Design Guidelines; The Good, The Bad & Then “Say What?”

[Rana Goodman]

Design Guidelines; The Good, The Bad & Then “Say What?”

 On August 11, 2022 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm there will be a community forum in the Delaware Room to discuss the proposed changes to the SCA Guidelines, owner comments are welcome..

I spent several hours reading the document, available on the SCA website and although some changes left a nice smile on my face, others made me vow to attend that meeting so I could find out the reasons for, what, in my opinion is taking HOA control too far.

Example of the “GOOD,” Non-fruit bearing Olive trees are to be allowed! I have been trying to convince board after board of directors to do that for some time by questioning why Del Webb planted hundreds of them along Anthem Parkway and along the Sun City Anthem loop, yet included them in the CC&Rs as a “no-no.”

However, on the “BAD” example, you must get ARC approval to change any plants in your front landscaping! I’m sorry, but since the documents also state that your reply from an ARC request is “within 30 days,” and since ARC no longer has “in person meetings for owners, should I have dead or sick looking plants in my front yard I expect my landscaper to replace them on his weekly visits, not leave dead and dying shrubs for 30 days.

Next on the list of “BAD” for me is the new rule of having to get security cameras approved by ARC before installation. Does this mean I needed to have my Ring setup approved before it was installed? Would you like to wait 30 days for a reply when there has been a rise in break-ins lately?

I would not expect anyone to need permission for any security feature especially considering we are a senior community. We have many widows and widowers living alone who need all the protection they can get.

Also on my BAD example list is the fact that Oleander plants are now to be allowed. ARC apparently pushed aside the allergy issue but can they possibly be unaware that Oleander is high up on the toxic to all animals and children list. Many people don’t like the rabbits coming onto their property because they eat flowers….. I happen to enjoy watching them in my yard and will gladly replace the flowers, but I also don’t want to see any animal die because they ate a few blossoms.

Another item I found interesting was in the section referring to courtyards and gates. Decorative spikes are not permitted. Taking into consideration the amount of coyote in our area, the spikes are somewhat preventive as are (but not mentioned in the document) roller bars that can be attached to the block walls. With those roller bars a coyote or bob cat cannot grip to the wall to climb over. One of the items I will lobby for at the up-coming legislative session.

To see the entire document copy or paste this link to your browser: https://www.scahoa.org/ResourceCenter/Download/42904/proposedchangestodesignguidelines

[Rana Goodman]

The following message was sent to me with the request that the author’s name not be used…

I am beginning to feel that the rules at SCA are stifling!   This is no longer the wonderful community we bought into originally!  Too many rules to CONTROL the residents.  Turning into a police state by management!

 

[Stephen Anderson]

While oleanders are toxic so are a number of other plants such as Sago palms. It is reported that there are hundreds of oleanders growing in the backyards of SCA already. Animals don’t eat the leaves as they are very bitter.  Thus where you see oleander growing you do not find dead animals.  If you have a concern for you grandchildren or pets then you can make your own choice to not plant it.  This is the thinking behind this change. It is trying to ban as few plants as possible  as what cannot be seen from the street often escapes compliance enforcement.

[GARY THOMAS]

For clarity, if an existing plant dies is ARC approval required to replace it? Same spot, same plant?

Also, what about “volunteer” plants?

I might encourage some simple parameters if the HOA is going to regulate security cameras. I understand not wanting big, ugly, commercial grade cameras bolted on the front of homes (see pic) but the new, user installable wireless cameras are small, unobtrusive, and easily hidden. Maybe HOA can simply set a size limit prior to requiring ARC application and approval. One of the goals of good surveillance cameras for the home is to keep it discreet, many hide them to keep thugs from seeing and avoiding them and also for aesthetic reasons. I even recommend painting the camera housings to match the surface it is attached to.

Yes, we do want to avoid our beautiful homes in SCA from having cameras in plain view looking like this but in my opinion small, discreet cameras and certainly doorbell cameras should be allowed without over regulation.

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