Remodeled a wall cabinet and patio floor

Started by JohnA3 • 5 replies • 1307 views

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JohnA3 (California)
Posts: 3

Posted:

I live (30 years) in a town house setting in CA I recently remodeled put fascia stone on the patio wall in very good taste, built a nice red wood cabinet ( shown and photographed for a magazine) and placed the washer and dryer in there in xlnt taste, I recieved a letter from managment to apply for a board approval architectural commitee permit. there are 2 town homes ( one is a board member ) that have had a built in BBQ sink and wrap arpund cabinets, there are some town homes that have wall fascia stones ugly ones and heavy ones can they deny my request and mke me take it off. and how should i word it and what is going to happen if i do not take them off I have a good lawyer on my side also?

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

30 years living there, and you didn't know to apply for pre-permits???

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

JohnA3: What is good taste to one, perhaps may not be to another....even so, it would seem your Board is gently reminding you to go through the proper channels and apply for approval. You don't need a lawyer, and do not threaten with one!!! Just bite the bullet and follow what your docs dictate you to do.

Frankly, IMO, the Board has acted 'nicely' with you; they could have sent you a violation notice and you would have had to schedule a hearing. This way, they are asking you to follow the established process. You must admit you did not act according to procedure-- state your mistake, be respectful, they are doing their job.
You'll just have to wait to see what happens. Good Luck!

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164

Posted:

John,
Yes they can make you take it off and frankly you should know better. No sense of giving a lecture on community living after all these years.
John you apparently missed out on the satisfaction of living and working with your community, not to late to get involved. A New Year Dawning and a good time to make resolutions.
Your question wants us to tell you what you already know and you think we are worth a long shot, we could bail you out. Otherwise, why the "good" lawyer. I suppose there is a big story about this whole thing and you feel you can justify what you did by what your neighbors did. Maybe you can and maybe not. John, go to your Board and ask them how to fill out your application and see if they can't give you an example of the permits your neighbors used to get theirs approved. If you can do this all well and good and you don't pay the lawyer, if you can't justify what you did, better keep your lawyer. From what you say, all they are asking for is for you to submit the proper requests, some associations would fine you for not submitting a request.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

JohnA3 - Don't put the cart before the horse and think they are asking you to remove the improvements you've installed. The MC asked you to apply for a board approval and AC permit, not remove the items. They may just be looking out for you and hope you apply retroactively. You also may have no idea if they also asked all the other owners (you sight) to do the same. I believe you should be extra extra nice and do as they request. Wait until they respond to cry foul if they deny you.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Welcome John,
Seeing this is your first post, be aware that we will tell it like it is to you and not soften the answers. As everyone has noted to you, the first mistake that you did was to NOT apply to your Architectural review committee for permission. Don't worry about others who do or do not use the process established in your documents and Board to do things properly. Doing it the right way will save you from frustration and having to seek help in the future. I would ,as Gerald said, write to the Board or ARC and get this worked out among yourselves. They don't want to fight with you and I am sure that you don't want that either.So bite the bullet and start to follow the proper procedure. Good Luck!

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