Posted on 07/30/2010 6:41:27 AM PDT by rawhide
Edited on 07/30/2010 7:05:54 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
ODESSA, Fla. - It's hard to believe that A.J. Vizzi spent nearly $200,000 defending his right to park his own pickup truck in his own driveway.
When he first moved in back in 1997, Vizzi was told that parking his large truck in the driveway wasn't against the subdivision's rules. But years later, the Eagles Masters Association, which governs the entire community, said it did violate their rules and therefore, the truck had to go.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxtampabay.com ...
Never volunteer for more government.
These particular lawyers scored one for the good guys. If only more lawyers would make their money protecting people against abuses of power instead of suing McDonalds for serving hot coffee, the world woud be a better place.
I had a nightmare situation with the last (and hopefully final) HOA I was with.
Ah yes, homeowners associations. Frustrated little Nazi-wannabees. Perfect examples of the adage, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
How about buying a home in Colorado and later learning that you cannot collect rainwater from your roof to water your garden/yard.
Home Owners Associations, Petty tyrants, bureaucrats, zoning laws & building inspectors: I understand Daniel Boone’s comment about when he could smell the smoke of a neighbor’s chimney then it was time to move.
(mutter, mutter, mutter.... /rant)
Normally I would agree with you but in this case the HOA tried to change the rules in the middle of the game. Reading the article, it appears that when the man bought what appears to be a sizable home, he ensured that he could park in his own driveway. Only after he had been lured into the neighborhood did the HOA try to alter the agreement.
Are you sure you value freedom?
What other "common sense restrictions" might there be?
People who want to live in sterile little cliques certainly should have the freedom to do so,just don't pretend it is good for everyone.
Among the many things commonly prohibited by HOAs are doghouses,children's playsets,grills,clotheslines,portable kiddie pools,propane tanks,CB,ham, or TV antennas,vehicles in driveway after certain hours ,painting one's home without committee approval of the colors,flags,flowerbeds,gardens,and more I'm sure.There probably are HOAs that prohibit firearms and pointy sticks,too.
It never ceases to amaze me that people might pay large sums of money to avoid the burden of freedom.
I did something a local old fart did not like, though it was permitted by CA laws which over rode the CC&Rs. I also did as much as I could to stay withing the CC&Rs. He melted down, threatened to have works arrested, called the city, and confronted me several times over it in public. Turns out I was not the only one he went after.
Finally I started pushing back. Unpermitted mods to property, his CC&R violations and those of his friends and family. They got him back in the box and my solar cells are doing nicely.
Having the HOA on the hook for a $300k tab truly rocks. I wonder how much per household that will be, and if he’ll have to pay a portion as well?
There are those who still maintain private wells,cisterns,and pumps,and even rain barrels. Several years ago,I read in the Cincinnati Enquirer of one community in northern Kentucky that was going to tax property owners for the amount of rainwater going into the city storm sewers while ,if I remember correctly,also prohibiting private collection of the rainwater.
My own neighborhood covenant has a law against putting political signs in your own yard. I violated that code in 2008 as did a number of other residents. The upshot: nobody did or said anything to us.
Still I applaud him for fighting the HOA.
We live in a neighborhood with a HOA & some really nosy characters.
No satellite dishes, no chain link fences, no commercial vehicles parked overnight, your trash cans BETTER be moved & hidden away promptly after pickup, etc.
And one of my new neighbors paid me a “welcome” visit to ensure I knew the “rules”.
I asked her if they allowed black people to live there,too, or if they were just allowed during daylight hours.
That shut her up quick - & she hasn’t spoken to me since. LOL
Which is one of the reasons HOAs and cities hire enforcement officers who do nothing productive,just drive around looking for rule violations.I say that if it wasn't important enough for the neighbors to complain within a year,it ought to be moot.
And some of those people also have too much time on their hands.
The proof of this statement is found in the press release from the man's lawyers - the total cost to the HOA is around $ 300,000 and the bill will be paid by the other home owners. That's right the little children running the HOA will pay very little out of their personal checking accounts. The children lost the first case and since they didn't have to pay for the appeal why not appeal?
Want to correct this problem? Make the leaders of HOAs post cash bonds to pay judgments relating law suites initiated by the HOAs. That way only important cases will go to court and the number of losses appealed will go down
I don’t have a problem with HOAs and covenants in general. I’m all for people being forced to keep up their property. It’s just some of the silly things they ban.
Why do so many say they want freedom,but only if they get to limit freedom.
Looks to be a Ford F-250 crew cab,
Articles I’ve read list it as a F-350.
Yes, it is a 350. Not appreciably larger than a 250, and not a dually. Nice looking ride.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.