SteveN6 (Georgia)
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Posted:
Hi, folks. I am a new HOA Board Member (we don't have an ARC, so the Board serves that purpose as well), and we recently had a request from an owner to paint their brick home a very light off-white - kind of the modern farmhouse style. The neighborhood is small (39 homes) and consistent - all large (4000 sq ft +) traditional homes with unpainted brick in various earth tones. The relevant guidance as I see it is found in our Design Guidelines and documented ARC Approval Process, specifically these passages (I left our the less relevant criteria):
- "Design decisions made by the ARC in reviewing applications are not based on any individualās personal opinion or taste."
- Judgments of acceptable design are based on, but not necessarily limited to, the following criteria that represent in more specific terms the general standards of the protective Covenants:
- Design Compatibility - The proposed improvements must be compatible with the architectural characteristics of the applicantās house, adjoining houses, and the neighborhood setting. Compatibility is defined as similarity in architectural style, quality of workmanship, use of like or similar building materials, color and construction details.
- Materials - Continuity is established by use of the same or compatible materials as were used in the original house. The options may be limited somewhat by the design and materials of the original house."
We initially turned it down with the explanation that it would create the only home in the neighborhood with a painted brick faƧade, and the only one that was white, and that therefore we were unable to approve it based on the fact that it would be very dissimilar to all other homes in the neighborhood. The homeowners, specifically the wife, is beside herself and appealing to the members who voted "no" (2 of us; only 3 on the Board at this point). She apparently hates their orangish brick and always has and says it "has" to be painted, so she wants to find a compromise and paint it an earth tone that would blend in better than the other houses.
We are without a doubt going to make either this couple or other homeowners mad, and my own opinion on whether this would be a good look or acceptable change for the neighborhood to possibly start trending toward is irrelevant, so I just want to make a decision that follows the guidelines. My gut feel is that a painted brick faƧade would still be too inconsistent when all other homes in the neighborhood have unpainted brick*. Am I being too rigid in my interpretation? What do you think?
* The petitioners have brought up a slight exception to this: one home in the neighborhood has a pair of painted brick columns framing the entry. My understanding is that this came about because the home originally had wooden columns and the homeowners requested building a brick faƧade around them using the same brick as the rest of the home. However, when completed they ended up using a different brick because they could not find the same brick. The HOA Board at the time thought it looked terrible and negotiated with the owners painting the brick on those columns to match the trim color as a compromise.
- "Design decisions made by the ARC in reviewing applications are not based on any individualās personal opinion or taste."
- Judgments of acceptable design are based on, but not necessarily limited to, the following criteria that represent in more specific terms the general standards of the protective Covenants:
- Design Compatibility - The proposed improvements must be compatible with the architectural characteristics of the applicantās house, adjoining houses, and the neighborhood setting. Compatibility is defined as similarity in architectural style, quality of workmanship, use of like or similar building materials, color and construction details.
- Materials - Continuity is established by use of the same or compatible materials as were used in the original house. The options may be limited somewhat by the design and materials of the original house."
We initially turned it down with the explanation that it would create the only home in the neighborhood with a painted brick faƧade, and the only one that was white, and that therefore we were unable to approve it based on the fact that it would be very dissimilar to all other homes in the neighborhood. The homeowners, specifically the wife, is beside herself and appealing to the members who voted "no" (2 of us; only 3 on the Board at this point). She apparently hates their orangish brick and always has and says it "has" to be painted, so she wants to find a compromise and paint it an earth tone that would blend in better than the other houses.
We are without a doubt going to make either this couple or other homeowners mad, and my own opinion on whether this would be a good look or acceptable change for the neighborhood to possibly start trending toward is irrelevant, so I just want to make a decision that follows the guidelines. My gut feel is that a painted brick faƧade would still be too inconsistent when all other homes in the neighborhood have unpainted brick*. Am I being too rigid in my interpretation? What do you think?
* The petitioners have brought up a slight exception to this: one home in the neighborhood has a pair of painted brick columns framing the entry. My understanding is that this came about because the home originally had wooden columns and the homeowners requested building a brick faƧade around them using the same brick as the rest of the home. However, when completed they ended up using a different brick because they could not find the same brick. The HOA Board at the time thought it looked terrible and negotiated with the owners painting the brick on those columns to match the trim color as a compromise.