[southern rock]

If this sort of thing bothers you, the solution is simple - don't buy a house in a neighborhood with this sort of homeowner's association.

No, it's not that simple. I don't beleive that PRIVATE PROPERTY owners are obligated to recognize this type of "authority" over THEIR OWN property!!

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

When someone buys such a home or property, they are well aware of the association. The association would cease to exist if elite wanna be in the "A" list yuppie folks would not enable them and their cause of the stepford neighborhood.

It is like keeping up with the Jones' like a country club.People are stupid and selfish and snobbish.

[strela]

I don't beleive that PRIVATE PROPERTY owners are obligated to recognize this type of "authority" over THEIR OWN property!!

Nonsense. If the people in the news story signed a contract to do so, they most certainly are obligated to follow whatever rules they agreed to when they signed on the dotted line. If not, then all contracts would be meaningless.

For example, my neighborhood's association has two (and ONLY two) covenants specifically listed in the contract; you can't raise swine on your property and you have to keep your grass mowed to at least 12 inches or below in height during the spring and summer months. Both of these restrictions are just fine by me, and I knew about both of them going into the transaction when I bought my place.

By your logic, it should be perfectly OK for me as a homeowner to operate a crack house or crude oil cracking plant out of my living room, and my neighbors would have absolutely nothing to say about it.

The "damaged" individuals quoted in the ABC News story have a perfect way out of their contretemps; MOVE.

[rwjst4]

"If this sort of thing bothers you, the solution is
simple - don't buy a house in a neighborhood with this
sort of homeowner's association."

Exactimundo. That's what freedom is all about-
responsibility.