Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1503972
16 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2023 | Sun Lakes Committee Reports It's hard to believe August is here already. According to my real estate friends, that means we have approximately 330 new homeowners or renters in Sun Lakes. (Approximately 10 percent of Sun Lakes homes are sold or rented each year). This article is for all the new residents and a refresher course for all the older residents who are planning to make exterior improvements to their homes this year. Sun Lakes encompasses 1,000 acres and consists of 3,327 residential units and approximately 6,000 residents who own over 5,000 vehicles. We are a small city. In order to serve, provide for, and accommodate this number of homes, people, and automobiles, Sun Lakes has established CC&Rs and Rules and Regulations to ensure an orderly and pleasant community, a higher standard of living, and a means to protect, preserve, and enhance property values. The main purpose of the Master Architectural Committee (MAC) is to administer the architectural guidelines to protect, preserve, and maintain the aesthetics and property values of residences in Sun Lakes. To help accomplish this, every homeowner who desires to make any external improvements must fill out and submit an application concerning what external improvement they are planning. This application must be received and approved by the MAC before any work can be commenced. Failure to get approval from the MAC before you do any external improvement can result in a fine, cease and desist orders, or orders to restore the property to its former condition. Many homeowners have completed external improvements without MAC approval. Sun Lakes Administration does have a planning and compliance division. They do inspect properties for violations of CC&Rs, Rules, and Regulations, and unapproved improvements. When the COVID years were upon us, Planning and Compliance rarely enforced violations of the CC&Rs, the Rules and Regulations, or unapproved improvements. That time is past and the MAC is now viewing 10-15 violations per meeting. The main violations we have reviewed are: 1. Painting houses or trim without MAC approval. 2. Installing unapproved lighting in the front or back yards or unapproved security cameras. 3. Installing unapproved landscaping in front or back yards that violate the CC&Rs or the Rules and Regulations. 4. Cutting down or removing trees without MAC approval. 5. Installing security screen doors, BBQs, fences, or patio covers without MAC approval. It can be expensive to repaint a house because it was painted an unapproved color. It is likewise expensive to re-landscape a front yard because it violates the CC&Rs or the Rules and Regulations. The MAC is here to help preserve and maintain the aesthetics and property values of our community. Just because you like an unapproved color for your house does not mean you can paint your house that color. Just because you don't like leaves does not mean you can remove all the trees in your front yard. Just because you want all rock or dirt in your front yard and no soft scape does not mean you can remove your lawn, trees, or bushes and install all rock or dirt. These types of actions do not maintain the aesthetics or property values of the homes in Sun Lakes. So, please, if you are going to do an external improvement, fill out an application, submit it to planning and compliance, and let the MAC review and approve it. ~ Roy Nierman, Chairman, Master Architectural Committee Master Architectural