Architectural design standards for fences

I help write our community's newsletter and our board president recently asked me to put in an item stating that from now on, any new fences built in the community must be white or a neutral color that complements the exterior.

This was suggested by our newest board member (she also sells real estate), who pointed out that a big problem with our community is that the homeowners have ignored the CCRs' mandate to get their fence preapproved by the board (not to mention a few other things). As a result, we have all sorts of fences in the community and some of them are better looking than others (my OWN fence is standing up, but it is on its last legs and I'm currently shopping around for the best price to replace it).

So, while I don't object to the idea per se, and our CCRs do give the board the right to approve or disapprove projects so that the community maintains a consistent look, I also know some of the residents will start screaming about how we are dictating what they should do, and does this mean they have to tear down their community and start over, blah, blah blah, I'd like to have some decency and order to this process.

So two questions - first, does anyone have some architechural design standards for fences that we might consider adapting? Second, how did you get your community involved in setting standards - or at least educating them on why they're necessary? So far, some of my thoughts on the process are:

1 - walk around and take a few photos of fences that are well maintained and those that aren't. 2- publish those in the newsletter and explain that this inconsistency doesn't make the community look attractive AT ALL and ultimately affects our property values 3- remind the community that the CCRs DO require homeowners to get Board approval for certain exterior home improvement projects (which is why we publish a blank form every year) 4 - tell the community we're setting up design standards for a number of things, beginning with fences and would like their suggestions 5 - review suggestions and then adopt formal standards which would be published in the newsletter

I should mention we have been trying to set up an architectural committee that would have been charged with this task, but we haven't had any volunteers come forward (resident apathy is an epidemic around here, but most of you are also dealing with the same thing - any suggestions on resolving THAT are also appreciated!)

I've gotten a ton of good tips from the folks on this board on other matters, and thank you in advance!

SheliaH: Be aware whatever standard/options you decide upon for fences, you will probably have to 'grandfather' in the fences which already exist. That means, all fences erected prior to the new rule will stand. But, once they need replacement, they will have to abide by the new rule.

Apparently, something fell through the cracks in that you state the fences are all different, so consistency, in the past, has not been a requirement.

To take photos of the existing fences is a good start. You could also visit one or two of the home supply stores to get their take on the best materials to use--termite resistent, no maintenance, weatherproof, etc. There are many new materials on the market which are very pleasing and will hold up under adverse conditions. Get prices from them and ask if the assn. were to decide on one or two designs, would they allow a discounted price based on many orders.

This is a good time to relook at the entire architectural process your association has established to see if you want to refine/add to it. So far, it sounds like its only the Board involved, not a Committee of members.
Ask a few members (M/F), personally, if they would agree to be part of a Design Committee with you on it as well. Somehow a Design Committee sounds better since it might only involve investigating designs/prices and coming up with a few options. At least you would have something in a proposal to take back to the Board. You may not want to take a member vote on a design, however, but allow the Board to choose 2-3 designs which will be acceptable and in keeping with whatever criteria you have established in order for an architectural change to be approved. The architectural process and approved designs could be presented at a member meeting with the particulars on how to proceed prior to the fence being erected. Good Luck!

Thanks everyone! GlenL, I hadn’t even thought of the zoning laws – took a quick look on the website, but didn’t see in the city/county code regarding residential fences (there was plenty on commercial fences, fences in historical districts and that type of thing), so it looks like we won’t have any problems there.

SusanW1 – your comments are exactly why I want us to slow down and approach this fence business properly. Our new board member means well, but she’s never lived in a condo community before and is just beginning to understand that you really can’t just wake up one day and say “Ok, this is the way we’re going to do it and to hell with everyone else and what they think because WE ARE THE BOARD, DAMMIT.” Granted there are some times when I feel the way she does - given the resident apathy, I wonder if anyone would really notice if we DID take that approach.

And yet, there seems to be a lot of “we vs. them” attitude among the residents (including some board members) and I always believe one should explain what’s being done and why- this way, once a decision is made and someone tries to say something crazy, we can smile politely (or through gritted teeth) and say “well we asked residents for their comments, invited them to join the architectural committee so they’d have a hand in this”, put everything in the newsletter, etc., etc.” At that point, they can still jump up and down, but at least we will have made the effort and have the documentation to prove it.

PaulM – it’s my hope this process WILL begin a review of the ACR process because it could stand some tweaking. I’m also hoping that the photos will show people that ultimately having some standards really does go a long way in making the neighborhood look beautiful – and ultimately raise the property values everyone keeps squawking are going “way down in the hole” (as they sang on The Wire)