painted driveways

Charles,

It's all in the eye of the beholder!

If enough members state their desire to allow painted driveways then perhaps the Design Review Committee will change their standards. Frankly I see nothing wrong with it but the committee should be required to approve the colors.

Specify that it must be stained not painted.

When the surface is properly prepared (etched) and applied it soaks into the concrete much like the awfull oil stains that are all too common.

Mine is going on 7 years with NO defects.

Donna is correct - painted driveways in Florida don't work!

We have big problems trying to get people to maintain their painted driveways. And nothing looks worse that a peeling or worn driveway. Remind your Board what will happen after the paint goes on.

Architectural committees are only as good as the members on the committee and only as good as your guidelines. Get something in writing as to the paint colors and even the brand of paint that must be used if you are really particular about controling the exterior appearance of your complex. Set some stiff fines and remedies if the owner violates and if the committee is not working in the best interest of the community.....remove them. All of this creates turmoil but it will be worth it if consistency and well maintained properties equal good property values. Even in these tough times, you have to be vigilant about your property appearance.

Thanks for the response. As far as specific guidelines, I need to look into such specifics with BOD. I do know that if/when colors have been approved by the ARC or BOD, other residents have automatically been approved for that same color, not to say it should or does blend with their house color scheme. In this case, the "brick red" is an existing approved color for another resident's home, therefore, is why the mention of the resident's name & house number. But again, did not submit a color chip. It is my opinion or common sense the grey with the brick red looks like an eyesore in the community to say the least. The name & house# referenced on the ARC form for the color chosen happens to be an ARC member & Board member.

As Joanne just said, having a Board member on the ARc or ACC is not in the best interest of that committee in the event of an appeal which normall would go before the Board. Therefore a Board member also on the ARC has in reality, 2 votes against an approval. We have 1 Board member that is assigned to act as Board Liaison to the committee. No votes as he sits as an observer.

But now Florida has some very specific Statutes on how the committee operates. All design elements and standards, along with colors and materials must be SPECIFICALLY stated in your guidelines. For instance, if colors are limited, the guidelines MUST say exactly what colors or color range any paint must be. If it specifys fencing, the guidelines must say-6 foot height, materials must be aluminum , black only or whatever. That would mean no wooden or white fencing and it MUST be 6 foot in height.

Look up the Florida Statutes 720, specifically 3035-(2) It tells you that if you follow the specifics outlined in you documents, the committee nor the Board may prohibit you from using what you have chosen. This is a new addition from 2007 or 08 and many Boards do not keep up to date on the Statute changes, therefore would not be aware of this change.