Image Up Advertising & Design

22 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2021 Spring is upon us; for many of us, spring marks the beginning of new outside gardening projects. If your gardening projects include renewing and refreshing your front yard, please remember that any changes - other than replacing existing plants with the same plants- requires a Property Improvement Application to be submitted to ARC. The process of completing and obtaining the required approval is not difficult. It is a requirement that helps protect our property values and helps keep our community beautiful. The guidelines (which are what ARC applies to every application) are contained in our Community Guidelines Part 4: Architectural Guidelines and Standards. The most recent version can be viewed on our community website www.fourseasonsbeaumont.org or a printed copy is available at The Lodge front desk. All actions taken by ARC are specified by these guidelines. On very rare occasions, ARC may need to request clarification from the Beaumont City Building department of a city code that has been adopted into Guidelines. One city code that has required clarification is the City Code that requires two shade trees in every residential front yard. The code was adopted in 2016 and simply states, "A minimum of two 24-inch box shade trees are required within the front yard setback of all single-family residences." This ordinance was adopted Jan. 16, 2016. (This code also requires a city building permit to remove any front yard tree.) After discussion with city officials, we learned that the city considers all homes completed prior to this date as "grandfathered" and will not enforce this requirement. ARC is relying on this guidance when reviewing application. K. Hovnanian's builders began placing two trees in all front yards built after that time. Beaumont city further explained that this "grandfathered" exception ceases to exist at such time as any change is made to the front yard. This means that if you make changes to your landscaping including any hardscape (driveway, walkways, lighting etc.) the two-tree requirement must be met. For consistency and to help homeowners avoid issues with the city, ARC is applying the same interpretation. If your application changes your front yard in any way, ARC will require a minimum of two 24-inch box shade trees before your project can be approved. A 24-inch box shade tree is one that is grown primarily for producing shade and was grown in a 24-inch box to a certain maturity before being sold. Palm trees, pine trees, and evergreens are not shade trees. ~ Steve Cooley, (801) 815- 5302, cooleyaudit@gmail.com Architectural Review Committee

• Cover