One of the reasons I HATE living in the city...

[MrSplitshot]

Got an email from my Homeowner's Association this morning. They always make my blood boil...because they are usually about some kind of piddly insignificant crap that real people don't have time for. That, and I just have problems in general with people telling me what I can and can't do on my own property. (Within reason, of course.)

I have actually received "citations" for this one...because my trash can, God forbid, was less than 10' back on the side of my house. I mean, seriously?

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The Chilesburg Advisory Board has recieved a large number of complaints from neighbors about residents improperly placing their trashcans in unacceptable locations. We we like to remind everyone of the importance of following the Covenants and becoming familiar with them. Below is Section 2.11 of the Design Guidelines & Deed Restrictions Summary which outlines approved locations of placing your garbage cans. The Design Guidelines & Deed Restrictions Summary in its entirety can be found under 'Documents' on our website.


2.11 Garbage Cans


Garbage containers are not permitted to be stored in front of any portion of the house. Garbage containers must be stored in one of the following four pre-approved locations:
·
Inside the garage
· Inside an enclosed structure at the side of the house
· Behind the house
· At the side of the house provided that they are a minimum of 10? behind the nearest corner of the homeowner?s house or the neighbor?s house, whichever is farthest from the street. If this distance cannot be accomplished, then the trashcans should be screened with fencing or evergreen plants that screen the trashcans from view of the street and the adjoining neighbor. Garbage containers should be retrieved within 12 hours after collection.


Thank you for your cooperation.
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I really...really...REALLY wish I had done the proper homework about Neighborhood Associations before we bought our house a couple years back. Shame on me.

And I have to pay $150 a year to fund this crap...

[artcarney_agr]

It's for your benefit. Homeowners associations keep property values up, and the "trash" out. I live in a neighborhood that has one, and have never had any issues with their requests. Yes, some things are indeed petty, but if it didn't exist your neighborhood could easily become a place you wouldn't want to live. Besides, the majority of the rules enforced are nothing more than city codes anyways, or at least that's the case in my neighborhood.

Our dues of $25 per year go towards paying for the electricity used by the street lights, and for general maintenance/repairs within the neighborhood like sidewalks, street signs, and snow removal/salting.

I wouldn't get mad about the trash cans; sounds like a reasonable request. Just need to keep them out of view, that's all. Hide them behind a tree or something.

[MrSplitshot]

Art, I get you completely...and I don't have a big problem with the HOE for the sake of common area maintenance on the neighborhood...and even a few rules within reason to protect property value. I don't want somebody building a ferris wheel in their front yard or grazing sheep. I have no problem putting money in the pot for that.

But I guess I fail to see how me sitting my trashcan 5' back on the side of my house vs 10' back on the side of my house suddenly destroys my property value and that of my neighbors. It's nit-picking.

Speaking of, our covenants also include ridiculously nit-picky gems like:

You can only paint your front door and shutters 1 of 6 approved colors.

You can only have 2 pets...either 1 dog and 1 cat, 2 dogs, or 2 cats.

If you drive a company vehicle with the company's name on the side, it must either be parked in your garage, or the name must be removed if the vehicle is to be parked in the driveway more than 24 hours.

If you want to put a storage building in your backyard, it must be on a permanent concrete foundation, a minimum of 12x12, brick/siding/shingled to match the house. (Just what I always wanted - a $10K building to put my lawnmower in.) Must be pre-approved by the HOA with design plans submitted.

No boats or RV's in the driveway, ever.

Landscaping changes must be pre-approved by the HOA after you submit design plans.

No basketball goals...

No flagpoles...(the same HOA that made a lady take down a nicely landscaped flag pole with American Flag that she flew to honor her husband, brother, and father who were all KIA.)

But, what good is common sense, right?

The HOA/living in a neighborhood thing just may not be for me.

[artcarney_agr]

Speaking of, our covenants also include ridiculously nit-picky gems like:

You can only paint your front door and shutters 1 of 6 approved colors.

You can only have 2 pets...either 1 dog and 1 cat, 2 dogs, or 2 cats.

If you drive a company vehicle with the company's name on the side, it must either be parked in your garage, or the name must be removed if the vehicle is to be parked in the driveway more than 24 hours.

If you want to put a storage building in your backyard, it must be on a permanent concrete foundation, a minimum of 12x12, brick/siding/shingled to match the house. (Just what I always wanted - a $10K building to put my lawnmower in.) Must be pre-approved by the HOA with design plans submitted.

No boats or RV's in the driveway, ever.

Landscaping changes must be pre-approved by the HOA after you submit design plans.

No basketball goals...

No flagpoles...(the same HOA that made a lady take down a nicely landscaped flag pole with American Flag that she flew to honor her husband, brother, and father who were all KIA.)

Well now those are just stupid. We don't have any like that in our HOA. Those rules alone would keep me out of that neighborhood! Sounds like Nazi Germany.

[Embrey]

id just go ahead and burn a cross in your front yard. that should stir em up.

[ElectricSLT]

You can only have 2 pets...either 1 dog and 1 cat, 2 dogs, or 2 cats.
No boats or RV's
No basketball goals...

No flagpoles...(the same HOA that made a lady take down a nicely landscaped flag pole with American Flag that she flew to honor her husband, brother, and father who were all KIA.)

Man I can't believe they get by with this in America - much less Kentucky!

I would have to move!

[know1]

I know some other people who live in that neighborhood and have clashed with the HOA, too.

[DJD]

Knowing what your going through has caused me to reconsider moving to a newer bigger house and I will always find out if they have the HOA. I just find it hard to side with folks who are actually controlling how you live. It would be hard to have toys like boats, motorcycles, ATV ot trailers to carry these.

How many company vans with ladder racks can be parked in a garage? Whats wrong with a working man in a van like that? So if your sick, weekend or on vacation you have to park it somewhere else??

Folks get a little power and it goes to their head and common sense gets lost. I understand rules but they got issues. Maybe get on the HOA board and start changing things. Jeez what a crock.

[artcarney_agr]

Maybe get on the HOA board and start changing things. Jeez what a crock.

That's the way to get it done. Most people hate the HOA, and refuse to attend meetings etc. so their concerns or issues never get addressed. It doesn't take much to get on the board (usually are open seats available) and make some changes - just get a good following of people who feel the same as you and vote the old BS out!

Seriously...no basketball goal?!?!?!

[MrSplitshot]

I've actually been considering trying to get on the board...

I think I can recruit enough like-minded people who wish to use a little more common sense to over throw the current regime. Hell, it worked in Egypt...

My only fear is that I would end up jacking some pencil-head in the jaw at a meeting and go to jail. LOL I don't know if I need that kind of drama in my life. If the housing market wasn't in the crapper, it might be easier to just sell my crib and move to the country...where I can put my garbage can wherever I please...out by the mailbox...middle of the driveway...front porch...on the roof...wherever. Have 6 dogs living under my deck, a $750 wooden kit building from Lowe's to put my lawn mower in, and a bass boat out behind the house. Now THAT's America!

[DJD]

I've actually been considering trying to get on the board...

I think I can recruit enough like-minded people who wish to use a little more common sense to over throw the current regime. Hell, it worked in Egypt...

My only fear is that I would end up jacking some pencil-head in the jaw at a meeting and go to jail. LOL I don't know if I need that kind of drama in my life. If the housing market wasn't in the crapper, it might be easier to just sell my crib and move to the country...where I can put my garbage can wherever I please...out by the mailbox...middle of the driveway...front porch...on the roof...wherever. Have 6 dogs living under my deck, a $750 wooden kit building from Lowe's to put my lawn mower in, and a bass boat out behind the house. Now THAT's America!

Plus you can pee outside....I'm just saying

[Tyme2fish]

Plus you can pee outside....I'm just saying

Ditto.