of my applications (I should probably know her name but now). In any case I'd highly recommend going in to visit with her at any point in your applicant submission and she will guide you in a very proficent manner.

Can you put a 5x5 painted white cross on your driveway?

How about a Pentagram also

Honestly that's a really interesting question. IS there actually a political agenda attached to the "5X5" logo, insignia, picture rule ? Would a 5X5 American flag picture be allowed, and a "5x5" of the U.A.R. flag be rejected on "political" ground ? What about a 5X5 of a donkey ? Or and elephant, with no other word or addition ? I am not trying to escalate this at all, I'm truly interested if a plain cross, or a Star of David, if kept to the discrete 5X5 limit would be as permissible as a golf club image (which I have seen done) ?

OP,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Very much appreciated and is the value of this site!!

I so agree, sir.

Thank you for this very helpful information. We are having our driveway done soon and our contractor will be submitting the approval, which we will check to be sure it’s legit after it’s approved. Two neighbors had their driveways done this week by two different contractors, and both had palm trees added to the center of their driveways. They look like they’re 5’ or less in height, so likely were approved designs. In both cases the color scheme used was the same as their house colors, which is how ours will be also. Both driveways are very nice, and definitely an enhancement to their homes.

We like many had the texture drive at our old neighborhood. Our was already in place so no input, but upkeep was costly. Neighborhood had 95% of every driveway done.
This house we both we in agreement bare driveway. Seems in our new area about 30-35% added deco to their driveway, the rest, just plain. Garage floors about the same. I will say majority of deco drives done within a month of move in.

But large percentage have added a mini split, which is the way we are going. Our garage is large enough to use as storage space.

The Arc is bais! When it comes to decorative driveways they need more education. Though the folks upstairs are nice, they are not educated enough about why someone wants a certain designed driveway and how special designs can hide concrete cracks into the designs, concrete that was installed by the developer who I feel doesn’t understand their own quality values when building a house. Designs with non-geometric shapes have been around for many many years and these designs on Driveways, Patios, Lanai’s and Pooldecks are perfect designs for cracks in the concrete. You can incorporate the surface cracks to be part of the design layout, but the Arc doesn’t understand this so they recently have denied these designs because they are not educated enough on them. I have tried a few times to get a meeting with the developer and he / she refused to see me all I want to do is explain these designs and how they benefit homeowners with cracks in their concrete, but they refuse to see me. To me that’s not right. They need to be educated but refuse. So, I say if you want something done and you feel strongly about it, just do it and don’t involve them. If they are unwilling to be educated why bother!

So you are ok with having to remove or spend more money, or pay fines!

So one needs to admit if you go rogue, without ARC, you may face a costly outcome.

Then again if you have cracked driveway, a texture would take care of any superficial issues, without going the geo route

They may see some of these items as 'signage' to disallow from being used. Very interesting question as to where a line would be drawn.

For all my ARC projects, contractor submitted the paperwork. Didn’t need to attend the meeting.

I checked the meeting agendas for when my project would come before ARC, and checked the result online. I downloaded the approval.

I attended all meetings for my ARC requests. It was informative and the ARC folks couldn’t have been more pleasant and easy to work with. On one of my requests, I was glad I attended in person, as the board had some questions that I was able to answer for them, rather than have the request be denied and having to start the process all over again. All my ARC requests so far have been approved. I’m glad we have this process in place to keep our community looking pristine.

FYI for those adding mini splits: get ARC approval and then the county inspects it. If you DON’T want your new mini split space to count as finished space and add to your property tax it must be installed as a Dehumidifier/( humidstat installed) and not an AC thermostat. After it is approved by the county inspector you can then install an AC / heater thermostat in the humidistats place and no increase on your property taxes.

ARC Approval
 

I submitted a request for a simple flower bed modification to ARC. There was a very small portion (less than a 1'x1' area) of it that would have violated the prescribed setback for my lot. I don't think anyone would ever notice or care about it. ARC approved it, without that feature. I asked what would happen if I did include that area. They said they were not going to inspect it after construction. The only way they would ever know is if my neighbor complained about it. If that happened they would be obligated to inspect and enforce removal of the portion that violated the regulations.

The Pledge of Allegiance at the end of the meeting....that’s a new one. Why you’re being sworn in at a public meeting is beyond me....been around politics a long time and other than a court proceeding or a congressional hearing....I’ve never seen it. That would include any municipal comps to an ARC ....like a zoning board of appeals.

My bad....I reread post. After roll call is proper protocol. The rest of my post I stand by....

Arc
 

I dropped by the office in January and was told that District 10 had no painting restrictions except that the colors could not be fluorescent..........I checked back again in May and they said I had to submit a request form........so,yes, they can help you. BUT, best to double check in case. Not sure on how many people actually get approval for landscaping, seems like more don't. Also not sure on who checks landscape if at all. Must be if someone complains.........not sure.......

Why didn't the painting company tell you? You could have saved all that wasted time.

You are probably correct about many not seeking ARC approvals for landscaping. I know most of my neighbors did not seek ARC approval for their landscaping work on their new homes (though most would have been approved, as the work they did is compliant with the current deeds/restrictions). I don’t understand why they didn’t seek approval - the process is so easy. All I know, is that if I was interested in purchasing a resale, and the seller could not produce ARC approval documentation of any work done, I would walk.

Pledge
 

sorry, the Pledge and oath was at the beginning of the meeting. And, they took your name when you went in so that the cases of the people attending would be done sooner rather than later.

As far as an inappropriate symbol, there are 15-16 board members voting on it, so the likelihood of being prejudiced against is highly unlikely. Religious or political or vulgar designs are not going to fly. as they shouldn't. If there were only 2 or 3 board members it would be a different story. Bless the democracy of it all......:coolsmiley:

Is the removal of non compliant work done selectively or uniformly? Since the OP made mention of no grandfather exemptions....a simple drive through any random village you can see a lot of non compliance

Painting Company
 

They told me it was okay because District 10 had no restrictions..........DO NOT depend on the company to be right..........submit and attend is the best philosophy..........:bowdown:

It’s such an interesting process here. According to website ARC is purely administrative in nature. The issuance or permits and variances is done through the various county or city building departments. So any appeals would be through the latter?

I totally agree! If your plan is reviewed and issues are "brought up", your presence can expedite (or eliminate) concerns. Also, you get immediate approval / decline, you do not have to wait for correspondence.

District 10 changed their policy on driveways between January and May of this year. What you were told in January by the office and the painters could have been correct at the time but had changed by May. (at least the draft manual had changed by May, I did not see it approved at a meeting but I have missed some)

Clarify
 

" Oddly enough, if a change was made that wasn't approved, then no modification can be made to that change. And they said there is no grandfather rule."

So, if someone makes a change with out approval or "Kiss the ring" as I like to say, then get caught later, no modification can be made to the change. Does that mean they can't be made to put it back to original? or Are they forced to go back to normal with no chance of approval later?

How in the world do you know that most of your neighbors did not seek ARC approval? Since most would have been approved, did you report the ones who wouldn't?

Neighbors ratting on neighbors? Here...in TV? That’s not in line with the code of conduct brochures!

What I have seen is any non-compliant work that is brought to the attention of the CDD is dealt with uniformly. The homeowner is given an opportunity to bring the work into compliance and if that is not done then fines are levied (and I believe liens can be attached now too).

You may see a lot of non compliance for two reasons: 1. Some rules vary from one CDD to another and it may actually be compliant; and, 2. The system is complaint driven and no one has filed a complaint against those properties.

There was discussion at the CDD10 meetings about driveway designs and grandfathering. The problem was created when CDD10 changed their policy to begin requiring approval for driveway painting. While I need approval today, I did not need approval last year. If someone files a complaint against my driveway tomorrow, I may or may not need to correct it depending on how old it is. Bottom line is: If the work was in violation when it was performed then there will be no grandfathering. I have seen only one exception to this in the six years I have been paying attention.

So it’s complaint driven. Selective uniformity! ;)

You can look up every application online. By address or just a street. You can view the actual plans, and the company who is doing the work.

In our old neighborhood we wanted to know who did our drive, looked up application to find companies.

In new neighborhood we really like the landscaping of a home, particularly 3 plants, that my iPhone app gave me multiple plants. I looked up the address, and their contractor listed the names of all shrubs and plants.

So yes ARC site put in street name, and if they did it correctly you will find the paperwork.

However I can tell you many had landscapers dig up their yards within days of closing. It’s takes 4-7 weeks before you are on the agenda. So most likely no ARC approval. Plus there were many trucks full of trees and bushes doing drive by landscaping, again no ARC.

Our landscaper gave us a date to replace sod only, in 3 weeks, but if we wanted to add new beds around the pool, had to wait 6 weeks for the ARC agenda, then approval he submitted.

As he said sod is just a replacement of prior grass, new beds additional and needed ARC.

Ae they bragging about not seeking ARC approval? - “look at my new, non compliant landscaping.”