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22 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2020 There are a number of fence types in our community. We have block walls along the boundaries of the community and common areas. We have vinyl fences that define individual property lines. Some property lines are delineated by wrought iron fences with others using fences made of block topped with wrought iron. Most if not all of these fences were installed by the builder. We also have some snake fencing that was installed by homeowners. Depending on your property, a block wall located on your property line may be maintained by the HOA or you or the maintenance may be shared by the adjoining property owners. As stated in Architectural Guidelines and Standards, owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the wrought iron fences that adjoin neighboring properties. Considering that most if not all fences are on property lines between homeowners or homeowners and common areas, it is important to understand some rules that govern how you can use a fence on your property line. Care must be taken to insure that your actions do not affect your neighbors or the HOA. Accordingly Guidelines includes the following: 1. Any work affecting fencing and/or walls requires approval from ARC 2. Owners shall not attach to or hang any item on or over property line fences or walls including attaching items solely on your side of the fence. (This may void manufacture warranties and/or cause excessive wear.) 3. No fence shall be made of any material other than those installed by the builder with the exception of snake fence. 4. Snake fencing must be approved by the ARC and installed according to the specifications in Exhibit J of Guidelines. Snake fencing is a mesh screen with ¼ to ½ inch openings designed to be attached to wrought iron fencing. Guidelines Exhibit J limits height to not more than 36 inches. The color must be black and it must be installed in a manner that allows the HOA to maintain the wrought iron fence where applicable. ARC prefers that all snake fence be vinyl coated and attached with plastic zip ties. (This minimizes paint damage caused by friction between bare wire and the fence and rust introduced by bare wire.) Poultry wire is not snake fence. Snake fence should be buried into the ground deep enough that other animals can't dig up the bottom edge thus defeating its purpose. Snake fence is not designed to keep other critters out or your household pets in. The mesh should be a very light weight screening to minimize damage (caused by wear over time) to wrought iron fences. Please be aware that while snakes can't dig or burrow they do use burrows made by other animals. Snakes will often use gopher and rabbit burrows to enter from another yard or property. Snake fencing is not a guarantee that you will never get a snake in your yard. There is no exception that allows holiday or special event lighting or decorations to be attached to fences or walls. Community Guidelines allows winter holiday lighting and decorations without ARC approval. Lights and decorations may be installed no earlier than one week prior to Thanksgiving Day and may not be turned on before Thanksgiving Day. All winter decorations must be removed prior to Jan. 15. Other holiday lighting and decorations may be installed no more than two weeks before the holiday and removed within two weeks after the holiday. Currently the HOA is encouraging a single strand of lighting during the COVID-19 pandemic to show community support of efforts to deal with the related issues it has caused. Homeowners who attach lights or holiday decorations to any fence or wall may be subject to fines and/or penalties. It is also possible that the homeowner(s) including the HOA who share the fence or wall could look to the homeowner who hung the lights or decoration for any damages including excessive wear. As always if you have any ARC related questions or issues, please contact me. ~ Steve Cooley, (801) 815-5302, cooleyaudit@gmail. com Architectural Review Committee Check with your committee chair to confirm meeting place, date, and time.

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