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LauraD2 (Colorado)
Posts: 6
Posted:
I am a member of our HOA here in Loveland , Colorado and we have some pretty lenient rules and regs for our community which is nice for all. But I do have a question for discussion and I do need some input from the colder regions. The garages are in the front of our units with 5 units to our building. My garage is adjacent to the neighbors to the north of me and under my second bed room that I use for an office. This neighbor leaves the garage door open most days and nights even in the cold weather. I have asked her and our Property manager has asked her to please keep it closed when the weather is below 60 degrees. But she will not close it and leaves for hours with it wide open. It is affecting my energy bill to heat my unit. Please I need some good input for this problem without getting an attorney , which is the next step thanks
HaroldS (Arizona)
Posts: 906
Posted:
Apparently your "pretty lenient rules" do not include keeping garage doors closed, or your management compnay should have surely done more than just ask her to keep it closed. This is surprising because that seems to be a big no-no in most association documents. I can't imagine why anyone would want to leave their garage door open all the time anyway - the door from the garage into the living quarters is not usually that secure a type door, and the cold air must certainly be affecting her heating bills too. Does your city have any codes regulating garage doors, since your association doesn't seem to? Harold
LauraD2 (Colorado)
Posts: 6
Posted:
I will contact the city and also the utility company tomorrow about this also. The HOA meeting in January will address the issue also but if she is nt a good neighbor now I dont feel like the rules will be taken serious so will have to check out all avenues to take care of this. Thanks Harold
Will keep you informed if that is ok Laura
CharlesW1 (Georgia)
Posts: 826
Posted:
LauraD2,

Don’t mean to sound ignorant with any of my questions. I may just need a little bit of clarification. Is this homeowner being fined? If so then I would assume that they (the homeowner) would be in violation of some sort,consequence for a violation is stated as a fine in your by-laws, correct?

I have read all the responses you have gotten thus far, and I still don’t understand. If this homeowner isn’t being fined then they (the homeowner) can’t be in violation of anything! So what is there to appeal?

I’m sure you will receive the information you seek on this particular matter. I have lean so much from many of the posts and response posted on this discussion forum.

Best of luck to you
Chuck W.


Charles E. Wafer Jr.
RonaldW (South Carolina)
Posts: 901
Posted:
Posted By LauraD2 on 11/26/2006 10:50 AM

This neighbor leaves the garage door open most days and nights even in the cold weather. I have asked her and our Property manager has asked her to please keep it closed when the weather is below 60 degrees. But she will not close it and leaves for hours with it wide open.


Read your copy of the CC&Rs. Does it require garage doors to be kept closed "when not in use" or put a time limit on how long they can be kept open? If so, the HOA should be taking action such as writing violation notices, etc. If not, there's not much you can legally do to force the neighbor to keep the door closed.

Ron
SC
RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067
Posted:
Posted By RonaldW on 12/07/2006 6:03 PM
Read your copy of the CC&Rs. Does it require garage doors to be kept closed "when not in use" or put a time limit on how long they can be kept open? If so, the HOA should be taking action such as writing violation notices, etc. If not, there's not much you can legally do to force the neighbor to keep the door closed.


Another means of enforcement is to pass a R&R requiring garage doors to be closed when not in use.
RonaldW (South Carolina)
Posts: 901
Posted:
Posted By RogerB on 12/07/2006 7:06 PM

Posted By RonaldW on 12/07/2006 6:03 PM
Read your copy of the CC&Rs. Does it require garage doors to be kept closed "when not in use" or put a time limit on how long they can be kept open? If so, the HOA should be taking action such as writing violation notices, etc. If not, there's not much you can legally do to force the neighbor to keep the door closed.


Another means of enforcement is to pass a R&R requiring garage doors to be closed when not in use.


Roger, what is an "R&R?

The way I read our CC&Rs, everything is spelled out and the only discretion seems to be what is delegated to the ACC - mailboxes and posts and approval or denial of additions and modifications.

.........

BTW: As an example of how poorly some CC&Rs are written, here's the relevant section from ours:
SECTION 24 – Driveways and Entrance to Garage. All driveways and entrances shall be of a substance approved in writing by the ACC. All front entrance garages must have the doors closed except when in use. A maximum of three (3) cars may be parked upon driveway. No overnight parking is permitted on the streets.


#1. All front entrance garages ............. Houses with "side entrance garages" are not covered by this section, yet if they are on a corner lot, the effect is the same as a "front entrance garage".

#2. must have the doors closed except when in use ............. Define "in use". If someone is using a garage for a shop and is in the garage working, is that "in use"? I believe it is but that's not the intention of the section.

#3. A maximum of three (3) cars may be parked upon driveway................ No mention of SUVs, vans, or pickup trucks. We know what the CC&Rs are meant to say, but someone could make the argument that a pickup truck is not covered.

Ron
SC
RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067
Posted:
Ron, R&R = Rules and Regulations which the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Regulations) allow the Board to create.
RonaldW (South Carolina)
Posts: 901
Posted:
Posted By RogerB on 12/08/2006 8:21 AM

Ron, R&R = Rules and Regulations which the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Regulations) allow the Board to create.


Thanks. I don't think ours does but I will check.


Ron
SC

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