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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2023 25 ARC has been contacted by some homeowners who stated that work has been done by their neighbors (including installation of solar systems) without ARC approval. ARC does not enforce violations of any rule or regulation concerning work that has been completed. Any homeowner wanting to report a violation or suspected violation should bring it to the attention of the management company. With the extreme weather, many homeowners have experienced damage to their landscape and exterior of their homes. Based on this, it appears to be a good time to review what work and or changes require ARC approval. The Declarations of Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) set forth the responsibility of ARC to "review and approve or disapprove all exterior work to the Owner's property." The details of how ARC meets this requirement are set forth in the Architectural Guidelines and Standards that is available online at www.fourseasonsbeaumont.org. A printed copy can be obtained at The Lodge front desk. Work is defined in guidelines as including but not limited to: Landscaping: trees, shrubbery, ground cover, real or artificial turf, hedges and vegetable gardens, irrigation, fences, walls, planters, arbors, trellises, pillars, fountains, pools, spas, water features, fire pits, building barbecues, exterior lights and fixtures, storage units, hardscapes, patio covers, ground cover, drainage systems, doors, windows, awnings, exterior painting, flags, flag poles, wall and roof vents, solar panels, air conditioning, satellite dishes, antennae, yard, and wall art. Replacing dead or worn landscaping with the same type of landscaping and/or repairs to existing items does not require ARC approval. Guidance states that failure to obtain necessary approval from the ARC, or failure to complete work with the plans approved by the ARC, may constitute a violation of the CC&Rs and may result in fines and or removal of the work at the owner's expense. There are strong reasons for all homeowners to insist that ARC approvals be obtained. Several studies have shown that lack of enforcement of HOA rules and/or zoning requirements almost always results in neglected appearances within a community as well as decreased property values. This fact is confirmed in a study conducted by a major developer of HOA Communities. The immediate impact of a failure to enforce architectural and maintenance guidelines is the neglected appearance of a community. On the surface, this may not seem like a massive deal. What many fail to realize is that properties located in poorly-maintained neighborhoods have much lower resale value than their counterparts located in well-maintained subdivisions. Therefore, lack of covenant enforcement not only impacts the appearance of a community but also adversely affects property values — a very real consequence. Every city in the United States deals with balancing zoning laws with retaining property values. There is a clear correlation with failing to enact and/or enforce zoning laws and urban decay. The ARC is charged with maintaining property values. One of the ways we accomplish this task is by monitoring work through the ARC approval process. While ARC does not enforce violations and only deals with new applications, as stated in guidelines, any owner may bring possible violations of the Standards to the attention of management. Please help keep our community the beautiful place we chose to live in. Before commencing any changes to the outside of your home, submit an application to ARC for approval. ARC works with all homeowners to ensure that changes and/or additions enhance not only your home but the entire community. If you need help finding a solution or have questions, please attend a meeting or contact me or any ARC member. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the RCN Conference Room at 8:30 am. ~ Steve Cooley, (801) 815-5302, cooleyaudit@gmail.com Architectural Review Committee

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