Guidelines Enforcement and property value
Residents of Carolina Arbors have a vested interest in preserving the property value of their homes. As fellow homeowners, the Board of Directors are motivated to enforce guidelines that help protect such a significant investment. After discussion with Associa and applicable committees, the Board of Directors has asked that the HOA give special attention to certain violations that when present, diminish curb appeal and overall property value. While the HOA will enforce all guidelines equally, they will spend additional time conducting site inspections and issuing notices to properties with these violations.
Faded shutters can make an otherwise pristine residence look dated and in disrepair. Luckily, there are several solutions that are quick and easy. At Carolina Arbors, those with faded shutters may polish them, which typically will need to be reapplied yearly. Some residents opt to remove or replace their shutters. Lastly, some choose to paint their shutters with either the original color or a new color scheme. An ARC application is only necessary if the color is different from the original.
House paint: We’ve all seen it. A row of beautiful houses marred by one very faded house. The solution to repaint is simple, the results dramatic. We understand that repainting a house is not in everyone’s budget. If a resident is requested to repaint their home, and they feel that their house is not faded enough to warrant it, we encourage them to contest the violation. If a resident has extenuating circumstances that would prohibit them from repainting, we encourage them to appeal. We have independent inspectors who will determine if an extension or exemption should be granted. Additionally, when the time comes to repaint, we would remind residents that they are allowed to change the color and paint type of their home subject to prior ARC approval.
Yard art and landscaping can be quite subjective. For this reason, the HOA only asks that residents leave nothing on their grass when not in use. If a resident has yard art, bird feeders or similar things which they wish to leave out permanently, we ask that these be placed on their patio, front porch, or in a mulched area to simplify mowing. Additionally, birdhouses and feeders are limited to a combined total of 3 per lot. In addition to birdhouses/feeders, Passport style homes may have up to 4 decorative elements, with Expedition homes being allowed as many as 5, while Pinnacle homes can have up to 6 decorations. Every resident has a part to play by keeping their yard tidy.
Porch/ Patio Clutter: Please keep your porch free of clutter. Clutter counts as anything that does not belong on the porch or patio. If either a door or window is blocked by items being kept on the porch, that would also count as clutter. Additionally, trash, gardening supplies like shovels, dirt, fertilizer, empty pots, or an excessive number of pots could all be considered clutter.
Street trees are required by the City of Durham. Depending on the lot size, CA residents are required to have a minimum of one and up to four street trees. This isn’t something that the HOA controls, but they are required to ensure that the street tree requirements are met. Additionally, Carolina Arbors’ community standard allows only certain types of tree varieties to be planted on specific streets. A full list of approved street trees is available on OCA under the Residential Design Guidelines.
Landscape Lighting: The Board understands that proper lighting provides visibility of tripping hazards, as well as being a deterrent from potential intruders. However, too much lighting can be an inconvenience to neighbors. For this reason, the Board has regulations in place that allow lighting for safety purposes while minimizing the inconvenience that it could be to other residents. Solar lighting may only be used for lighting pathways and must be placed in a mulch bed and not on the grass. For landscape lighting, residents must apply to the ARC Committee. For further information on landscape lighting, please refer to this link here: Landscape Lighting
Mowing corridors concludes this year’s focus. When Carolina Arbors was originally designed, each lot had a minimum of 36 inches at the tightest points between houses. Now because of mulch migration and expanding landscape, hundreds of these corridors between houses have shrunk to well below the 3 ft. minimum. The Board of Directors has asked that the HOA begin the process of restoring a 3 ft minimum space between houses. If two houses or two mulch beds have fewer than 3ft between them, the HOA will notify the homeowners and request that they remedy the issue by planting sod, moving a mulch bed, or in some cases removing or trimming plants that have grown into the 3ft minimum. Failure to keep the mowing corridors open complicates the mowing process and increases the maintenance cost.