The Architectural Control Committee: What is it and why should I care?
What is it? The only thing that keeps your neighbor from letting their 5-year daughter pick her favorite color combination for their new house paint; purple with pink polka dots and lime green trim!
What does it do? Approves all plans for any exterior changes to your home to make certain your plans meet the design standards of the Waterford Green Subdivision
Why do I have to get my plans approved? It’s my house! When we purchased property in this subdivision, we agreed in our closing documents to a set of covenants that govern the responsibilities of each homeowner to help maintain the standards of the neighborhood. Part of that process is submitting plans for construction or modification of any existing structure, landscaping and lightscaping on any lot in Waterford Green.
What kind of structures are we talking about? Garages, decks, porches, extensions, replacement of windows or doors, chimneys, roofs, driveways, mailboxes, front door stoops and steps, fences and walls, landscape hardscapes, recreation equipment, gazebos, treehouses, and play structures, among some other things. And, of course, any exterior painting has to be approved.
You mean if I want to plant some pansies, I have to get approval? No, please do not submit approval forms for pansy planting, or any other annual or perennial, for that matter. But, if you want to cut down a tree that is greater than 6” in diameter, you must have approval. And, any major landscape plan that deals with foundation planting, grading, water retention, detention or runoff, or hardscapes must be approved.
What if I just do the work without getting prior approval? You are running the risk that your project does not meet the design standards. If this is the case, you can be required to modify, remove, tear out, replace, or reconfigure your project to bring it into compliance. This could be big money. And, there is no statute of limitations. The best policy is: “Ask permission, not forgiveness.”
How do I get my project approved? Go to the website: waterfordgreen.net and print out the ACC approval forms. You will find them under the Documents tab. Fill them out, attach any supporting documentation, and submit them to the ACC Chairman. This should be done at least 2 weeks prior to the contractor pulling into your driveway. This should not been done on the day the contractor pulls into your driveway.
Anything else? Well, we can’t park a boat or camper in our driveway for more than a week…we can only put up one “For Sale” sign, with certain dimensions (tell your agent to call the ACC Chair for more details)….we can’t breed livestock in the back yard and we have to keep our dogs from becoming a nuisance to our neighbors (read: pick up the poop and stop them from barking excessively)...to name a few.
What is in it for me? For all of us, it is important to adhere to a set of design standards to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood. The ACC is a mechanism that insures all property owners preserve the quality that persuaded each of us to choose Waterford Green as our home. And, it strengths relationships among neighbors because now you don’t have to be the one to break it to the lady down the street that fuchsia, turquoise and banana yellow is not the amazing color combo she had thought….or maybe she won’t have to tell you?