Can’t We Just Let It Be!

Let the buyer beware is good advice. I am not sure though it would have made any difference in my case.
In particular, if I had been aware of the power of individual condo owners associations before I made the decision to purchase a home in one. I purchased a patio home in Sun City, AZ. One of the things that attracted me to this original Del Webb “fun city” was the mature landscaping. The lush front yard lawns and the beautiful well-trimmed & maintained orange trees in the front of my home. I was not aware at that time of what I believe is a spreading cancer in this community...namely desert landscaping. COAs deciding to tear up the grass, the trees, & essentially return this oasis to a desert...also called desertification. As I understand it, it was a move to save $ and H2O. But for folks, like me, who call this our only home year round, they are saving $ at my expense, I believe. I have since learned more about the so-called urban heat island (UHI) effect. Please consider this... “Asphalt streets, alleys, driveways and dark roofs, collectively called hardscaping, cause “heat islands.” Perhaps lesser known is that so-called desert landscaping (aka Xeriscape) collects and reflects heat too and does not in any way sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Our lawns are not reflecting blazing hot sun back at the house all day! Lawns also absorb rainfall, and any polluting runoff from the driveway near the house. Our decorative orange trees are not just wonderful sanctuaries for birds, but provide shade & filter the air.”
Snowbirds escape the blazing hot summers while either not running their A/C while they are gone or raising the thermostat setting to reduce their electric bill. I do not have that option as a Sun Bird. In fact with desert landscaping I would have to run my A/C even harder because of this UHI effect.
I say stop ruining our Sun City oasis by pushing more hardscape like Xeriscape. Instead plant more shade trees & even increase ground-cover vegetation, including lawns. Dallas is planting trees to shade neighborhoods and filter the air & Phoenix is working to expand its own shade canopy.
I say give up golf courses enjoyed by the elite or at least require those courses to use recycled or reclaimed H2O (like some courses in Florida have done). That would save considerbly more of our precious fresh water.

Interesting take, Rich .... however, what you are describing is the long predicted result of the decades of building and landscaping to create an Eden where the water for an Eden isn’t available.

Most in the West believe water will become more scarce, rather than less.

To the HOA aspect - was this something that required a vote to change?

RichA3,

I’m speechless re your rant, so, I’m out.

Also, as for your snowbird scenario ... they do own the property and will be a cold day down below before can be denied their votes or to serve on a BOD.

I am just envious of the folks who can afford to be heat chickens. I despise rich elitists making it harder for me to just get by. If I could afford to be a snowflake I would immediately join their ranks. In joining their elite ranks though I hope I would be very sensitive to their needs and their situation. Requiring Sun Birds to live with hot rocks & sand in their front yards is simply cruel & heartless!

Sorry friend...I did not choose to live in the desert...I chose to live in a beautiful, lush oasis in the desert. Please do not take it away from me.