Paint Palette for CA HOA

It depends in part on your documents - do they address design standards? Your CCRs might state that certain exterior changes, such as painting your home a different color than the original requires prior approval by the board, but not specify certain colors. Design standards like this could be considered community rules, which the documents may authorize the Board to enact and enforce, so go back to your documents and read them.

As a practical matter, community rules, if done right, flesh out the CCRs and are usually easier to change (you've already seen lots of conversations on this website about the drama that ensues). What has your community done in the past? Getting a homeowner vote is ok, but it tends to take longer because people forget or lose their ballot or cast their vote and then get frosty after the vote is cast because they've changed their mind (well, I THOUGHT I liked that color, but...)

In this case, I don't see a problem with the board making the final decision. It's not like the homeowners didn't know a change was being considered - they had 28 days to review the proposals and make comments, so the board should consider all this (otherwise, why bother)? When homeowners have a hand in deciding what the rules will be, they stand a better chance of people complying with them. If, after a few years, other colors come into vogue, people change their minds or whatever, the standards can be tweaked - these aren't the 10 commandments.

Our 1987 documents are silent on this issue.

As usual, you cut to the chase...and much appreciated. We've had nearly 40 years of 140 homes painted with hundreds of soothing, nice color combinations: ie- no big issues with their ARC application & completion. I'm drawing a blank and can't get an answer why a paint palette of 3 colors seems necessary? It just seems to refocus attention unnecessarily.
"If it's not broken, why fix it? BTW, these same 2 Directors voted to postpone taking the basic initial steps to EVALUATE Restating our 1987 CCRs/Bylaws. I suspect a bumpy next year.

They may have feared someone would paint the house in a really whacky color (hot pink?), but you're correct that if people haven't had a major issue with this, a color palette probably isn't necessary.

As for the board members who voted to postpone evaluating your documents, did they provide a reason? Cost and the length of time it could take might have been a factor - or they fear the board losing power if people vote to give more control over board decisions to the homeowners. Or a combination of both, plus something else (some people are afraid of actually doing anything that requires careful thought.

If these two didn't explain themselves, someone should ask them why - document changes don't happen overnight, so I think evaluating documents over 30 years old is a good start. Along with determining if these two should remain on the board if they're so opposed to even considering possible changes.

ElleN, "Understanding" might be a stetch. I sense an unusual new board approach: "No one cares or notices, our documents are the original (declarant lingo) and don't make sense, member apathy, my friends want it done this way, etc, etc." Off topic, but FYI, we haven't needed to tow anything in a few years, no vandalism, etc. but new board wants to hire a Tow patrol to drive the community? REASONABLE has left the building.

Dean, I agree. I feel as if I'm at the zoo, watching monkeys swing from Bar to Bar.

Great.
If disagreement arises, maybe you could get the board to agree to ask the HOA attorney's opinion.

I continue to feel that HOA attorneys can be great educators. What an attorney can say by way of education can be worth the cost of the legal fee.