Like
many community associations, yours likely has a set of written design
review standards and processes. Some homeowners mistakenly believe
these standards restrict their freedom of individual expression;
actually they provide a framework within which each homeowner can
express individual tastes and preferences. The standards have been
carefully developed to reflect a balance between individual rights and
the good of the entire association—that is, property values.
OK, but why are do we need processes and guidelines
to maintain architectural standards?
Perhaps most important, we need a basis for treating all homeowners
fairly and reasonably. Written guidelines allow you and the design
review committee to work from the same criteria.
Sometimes architectural requirements can be complex. The guidelines
show you exactly what is required, and helps you design improvements
that comply with the community’s standards.
And then there’s the application and approval part of the process. The
review committee members assure you they want the paper work to be as
simple as possible for everyone. The guidelines take the guesswork out
of your application and their decision making.
In fact, they not only provide criteria for the current committee to
make appropriate decisions, but for successive committee members to
make consistent decisions in the future. Without the criteria in the
guidelines, the application approved today may result in construction
deemed unacceptable by new committee members upon completion.
One last purpose of the guidelines is to clarify the association’s
authority in this area. State statutes and our governing documents give
the association a legal right to enact and enforce design review
standards. The guidelines spell this out so everyone understands they
must comply even if they don’t agree.
- Article courtesy of Community Associations Institute (CAI)
