Homeowner wins right to park truck in own driveway

myfoxtampabay.com ^ | 7-28-1- | by Gloria Gomez

[njmaugbill]

The Attorney representing the HOA is Corrupt. The Management company representing the HOA is Corrupt.
These two are working hand in hand to loot the funds from the Homeowners.
The Management company get to hire the contractors. The Contractors are corrupt. (Can you say preferred Vendor list?, for $1000.00?).

The Officers are Blind to the corruption, and are led like the proverbial pig to slaughter. Co-opted and corrupted.

The Homeowners - Stand with their checkbooks in hand, paying the corruption going on.

Sad. It doesn't have to be this way.

[LearsFool]

HOA’s don’t say anything about communities having the same fundamental values. HOA’s speak specifically to what you can do with your property

And as such, they are addressing only a fraction of the broad spectrum of "community standards". This ought to encourage us - in spite of their all-too-frequent failings - in that it's a step in the right direction of self-government. We ought to be doing more to associate ourselves with good, responsible, upright folks, forming our own communities and HOAs, and learning from and avoiding the mistakes with which we're all so familiar.

Forced diversity is now a legal minimum. Like minded people are no longer allowed to live together in quiet enjoyment of their shared values.

The same could've been said, at one time, about preserving neighborhood aesthetics and property values. Then someone invented the HOA to address this one aspect of community life. Surely we can do better...Right?

Surely we can do something besides put bars on the windows and security alarms in every corner, build our homes out of soundproof materials and keep our children indoors 24x7...Right?

Petty tyrants will always bring their petty tyranny with them. Whether the American colonies, or the local Rotary Club, or the HOA, it's inescapable and has to be addressed. But surely we're capable of self-government...Right?

[Starwolf]

They can not enforce a no dish policy, the FCC took care of that one. You may want to bring it up at the next HOA meeting.

In my case they can not enforce a no visible solar cells policy, State of California took care of that with the CA Solar Rights Act. Without an HOA, the bubba can only take me to court. CA Solar rights act provides for fees and a bounty to the loser. I really want him to sue me.

[Starwolf]

I had a friend who had a problem with a neighbor like that. One Saturday before he mowed the guy was kneeling next to his lawn with a ruler and a camera. He turned on the sprinkler. The nosy neighbor was livid. He did it three times that morning until he mowed it in the afternoon (reel mowers don’t care if its wet). Only wish he had videoed it.

[Starwolf]

Problem with analogy is that it presumes the HOA is voluntary. Many cities/counties will not allow a development without CC&Rs and in some cases HOAs. The trick is to know the rules and the law better than the HOA and/or neighborhood busybodies.

In my case I knew the CC&Rs were trumped by state law so I complied where I could and still installed grid tie PV electric. I imagine I still could be sued for it, but given the level of non compliance in my tract, anyone who does is a sitting duck.

[M-cubed]

BINGO>>>>WE HAVE A WINNER!!...Thank You!...U explained it perfectly!.....I'm amazed at the number of “conservatives” on here that would fight the rules that they willingly signed up for!

It isn't like the rules are hidden......Its the first thing HOA use as a selling point to potential buyers!

I could write a book of humorous stories about how UTOPIA goes to hell when one "fights for his rights" AFTER he's given them up!....
I think there’s a bigger message there....*W*

[M-cubed]

Can I assume you'd be happy if u got assigned the 10’x10’cell as opposed to the 6’x6’ that most got?

[M-cubed]

if you don’t like HOAs, don’t buy in a development subject to one. <<.....I agree

But just remember...when 51% of us members have a more energy efficient refrigerator or a barbecue with a smoke scrubber or a GM Volt.....

You're gonna get them too or we're throwing your sorry a$$ out!....*W* (kinda like the difference between a Republic and a democracy...ain't it...)

[M-cubed]

I’m all for people being forced to keep up their property. <<<
Forced???..lol...I got a millionaire buddy named Jones that wants to move in next to ya and see if u can keep up.....Can u send me your address?

[M-cubed]

The old rule used to be...if u didn't like your neighbor or his house....BUY IT!

[Tucson]

The “teachable moment” here is always, always read your Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and re-read them when anyone in your community or its Board of Directors says something is or is not allowed. It is absolutely amazing the amount of wishful thinking that passes for supposed research in the pontificating of the busy bodies in any HOA.

Florida has State statutes which govern HOAs for both Deed restricted communities and condo’s. Key is to know what is in the DCR and what is required to change them. Florida statues requires 2/3rd vote of all HOA members to change HOAs. Florida also has a “renewable energy” statute that permits without a modification request solar panels and, wait for it, clotheslines.

What a lot of these Director’s hope is no one will challenge them or they can use the aggregate of dues to crush any legal challenge. You will find most don’t know their own DCRs. Kudos to this gent for having the resources to keep up the fight.

[RinaseaofDs]

The government that governs least, governs best.

[cva66snipe]

Some amusing post in the thread. Reminds me of a retired railroad executive I used to know. I worked with his wife actually. They lived in a sort of an upscale subdivision on the richer side of the city. He had the old pick up he'd use to piddle around with hauling dirt for flower beds etc. Someone raised a stink with their HOA I think so he paints the thing about every color he could think of and instead of parking it out of site like had had been put it up nextto the road in the driveway. They were left alone afterward LOL.

There is no way I could live under any type of homeowner association. My last job was building maintenance in a retirement community to nursing home type arrangement. One guy some retired military officer made it his duty to hold inspection of the residential complex {actual houses} every day and measure everyones grass. I can't live like that.

I live on 28 acres in a very rural area on a dead end road back up in a hollow on the side of a ridge. I have a doublewide that's paid for and a huge deck with a great view of the rural valley below me. If I don't mow the grass a couple of weeks or if I didn't all summer who cares? If I go outside for some target practice with the pistols nobody cares. If I built an outhouse as a joke nobody cares. I have goats for brush control and nobody cares. I get along far better with the goats as belligerent as they can be at times a lot better than I would ever be able to get along with any HOA.

I dread the day the biggest landowner in the hollow might sell out. I'm the second largest land owner & that guy owns about 150 acres next to me. I know with that sale will likely come a subdivision & likely a HOA with it which will try to get local ordinances and zoning rules passed.

Well I hope they like hearing goats and my occasional target practice. I'm zoned for agriculture use {farm} and it will remain as such till I sell out or die. Best thing I can tell folk who don't like more laid back and relaxed rural ways is live in the big city. Things are real bad in rural areas. Best to just stay away and not move here :>}

[riri]

I have never lived in an HOA neighborhood because I just want more freedom than they afford. That means I could live next to a guy that parks a motorhome in his driveway, and it’s happened.

Oh, I get you...but I am a bit fantatical about things of aesthetics. Stuff like that drives me crazy in my surroundings.

But like you, I have the best of both worlds. The house on the 8,000 square foot lot with the HOA and then a summer house on 25 acres where I have to drive to my mailbox.

[riri]

I have never lived in an HOA neighborhood because I just want more freedom than they afford. That means I could live next to a guy that parks a motorhome in his driveway, and it’s happened.

Right, but see you just can't do that on a house with an 8,000 square foot lot without making the whole place look like the ghetto. That is the point that is lost on a lot of people.

You know your limitations or desires and chose a place to live that accomodates them. That is what more people need to do.

[driftless2]

So, if your next-door neighbor (assuming you do not live on a farm) decides to raise sheep, goats, hots, etc, you have no problem with that? How about your neighbor decides to establish gigantic, sexually provocative art or messages on his property? For example a very large phallus entering some woman’s sexual organ? In neon. No problem there? There’s certainly no threat of you contacting a sexual disease. Therefore, anything goes, am I correct?

[hoosierham]

So all the rules nazis sit around thinking up the most outlandish,provocative acts someone might do?

By the way your tax money probably already subsidizes such "art".

It is a long way from parking a vehicle in the driveway to your giant phallic art(you might want to see a psychiatrist about your issues).

[hoosierham]

From my experience it IS like the rules are hidden;plus I suspect sometimes the wife,who is often the one who chooses the house, knows about the rules and is secretly thrilled certain of her husband’s hobbies will be forbidden in the new “communistity”.

[driftless2]

Nah, I’m just satisfied not to have you for a neighbor.

[hoosierham]

Nah, I’m just satisfied not to have you for a neighbor.

Likewise,I'm sure.