Gated Community with Gates left open

Started by KerryS • 4 replies • 3438 views

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KerryS (Washington)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Our development has advertised our development as a "Gated Community". The developer, (approximately half of the 250 lots have been sold) is still in control and refuses to have the gates closed. We have had a number of breakins and vandalism occuring at hours when Gates should be closed. Has anyone else had a problem like this and if so, what have you been able to do to remedy this situation.

Kerry S

DianeW (Maryland)
Posts: 147

Posted:

Not exactly the same, but close. We moved into this "gated" community in March and discovered there was a "back" gate that workers used and generally ended up being left open every night. The developer thought it was being locked. I started locking the gate myself each night thinking they would get the picture. Then I started emailing the developer every time I had to lock the gate. Eventually I started cc to all the HOA officers. Finally the developer broke down and bought a new lock for the gate and refused to tell anyone the combo - which suits us fine as the workers can't cut through anymore. Good luck!

LaurenD (Arizona)
Posts: 4

Posted:

Kerry, I was concerned about security in my gated community as well. I posted some threads online getting advice, and got some good feedback on the general opinion of the degree of security gates provide.

However, the most useful information I found was through my own research. Most likely, your community is leaving the gate open during the day time because they do not have an effective way of managing traffic and visitors. I discovered a company called QuickPass which allows residents to manage individual codes for their visitors and vendors that can be activated and deactivated at will and at the fingertips of the residents. This way, even if there is a lot of traffic coming in and out of the gate, atleast you know that traffic is composed of welcome/expected visitors and vendors! It also keeps record of all traffic transactions as if the gate were guarded 24 hours a day.

I think it is creative solutions like these that need to be implemented so that community's do not become careless or complacent with their privacy/security gates. I called to get a quote on the system and plan on presenting the info in our next board meeting. Its worth taking a look at!

GeraldT1 (<Not Specified>)
Posts: 519

Posted:

KerryS,

There's an odd silver lining in your situation. Once the gates do come down and become fully operational, you stand a good chance of the gate remaining forever because of a drop-off rate of break-ins. If you do see a dramatic reduction, no one will be able to refute the expense and benefit of the gates.

Best of success!!
GeraldT1
NNJ

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164

Posted:

KennyS,
The Flipp side of this I had some experience with. The developer had advertised our development as a private gated community and then started to advertize the amenities as open to the public. The Judge said no can do, you advertized it was private and gated, you can not now advertise as public. His reasoning was that the advertizing and sale of property in a gated community is binding with the people that bought the property and has to remain that way unless those people want to allow a change. In a nutshell. In your case, if you bought property that was advertized as gated and private, the developer has to provide for that. I believe.

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