Snagged by the trash can police

On our little pipestem, my neighbors and I have been cited twice (within one week) for storing our trash cans on the side of our homes.

On a scale of 0-10 of importance, trash can visability has got to be a .05. All of us had our cans stored out of view from any street and the pipestem. My cans were stored on the side of the house, with a shrubbery obscuring it from the pipestem, and a fence blocking any other view of the can. The only place that the can was visable from was my next door neighbor, who also stores his can on the side.

Has the HOA lost its sense of perspective, or am I way off base? I am now storing the can in my warm garage, so I am greeted each morning by the smell of fermenting waste. Yummy! Better than a cup of Dunkin Donuts!

This situation reminds my of Fernando Lamas, "It is better to look good, than to feel good". Remember that odors are particles of the object that you are smelling coming into contact with your olfactory nerves. So, when you are smelling your garbage, you are actually consuming it.

Side bar. Since the can is only visable from my lot, or my neighbors, does that mean that the "inspector" trespassed on our land to view my can? Are they allowed to do that?

 

You know that the townhome owners are happy with this policy?

This is NOT the first thread complaining about the policy. I think that a survey should be taken of the owners to determine if this is a policy that the MAJORITY of households would like going forward.

Also, you missed the point. Do you really think that storing a clean garbage can on the SIDE of my house detracts from the look of our community?

 

Townhome. 1 Garage. 1 Car. 1 Garbage Can. 2 Recycling Bins. Keep the lid closed and it doesn't smell. If it really stinks, either you need to wash the can out with bleach or close your bags all the way. Or you can get a smaller can. I don't think it's worth getting that upset about, given all the conveniences we have here.

 

The point is, I don't think that cans stored outside are that big of a deal!

 

If you can see them, they can be an eyesore. And I think the fear is that some really crappy looking trash cans will start popping up and so on. I have to agree with the policy--given how beautiful and clean this community (usually) looks, I'd prefer they stay hidden.

 

I agree with you, and we also received the same love note from the HOA about 2 years ago. What bothers me about it is that it's not nearly as much of an eye sore as some of the other things you see in peoples yards/driveways - so I don't understand the big deal either.

 

But alot of us do. I think it is tacky and damn near trailer-park.

 

Now, I will put my Modification Sub-Committee hat on.

If you want to store your can outside, I recommend submitting for and then building a lattice type structure to provide adequate blocking.

 

I can understand the issue from a visibility perspective, but I would have thought the primary issue would be the attraction of scavengers (raccoons, possum, oh my) and the risk of spilled/flying garbage.

When we lived in Northern PA (Tioga), we had a gang of neighborhood rascals who would make a mess of the trash cans until we built a locking storage bin (simple latch was not enough). I could imagine with the amount of woodlands displacement around here, the problem could be become a nightmare.

 

Can't we all just get along and have a beer, but not out of a trashcan. Ferreal if you get a notice for breaking the rules, then follow the rules or rally to get the rules changed.

 

Taterman,

I thought that you were cooler than that!
First of all, there is nothing as tacky as a bunch of McMansions in neat little rows on undersized lots. (This is my wife's house, not mine ).

Secondly, I didn't say that you should be able to store your can where ever you want. I think that on the side of a house, with a shrub obscuring the view from the street is not all
that tacky.


Rules are fine! But even rules should have their limitations!

 

Does anyone else think that a lattice type structure is just as trailer-park as the garbage cans themselves?? And yes, trash can stink when you have to throw away pull-ups from two children! So now I just leave the garage door open to air it out when I am home. That must look better than the cans sitting on the side of my house.

 

Rallying I am!!!

 

Doesnt sound like it. Sounds like you are just complaining.

Now to me rallying would sound something like: Does anyone else here think it is unfair that we have to store our trashcans in our garages, and if you do think it is unfair would you be willing to
Sign a petition, go to the next HOA meeting, email the HOA members...etc.

 

Hey, that's a good way to get people on your side - insult everyone on these forums!

 

I personally think nobody's trash cans should be outside and I disagree that the mod sub committee even allows lattice screening. It's just not necessary and it makes the neighborhood look lousy. I hear you, PGAMike, that if its on the side of the house its less visible, but not to your neighbors. Further, the problem really is one of a "slippery slope". The rule to keep the cans inside is simple and straightforward--not really subject to interpretation. Once you lower that bar and say outside is okay only when "X" or "Y" everyone's definition of X or Y is variable. And I also agree that there are larger, more hideous issues around here then trash can visibility. But just because I think the folks with all dead trees and a yard full of weed grass are getting away with making the place look like a trailer park, that doesn't mean I'm willing to give up and say "OK-other things look bad so let's just let the whole thing fall apart and have trash cans everywhere".

 

Well said! So everyone who disagrees, stop whining or move to another community!