Landscaping Maintenance

Asking for suggestions on how to handle a situation.

We are working with the developer in transitioning from Declarant to Homeowner control. The transition is amicable but the Declarant has always been Mr. Nice Guy in that he has let some ongoing violations slip.

One issue is landscaping. We are free standing, small patio homes, and part of our association dues cover landscaping of the front and the sides of each home. While we do not have major issues with the overall landscaping the problem is those that have "supplemented" landscaping on their own like adding edgings, trees, plantings, bird baths, those glass globe things, etc. Some say that while nice and in good taste (so far), it is becoming a bit of a hodgepodge.

I have advocated we take a soft approach to the issue as I believe many do not know they are in violation. I say a general letter to all owners concerning landscaping and maintaining a continuity of appearance and asking all to please abide. I say 90 days later we follow up with personal letters to the specific offenders citing specific issues and giving them 60 days to correct. Then after that, bar the door as we commence fining.

Additionally. All our homes have a small backyard surrounded by a 6 foot privacy fence. We do not landscape/maintain nor attempt to control what one does in that space so we are not control freaks. You want edgings, bird baths, rose bushes, glass globes, etc. within that area, then feel free to do so.

An advice from those that have been or are there as to how we handle the issue?

Thanks.

Tim

Fortunately the developer did not give permission. These folks just went and did it. Some have suggested we have the association pay if owners fail to remove. The cost would be a few hundred dollars at worst.

Of course we have one that says we notify them and if not corrected then we go in and rip it all out.

I say let us ask them to correct. Then volunteer the association will do. Then commence fining if no action.

We have 81 free standing patio homes and are totally responsible for landscaping. The developer never said no to anything the buyers wanted to do and as a result owners planted all over and in the common area too. We just bit the bullet and did nothing when the developer left and the board was formed. Fortunately the plantings were attractive.

I will never understand why people with postage stamp lots want to put in so many plantings that it looks like a jungle.

Since our documents did not specifically address plantings on the side and back of the houses we added this to our Rules and Regulations. Now homeowners must ask for ARC approval.

Wondering if your documents address additional plantings and decorative items in the beds?