[Athomas]

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!

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Athomas

The Arc is basis! They act like dictatorship! 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 dictatorship 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

[PersonOfInterest]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

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) ?

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.

[Papa_lecki]

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.

[Michael 61]

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.

[edtherock]

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.

[Surf Daddy]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

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.

[Shipping up to Boston]

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.

[Shipping up to Boston]

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

[SHIBUMI]

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.......

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

[Wondering]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

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..........

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

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko

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.......

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.

[SHIBUMI]

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......

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

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.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

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

[SHIBUMI]

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..........

Originally Posted by Wondering

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