It's The Law

Jul 09, 1998

AND IT?’S THE LAW!

?“Why all these rules? It?’s just busy body neighbors interfering with my life!!?”
Fair question. Actually the Board and the Rules Committee have no desire to interfere with your life or anyone else?’s. The rules and Design Review are done for only 3 reasons:
1. Preserve, protect and enhance the community?’s property values and assets.
2. Promote harmonious living.
3. Ensure that residents can use and enjoy the property.
Let?’s take two examples the pool and parking in the driveways.
In the case of the pool some residents may feel that the rules are intrusive. True a few are outdated and we are working to revise or remove those but most are based on safety. For instance the practice of propping the gate open so you don?’t need to use the key. (Irritating thing that key!). So you?’ve propped the gate open and a little child who doesn?’t live here and can?’t swim very well gets in (or an adult for that matter). No one is watching an accident happens. Now the Association gets sued for negligence.
Not your problem you say the Association?’s responsible. Wrong. That viewpoint forgets that the Association is all of us with our money pooled together for the common areas. If the Association is sued and loses and the winner is given a judgement higher than we are insured for everyone will be hit with a special assessment to pay that cost.
All of a sudden propping the pool door open is your business and mine and everyone?’s, just the same way it would be if it was your private pool in your own backyard. Would you let just anyone swim in there?
And what about parking in the driveways? It?’s really inconvenient to have to park in the garage or on the street when this is much closer.
This becomes an issue of not stepping on the other guy?’s rights. It?’s very hard to get out of your garage when someone is parked behind it (even if it?’s on their side of the driveway). Sometimes the access is completely blocked and the person?’s freedom to come and go from her own garage is removed.
?“Well they should wait for me or drive better or just ask or something?”. Not good enough. People should not have to confront their neighbors to be able to get in and out of their garages. Little old ladies have the same rights to use that driveway as 20 year old 6?’4?” males who are intimidating for the woman to approach.
This rule will be enforced where ever we find it being violated.
In no case will rules be enforced just because they are rules. Each rule has a reason guiding it for the good of individuals and the community at large. That?’s the only rationale for rules and the only reason that we have them.
If you don?’t know what the rules are please contact your district representative or the management company for a copy. Most are common sense but in case there?’s one that you would not have thought of and might violate by accident please make sure you know what they are.
And remember the rules are there for your protection as well. If you have a problem with a neighbor that cannot be resolved and is covered by the rules please let your district representative know about the situation.