HOA voting to ban kids from playing outside

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I would never tie myself to any home under the thumb of a HOA. I would never waste my money on property that isn't really mine.

That having been said, I agree kids need some sort of supervision in the streets and public property should not be mistaken for personal property, but I see nothing wrong with a kid playing in their own well-fenced yard without adults hovering. And, yes, loud toys and screaming kids are annoying - but it's a part of living around families, so people need to just deal with it or move to a retirement or singles village.

This particular development seems over-developed, which is sad for the kids, but you can't lock them up. Some of the examples they listed do seem unsafe, I agree - it seems to me they would get further by working together to try to get a public green space nearby.

In a world of increasing child obesity, a total ban with nothing to replace it is not a good direction to go in, IMO.
 
The way the HOA seems to be presenting itsself though.. I bet your hiney if they saw a 17 yr old out walking they would fine the parents... because it was a minor child not under supervision from an adult.. they just seem to be that way.

Oh and heck yea.. NO WAY would I ever in in a home tied to a HOA! (Not that we'd last long anyway with 5 boys, 2 pitbulls and a cockatoo with a scream that can carry 2 miles LOL)

We live in a regular neighborhood with neighbors who take care of their properties and yep we have a house painted like a candy cane a few blocks over but it adds to the character LOL
 
unfortunately where i live HOA's are the only option in my area. with that said, i hate them they are mongers that drive around and send letters to move your bball goal or trim your yard correctly.....uggggg
 
As much as I hate my HOA, it sounds like this little cluster of townhouses doesn't have an appropriate place to play, some of the kids are running around unsupervised, and the parents don't give a crap. They sound like lovely neighbors! (NOT!)

From the OP's link:


"You wouldn't see them playing the parking lot at Walmart or Kmart, but they come here and turn the children loose," said HOA board member Kim Scott.

Scott said she recently spotted a girl playing on top of power meters while unsupervised.

"I ran quickly to the mother, and said, 'Ma'am, please get your child before she gets hurt.' Her response was, 'I don't have to. My child can do what she wants,'" Scott said.
 
That is 1 person though...
There is a bad apple in every bunch.

I have 5 pretty respectful kids and i like to send the older ones out to play when I'm cleaning (otherwise it's like shoveling during a snow storm) I'd really hate to have that right taken from me due to the actions of one snotty mom :)
 
My brother purchased a new home a few years ago, and his HOA is so bad, he typically refers to them as "the HOA Nazis"...

I hope this post isn't offensive, and yes, this is my first post. Just look around and this thread caught my eye.
 
Had an acquaintance that lived under an HOA... she was such a busy-body that she seemed to enjoy reporting "violations" to the HOA. One of the most ridiculous things I ever heard her brag about was getting the HOA to make a neighbor take down a child's tent in their backyard because it was an "eye sore".
 
peeples said:
The way the HOA seems to be presenting itsself though.. I bet your hiney if they saw a 17 yr old out walking they would fine the parents... because it was a minor child not under supervision from an adult.. they just seem to be that way.

Oh and heck yea.. NO WAY would I ever in in a home tied to a HOA! (Not that we'd last long anyway with 5 boys, 2 pitbulls and a cockatoo with a scream that can carry 2 miles LOL)

We live in a regular neighborhood with neighbors who take care of their properties and yep we have a house painted like a candy cane a few blocks over but it adds to the character LOL
Click to expand...

I would be the one living in the candy cane house :D

Well, spouse probably wouldn't let me. But I applaud the spirit...and the kids can pitch their tent in my back yard.
 
Stone2065 said:
My brother purchased a new home a few years ago, and his HOA is so bad, he typically refers to them as "the HOA Nazis"...

I hope this post isn't offensive, and yes, this is my first post. Just look around and this thread caught my eye.
Click to expand...

Welcome to websleuths!!!!!!!!!
 
Stone2065 said:
My brother purchased a new home a few years ago, and his HOA is so bad, he typically refers to them as "the HOA Nazis"...

I hope this post isn't offensive, and yes, this is my first post. Just look around and this thread caught my eye.
Click to expand...

Welcome to Websleuths Stone! It's great to have you here.
:great:
 
Thanks all! :)

I understand the initial concept of an HOA was something like a union, i.e. an organization to help all those in the community, however, like usual, you put certain people in positions of even fake power... they go power nuts.
 
So, is this a bunch of townhouse owners against a bunch of townhouse renters? The article said " 'They' came in and rented". Why doesn't the HOA change rules to ban children or renters in the first place. Probably the bad economy and most of the homes being empty as a result is the reason that doesn't happen. If that pic is of the actual place then it's nothing special to begin with. I'd be darned if I ever gave up freedom, so that regular persimmony type people would be handing me out fines. Too bad attorneys can't force the pack leaders of that group into turning part of the parking lot into a play ground, a bike path around the whole joint, and/or tearing down a townhouse and putting up a community center. Thank goodness I don't live in one of those cult type socialistic atmospheres. We've lost enough freedoms in the country to just hand it over and pay non-authority or political figures to do it to us. No offense to WS'ers who live in HOAs.
 
Stone2065 said:
My brother purchased a new home a few years ago, and his HOA is so bad, he typically refers to them as "the HOA Nazis"...

I hope this post isn't offensive, and yes, this is my first post. Just look around and this thread caught my eye.
Click to expand...

:fireworks::welcome::fireworks:

txsvicki said:
So, is this a bunch of townhouse owners against a bunch of townhouse renters? The article said " 'They' came in and rented". Why doesn't the HOA change rules to ban children or renters in the first place. Probably the bad economy and most of the homes being empty as a result is the reason that doesn't happen. If that pic is of the actual place then it's nothing special to begin with. I'd be darned if I ever gave up freedom, so that regular persimmony type people would be handing me out fines. Too bad attorneys can't force the pack leaders of that group into turning part of the parking lot into a play ground, a bike path around the whole joint, and/or tearing down a townhouse and putting up a community center. Thank goodness I don't live in one of those cult type socialistic atmospheres. We've lost enough freedoms in the country to just hand it over and pay non-authority or political figures to do it to us. No offense to WS'ers who live in HOAs.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not like any socialized democracy I've been to (LOL) more like bureaucracy and mediocrity run amok! But I've heard horror stories about these HOAs for some time and this still surprised me. It's ridiculous. There's no way I could live under such circumstances. To have a bunch of power hungry idiots telling me what to do all the time, where my kids can play, what color to paint my house, the kind of blinds I could have, how long my grass is, etc., would be intolerable for me.

It really is a shame what these organizations are able to get away with. They can essentially fine someone so much that they can't sell their house and move away. There ought to be some way to stop this outrageous nonsense.
 
You can always contest the contract you sign to get into the neighborhood in court, especially when you can prove they're powerhungry and/or just not sticking to the letter, and I mean the letter of that contract. For instance, if you do something to your home that is not specifically covered by your contract, and suddenly you get a notice and/or fine from the HOA because of some silly reason that isn't in the contract, well, document EVERYTHING. Enough of these, plus you organizing your fellow inmates, and you will have a decent chance of overturning the HOA, or at minimum removing the current people in the power positions.

Just a thought.
 
A well-run HOA with a reasonable charter is a cooperative effort by all the homeowners to keep the neighborhood healthy, happy, and looking nice. The board is elected to represent everybody. It's not socialist, it's representative democracy, and it can be a very effective tool for getting things done. The HOA my friend is on the board for mainly deals with getting good prices on exterior paint and roofing materials.

But the hidden purpose of too many HOA charters is to keep out the "wrong" kind of people -- which sounds like it could be what's going on here -- which leads to erratic enforcement of the rules -- the "right" people are allowed to bend the rules but the other aren't. They're susceptible to being taken over by control freaks, because the people who like to run other people's lives are usually the most energetic and interested in running for that kind of office.

As far as i can tell, none of it has anything to do with socialist or not-socialist, though...
 
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