Management company telling members to deny request

I am on an HOA architectural committee and the other day the Board and the Arch Committee were emailed asking that everyone deny a request of a homeowner that was already being voted on. The management company said in an email that we should deny the request review the CC&R's and once its reviewed to see if this fits our guidelines that the homeowner can reapply. Is this legal? If the Homeowner found out about this is their a recourse they could take on the HOA? Below is the email that was sent.

"As this caught my attention I looked in your CC&Rs and Design Guidelines to see if this type of structure would fit the community rules and it has come to my attention the community does not have a definition of a play structure.

As your community manager, I would like to respectfully request that the Board be given an opportunity to define play structures before a door is opened in the community regarding large recreational structures that may/may not be a fit for the community. To allow me the opportunity to work with the Board on this definition I will need your disapproval of the application for this process. The application can be reviewed again when the Board has defined play structures."

Hi Fred

If you haven't notified the HO yet, then IMO no harm no foul. Nothing wrong with reconsidering a decision based on new information.

Rather than send a denial, what's wrong with notifying the HO that their request is pending instead?

Welcome to the forum, FredS.

With NpS, I think that IF your board hasn't yet notified the H/O of approval, do take your CM's advice. I think your CM is behaving very responsibly and wisely. You could open the door to all kinds of large or strange structures if you do not set some guidelines that fit your CC&Rs.

What the PM is trying to do is allow time for the board to set guidelines prior to having any decisions made or precedents set.

IMO a wise move.

Years ago those satellite dishes suddenly became popular we had no policy in place and needed one as this situation was not addressed in our documents.

We held off any rulings or permission until we researched the matter and drew up some guidelines and policy.

Smarter than opening the door before and THEN figuring it all out.

New issues might require new policies. Having a policy in place will avoid conflicts and disputes.