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10 | THE COLONY NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020 | COMMITTEE NEWS By Jodi Harris, Gloria Brosky & Diane Schultz Do you think of the ACC when you watch the GEICO Insurance commercial on television? It is the one with the woman madly running around destroying a homeowner's property because the rules are not being followed. But what is the purpose of the ACC? PURPOSE OF THE ACC: The Architectural Control Committee is chartered by the Homeowners Association to assure that the development, changes, and improvements to existing construction comply with the CC&Rs, architectural standards and guidelines to maintain aesthetic conformity throughout the Colony. The committee is also responsible for determining whether maintenance of property throughout the Colony is satisfactory and for making recommendations for improvement. If you have questions about whether an application is necessary for a home improvement project, Colleen and Elizabeth in the HOA office can guide you. UPDATING OUR GUIDELINES: Recently, we implemented new guidelines for pot shelves and walls. The reason for the changes was the vague language in the guidelines which led to questions from homeowners. Words such as "some" are vague. For this reason we added a specific quantity and size limit. It is not meant to sound restrictive but rather for clarification purposes. HOME INSPECTIONS: In addition to applications for painting and other home projects, we are responsible for conducting general maintenance inspections. After a lapse of several years in doing home inspections, the committee developed a checklist to guide us as we visit each area. As a guide for your home maintenance, you may ask Colleen or Elizabeth for a copy of our checklist. GARAGE WINDOWS: For homes with visible garage windows, please be aware of what you place in front of the window. If you are leaning items against the window, consider installing a blind so your items are not visible to others. ARTIFICIAL PLANTS: Please examine your artificial plants and if they are faded, please replace them with UV rated plants. There are several sites on the Internet which carry such products. FLAGS AND UMBRELLAS: It is also a time to check the condition of outdoor flags and umbrellas. If your U.S. flag is in poor condition, you may dispose of it in the red box near the entrance of the golf course. OUTDOOR ACCENT LIGHTING: If you would like to add outdoor lighting to your backyard, Lowe's and Home Depot have a wide selection from which to choose. We suggest a smaller size fixture to fit with our smaller lots. You do not want to have too many or it will look like an airstrip. Less is best. You need darkness to accentuate the areas you are highlighting and lights will allow you to enjoy your lovely yard in the evening as well as during the daytime. OUTDOOR WALL OR PATIO LIGHTING: The Association has received complaints about bright and colored lights and according to Rules and Regulations Nuisances (Section 5.10), Security will notify the HOA office of such lights, and a letter will be sent to the homeowner. Please remember to consider your neighbors when adding light bulbs and or fixtures that include lights to porches or patios. Are the lights too bright for neighbors around you? Do they shine into windows? Try to have the same bulb wattage for all outdoor fixtures. This may help to prevent lights from standing out like a beacon from a lighthouse. Please avoid colored light bulbs as these give out a more severe glow. The exception to the use of colored lights would be during the holidays and during a celebration in support of particular groups such as firemen, policemen, etc. It would be greatly appreciated by your neighbors if such colored lights were turned off around 10 pm. Look at the lighting on your house from a distance and be considerate of your neighbors. TIP OF THE MONTH: Did you know white flowers in your garden show up at night because they are more reflective? Wrought iron fences… if you can shake it, it's time to replace it! ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL

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