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Unless you have just moved into our community you have had some contact with the Architectural Review Committee. In this article, I will review the origins of ARC, its responsibilities to the community, how it meets those responsibilities and the legal basis for doing so. On Jan. 1, 1985, the State of California codified the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act. This act is commonly referred to as Davis-Stirling. The Act defines types of residential associations, creates a hierarchy of governing documents, establishes ownership rights and responsibilities, imposes maintenance duties, defines protected uses, addresses elections and governance, protects finances, and deals with the dispute resolution and rules of enforcement. That is a lot of information to understand and digest. So, for the purposes of this article, I will only discuss the Architectural Review Committee. Davis-Stirling requires all HOAs to draft and record Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions — commonly known as CC&Rs. CC&Rs are the rules that define how properties can be used and maintained in a planned community. Davis-Stirling requires all associations to provide a fair, reasonable, and expeditious procedure for making decisions pertaining to making any physical change to the member's separate interest. By law every person buying a home located in a community regulated by Davis-Stirling must receive a copy of the CC&Rs in the closing documents. When you signed the closing documents you acknowledged receiving a copy of the CC&Rs. It is presumed that you agreed to comply with ARC requirements, however, once you signed the closing documents you became responsible for abiding by the conditions set out in all the documents. The CC&Rs of Four Seasons Beaumont (FSB) established the ARC Committee following the requirements of the Davis-Stirling Act. Our ARC Committee is required to review all applications for proposed exterior changes to homeowner's properties. These reviews are conducted with the goals listed below to ensure that all modifications comply with the community's CC&Rs to maintain the neighborhood's aesthetic harmony to maintain property values by ensuring uniformity and quality in architectural standards to prevent modifications that may negatively affect the community's appearance or safety ARC must comply with the association's governing documents (CC&Rs and Guidelines). While ARC is required to use these documents in considering applications, the ARC is not responsible for ensuring that homeowners comply with building codes or local ordinances. In some situations, ARC (usually for safety reasons) may require a homeowner to follow building codes and/or local ordinances to ensure that the CC&Rs and its objectives are met. In these instances, ARC may require proof that the modification(s) meets building code standards. All Beaumont residents living in a HOA community are required to provide a copy of the ARC approval before the city issues a building permit. Four Seasons Beaumont's Architectural Standards and Guidelines are regularly reviewed by the ARC Committee and the Board of Directors. When warranted the Guidelines can and have been modified following the process contained in the CC&Rs. (Which requires prior notification before the Board of Directors makes any changes.) As a member of the ARC, I have had the opportunity to ask many of the homeowners why they chose to live here. With very few exceptions the top reason given is the beauty of the community. The second response is the amenities and social opportunities that are available. My favorite response was, "This is Disneyland for adults." For most people living in FSB with its HOA is a smart homeowner move. Here are some of the reasons: FSB has great amenities and is visually appealing. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes governed by a HOA typically sell for 5 to 6 percent higher than non-HOA homes. FSB contains a wide range of access to amenities including swimming pools, gyms, Bistro, amphitheater, movie theater, pickleball and tennis courts, and too many others to list. All of which are available without paying additional fees. FSB has one of, if not the best, Activities Director. From planning holiday celebrations, concerts, dances, garage sales, to other events that foster a sense of community and opportunities to make friends and social connections, Cindy Graves is invaluable to FSB. Yes, there is a down side of living in an HOA which is the fees that support the community. However, FSB has an excellent Finance Committee who, in concert with the Board of Directors, keep our fees as low as possible. Compared to other HOAs, FSB has the best bang for the buck. The other possible down side is the rules and regulations. While homeowners may find these restrictive, they function to support property values and overall neighborhood consistency. These rules simplify general maintenance and overall aesthetic appeal. More importantly, these rules create the overall beauty and desirability of the community — and that is the reason most of us bought our homes here. If you have any questions or just want more information, please contact me. ~ Steve Cooley, (801) 815-5302, cooleyaudit@gmail. com 26 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2025 Architectural Review Committee

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