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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2020 19 It's spring! With it comes sunshine, warm weather, yard maintenance, and projects. Hopefully your upkeep is minimal and you have the time and resources to add your dream features to your yard. Just don't forget to run them through ARC for approval. As stated in Architectural Guidelines and Standards "Prior to the commencement of any exterior work of any type, owners must first make an application to the ARC for approval." Work shall include, but not be limited to the following: 1. Landscaping; for example, trees, shrubbery, ground cover, real or artificial turf, hedges, vegetable gardens 2. Irrigation 3. Fences, walls, planters, arbors, trellises, pillars 4. Fountains, pools, spas, and water features 5. Fire pits, built-in barbeques 6. Exterior lighting and light fixtures, including pole-mounted lights 7. Storage units and utility sheds 8. Hardscapes: for example, patios, walks, pavers, steps, mow curbs 9. Patio covers, whether open trellis or solid 10. Ground cover such as gravel, rocks, wood chips, or artificial material 11. Modification to drainage patterns established by the builder 12. Drainage systems: for example, yard drains, swales, and down spouts 13. Doors, windows, screen doors, shades, awnings 14. Exterior painting or staining 15. Flags, flag poles, and related lighting 16. Walls, roof vents, skylights, solar panels 17. Relocating or adding exterior air conditioning or heating equipment – Does not include replacing existing equipment with similar equipment which does not require ARC approval 18. Satellite dishes and antennae 19. Yard and wall art Maintenance, repair, or replacement of existing paint, plants, hardscape, or other features does not require ARC approval so long as the item(s) are replaced with like items and or the color does not change. Finally just a couple more items that ARC has seen recently: Salt-based water softeners. Water softeners that flush brine into the sewer system are not allowed in Beaumont. (If you had a system in place before the law was passed you are allowed to keep it.) Tank exchange systems where a servicer exchanges brine filled tanks with clean ones and no salt is flushed into the sewers are allowed. Flushing the brine into the irrigation drains or onto the ground is not only illegal; it is simply irresponsible and will lead to contaminating the community's ground water. Be very wary of any water softener company that claims to have a work around. Water-conditioning systems that do not use salt are not prohibited. Questionable contractors: Do not use any contractor or company that claims that you do not need to have ARC approval and city permits in hand before work is commenced. While these contractors claim that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than get approval, there are consequences to performing unapproved work. Possible consequences may include removal of items that were not approved and may prevent the sale of your home in the future. This is especially true if required city permits were not obtained. More importantly, if the contractor or company intentionally ignores laws or encourages you to, what is the probability that they treating you fairly? ~ Steve Cooley, (801) 815-5302, cooleyaudit@gmail.com Architectural Review Committee

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