HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses? (merged)

As our name suggests, we are all about helping parents, students, teachers and businesses problem solve by first controlling our own emotions. I would gladly volunteer my time as an impartial observer to help the neighbors in this cul de sac work out a fair solution--without involving the HOA or requiring new ordinances that could affect the entire community. Let's do this the old-fashioned way and work together as neighbors. Life is too short to live with this anxiety when we are blessed with an amazing community to live in.

As a small business owner who at one time operated a business that generated traffic in a neighborhood, I understand the business owner's perspective. I have also been on the other side of the fence, so to speak.

If anyone affected is interested, please feel free to email me at calmclassrooms@yahoo.com and I'll give you a call back. (As an aside, your kids pick up on this anxiety and it filters into home life...so let's sort this out and enjoy our summer in Broadlands!)

 

If you look at it not as much as a business for profit but as a means for a stay-at-home Mom to more easily justify her stay-at-home status with some subsidy and for a job that's already being done it could be worth it. From some of the much older posts about this school, that was the impression I got. Not that I am taking sides here, but I could see where 3-4 students could serve the purpose.

 

Who is to say how much money someone needs or has a right to make? I would not like my neighbors or my HOA debating whether I really need to be making money and how much is enough.

 

Democrats?

 

Exactly,, Folks are bringing intimate details into this,, and those are low blows. If we were to take door to door surveys on income and other personal details,, We would come home with alot of blank surveys

 

I'm sorry, but aren't you the one that is asking the day care operator to give up two thirds of her income by cutting back to 3-4 kids?

 

I'm confused.

 

That's what it sounds like to me.

I have heard Mrs. Smith's request for 3-4 kids, but what isn't requested is what exactly they want the HOA to do. I'd like to see what exactly is being requested of the HOA. What is it that the HOA is supposed to do to resolve this issue?

 

I am not asking the day care operator to give up anything.....As I said we dont know their financial situation, and if that is even a question who are we to get into thier finances. We have been posting our "opinions" for weeks now, and people are getting so personal its ridiculous. For this Day care provider to move here, and hope to make a living off of this childcare business is pretty brave. So NO I am not asking anyone to cut back on their finances, I am asking someone has slightly new on our street to not have 10+ cars flying in and out of our cul de sac, where our children may be playing. The less traffic the less chances of something happening. So all of you want to break down her financial statement... Just Dont...

 

Then you're saying the problem solely lies on the parents dropping off and picking up their children from this daycare because they're "flying in and out of [your] cul de sac." If that's what the concern is, talk to the drivers of the cars. Mrs. Baker has spoken with the parents who drop off the kids and told them about the situation. I would have to say, then, it's out of Mrs. Baker's hands.

 

AND- it only takes ONE reckless driver to cause an accident. odds are a funny, arbitrary thing and can't help determine policy. if you have license plates of ppl driving too fast or recklessly in your culdesac you can report them- no HOA involvement needed.

would it be fair to say that if all the drivers who are dropping off and picking up kids are cautious slow courteous drivers, there is no problem? and if mrs. baker enforces a policy that spells out the danger of expulsion from the program if the pick up/drop off person drives carelessly, recklessly, etc?

this problem might solve itself yet if that is truly the only sticking point to this dispute- and we can all go back to our regularly scheduled posts...

 

What Im going to do is go ahead and put this to rest for myself. I am repeating the same thing over and over, having verbal warfare with people with an answer for everything, and just spending alot of time defending this.
The issue is Traffic, driveways blocked, speeders, and so on. I am paying for my HOA, I am going to use my HOA.. If I feel I want to include them, then I will. Mrs Baker is not on this posting, and there are 100 people talking (unknowledgably ) on her behalf, digging into her bank account, projecting her financial future, talking about foreclosures, etc etc etc.... So no matter what I say at this point , the majority wont see it anyway but there own.. So, Good Luck, and God Bless, and to all who need to, you know how to contact me..

 

It seems to me, from reading these posts, that Mrs. Baker has told her parents to drive slowly. She can't enforce it, because she is with the children, not watching cars. Neighbors could tell her who was driving fast, but.......they also want the preschool out of there. So who knows what they will say. i have kids that went to preschool and i taught preschool, only 3 or 4 kids in a class would not be ideal for me. (i am talking preschool, not daycare) i think that the neighbors and Mrs. Baker should take the offer from Calm and go see her. I must applaud Mrs. Baker for not coming on here and defending herself. What self control! I would of opened my mouth and got both feet stuck months ago!!! IMO It takes courage to walk away, especailly when your neighbor has lots of unkind things to say.
I would hate to see a restriction on home based busineses. It would stir up a whole can of worms with all types of groups!

 

This is what I am talking about,,, You just came in on this, and said its one neighbor causing this .. Re read everything,, there are 18 houses and 11 out of the 18 have a problem with this.
Just like myself who just found this forum after the last HOA meeting, maybe she doenst know about this. And if she cant enforce her parents that come to her home to pick their kids from her school to respect the neighborhood her business is in then its our fault for having a problem with that. I have had FACE to FACE discussions with Mrs Baker, and her response FACE TO FACE, is she will not lesson the kids, she will just move the traffic to the cross street. Yes, Bravo Mrs Baker for taking the high road..

OH.. and please high light and send me a copy of these unkind things I am saying about Mrs Baker,,, Just please show me...

 

There are many more than 18 homes in the Broadlands, many more than 18 homes that would be affected by a ruling on this, many more than 11 out of all homes that are in Broadlands that are rightfully concerned about this issue. How many home daycares are in Broadlands now? They would all be affected by this one street. Like people said, depending on the wording, more than just home daycares could be affected. One can't go to the HOA and ask them to make a rule just for a street. Yes, you have the right to work through an issue, but the rest of the community (who has the same vested interest in the HOA) has the right to make sure that all interests are protected, not just 11.

 

Mrs Smith, you seem to think i was targeting you. Maybe I am misread your post, but i NEVER said anything about you. I never bad mouthed anyone. please reread my post with a kind voice, not accusing or mean spirited. I suggested that the 11 houses that are troubled by this preschool, take Celebrate Calm on her offer. Maybe a mediator can help with this process, but to make a rule for the whole community based on one street is unfair.
IMO you are very defensive which isn't helping your cause. You are quick to blame, from your posts. And by the way, just because I didn't post anything until now, doesn't mean I haven't been reading them.

 

Too bad Mrs. Baker isn't on here, because I do think it is incumbent on the business owner to reach out first to neighbors as good business sense. If I were the business owner, I would invite all of my neighbors to sit down with me and list the potential issues (traffic, driveway access, safety of children playing, etc.), then put in place very distinct policies to address these concerns. I would make sure that my clients knew that as a condition of using my services, they would be required to slow down to 5mph on side streets and in the cul de sac, only park in approved spaces, etc. I would ask one of the parents to volunteer to be a "crossing guard" who could be outside during drop off and pick up time to make sure the transition is orderly.

These are parents of small children who are using the day care, so I would assume (maybe wrong to do!) they would be sensitive to the needs of small children in the neighborhood.

Likewise, I would ask my neighbors to realize that this is not just some hobby of mine, that I have a passion for providing outstanding care for little children whose parents work and that this is my livelihood...that I have gone through all the legal hoops necessary, made investment in my home to meet regulations, etc.

As a peace offering and to be a good community partner, perhaps every three months I would host a block party for ALL of my clients and the neighborhood kids...they could all enjoy a moon bounce and have a fun time together.

There are ways to make this work and actually be a positive. We should want small businesses to thrive here, and we should also go out of our way to be good neighbors.

I just don't think the HOA needs to be involved if everyone, and I mean everyone, involved can act mature, like an adult and model problem solving for their kids.

 

I AM TALKING SOLELY ABOUT LITTLE SPROUTS PRESCHOOL... THE LAST HOA MEETING WAS SOLELY ABOUT LITTLE SPROUTS PRESCHOOLS... AND THEN OTHER BUSINESS's WHERE BROUGHT UP... I AM NOT THE ONE TALKING ABOUT THE MARYKAY OR THE AT HOME DOCTOR... I HAVE BEEN SOLELY TALKING ABOUT LITTLE SPROUTS....
THE HOA IS INVOLVED BECAUSE... She didnt have a license or zoning permit to have 12 plus cars and kids in her property. She is now in the process of getting that ayear after the fact.. But, even with that she is still having a lot of traffic because she stated she will keep her high number of children, just move the parking problem to Vestals Gap.... I was not one of the people that wanted her closed down.. I want her (LITTLE SPROUTS PRESCHOOL) to not have as many cars coming into our cul de sac, which means less kids would attend. There are 3 other in home preschools who operate on straight in and out streets, and I know,, cause Ive seen (one of them) who have great traffic patterns.. but the cul de sac is different.
I have been dealing with this for a long time, and as I stated I have talked face to face with Mrs Baker....YES I AM VERY DEFNSIVE AT THIS POINT...

 

Someone needs some calm This is NOT a good way to problem solve!

 

SO glad you are here Celebrate Calm, THANK YOU for wise, rational input. i think a seminar on working out problems with neighbors would be a fantastic event at the nature center. i would gladly volunteer to work with you and the HOA board to organize something!

there are MANY instances where neighbors can't get past their anger, frustration or stubbornness on BOTH sides- NOT referring to YOU Mrs. Smith- i know of other streets and 'sacs in an uproar- to where a mediator is necessary. but, Mrs. Smith, you are getting angrier and angier in here and i would guess that it's sucking way more time out of your day and dragging negaivity into your life that you JUST WANT GONE. i can't take sides in the situation, but i empathize with your frustration because i once lived next to a neighbor whose disgusting slovenliness effected our enjoyment of our own home. jumping thru every legal and HOA hoop did not change his behavior, but luckily we've since moved and he is someone else's problem no, unfortunately.

we all move to the B 'lands presumably to live comfortably, peacefully enjoy raising our children, and when something or someone disrupts that- it is HUGE. we should take CC's offer seriously, and moderate this situation, AND make a SEPARATE community wide invitation to get air cleared and solutions in place before people end up on Judge Judy or Jerry Springer...

CONTACT ME IF WE WANT TO ORGANIZE AN EVENT. I'm fortunate enough to have great neighbors so i have no horse in this race!