ARC approval for landscaping
 

The subject has been touched upon several times but keeps getting brushed aside in other threads.

there are only a few landscapers that go thru the ARC approval process when making improvements to your property.

Why?

Well it takes time to draft a plan and get approved, about a week.

A delay getting the job started thus making money.

Some ideas/plans will not be approved.

They don't want to follow the set back requirements and right of way (ROW) restrictions. Generally there is a 10-13 foot ROW area that you can not plant or make rock beds on in front of your house and if it backs upto a street there are similar areas in the rear.

Ride thru your neighborhood U will see examples of homes out of compliance.

Not having approval can mean that latter on you will need to remove or modify all that work if the CCD knocks on your door or if you sell and the buyer does his due diligence.

Who's paying for it?

My point here is protect your investment demand to see the ARC approvals before any work is commenced.

I know several folks that spent big $$$ with some well known landscapers that never got approvals or the subject was never mentioned.

Don't assume it's their responsibility it's yours.

If you already had work done recently call the company up and get them to show U or have get the approval now.

The funny thing is the ARC approval is free of charge.

Ps: the only landscape company that has posted here publicly stating that he gets such approvals has so far been Ron's landscaping, I have confronted others that have declined to say if they they do, therefore, I assume they don't.

These rules R in place to insure the look of the community.

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Jimbo - I have seen time and time again on homes with kissing lanais where a landscape hedge is placed either between or on the rear property line of one of the homeowners. Is this allowed since it does not back to a street or ALL the people out of compliance??? Personally I am perfectly fine with it and understand why someone would do this.

We only have 15ft to the lot line on kissing lanai....can't go to lot line products must be near lanai unless you do it without approval

I don't know, but understand that a hedge can not be continuous.

U can call to ask them.

Generally I agree with what you've posted, but I have to take exception with the 10-13 ROW limitation. IIRC the landscaping restriction is a minimum percentage ratio of lawn to landscaping. I don't remember the percentage off the top of my head, but one can look it up in their restrictions.

Last year we had our property landscaped by Terrascapes and they built our two tree island wall roughly 3-4 feet away from the street at it's closest point. I have a copy of the ARC approval and attached stipulations for the approval that says that the improvement must be a minimum of two (2) feet from the property line. The 10-13 ROW might apply to structural improvements, but I'm taking an educational guess about that. Always best to contact Community Standards at 352-751-3912 when in doubt.

BTW, we also spoke to and got a quote from McGowan, and they said that they also go through the ARC process.

p.s. I think that my second paragraph also answers gomoho's question concerning the rear of the property.

When McGowan did our landscaping over 4yrs ago she handled ARC process for us.

The % thing is not in all Districts, as of now I was told in no uncertain terms nothing but turf in the ROW's

And I pushed that issue.

The ROW is different than the setbacks which govern structural limits, they are I think always inside the ROW.

That's certainly good to know, so now there R two for sure.

I assume U have a copy.

ARC & landscapers
 

We had ours done by Village Palms, and they also handled the ARC process

The time for ARC approval....
 

"Well it takes time to draft a plan and get approved, about a week."

Not really.... My landscaper, Pooters and All Around Aluminum had a meeting at my home and set up the design... Turned it in one day, the approval was the next day and they started working the next. I saw the plan and it was nothing fancy.... *shrug*

To my knowledge all the reputable landscapers get ARC approval... But let us not forget... we have neighbors doing their own work. that may be what you are seeing when you are checking out other peoples lots. I would hope that since it's complaint driven. People are not just going around turning people in for the sake of being "The Village Police".

Not possible, plans are submitted by any Thursday 5 PM, earliest approval is following Tuesday, but it can take till Thursday, that's a week.

Call and ask them.....don't know how U did it?

All the reputable ones may, but so far only three have stated it, I personally know several BIG (some folks may think they R reputable, but...) landscapers that do not, that is fact.

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Not going to argue with you Bob... Told you that a long time ago.... Life is too short... I will worry about my home and property... you can worry about yours... I'm just putting it out there....

Yes we did ask for and receive a copy. If I remember correctly Sabrina told us she would call and tell us her start date once she had ARC approval. There is even a link to the ARC form on the McGowan web site.

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This is really great information . Just remember this when these landscapers come around looking for work. In Charlotte I see landscapers coming to people's homes and a day or two later landscaping is being put in. Rushing things might come back to bite you. Take it easy you have time to get these things done. Check things out before you spend your hard earned money.

Angie is just plain wrong on her perception of approval process. Sounds like she got trolled by companies mentioned.

And then there MAY be landscapers who KNOW the rules and only landscape to the rules. Perhaps they feel their plans are good (approvable), and if not they will more than likely make good, if something comes up?

The rules say you must get approval before work commences, so how is that knowing (following) the rules?

File the plan do it right.

That could be... However, it was not the landscaper who submitted the ARC approval... He couldn't start until other work was complete. So you see... this isn't about MY landscaper.