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HOA Question Water Drainage Issue

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Damon Samuelson, Dec 4, 2017.

  1. Damon Samuelson

    Damon Samuelson New Member

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    While I don't honestly have a complaint about any of my neighbors, the builder didn't do a great job of water drainage. This isn't a new issue this is a long standing one. As a new owner in the community I am very confused that the Modifications Subcommittie would come to my home, look at the issue, and tell me "we will protect other people's homes from damage and loss of value, but not yours". That may not be an exact quote but I promise, that is pretty close!

    I don't have words to express my disappointment. I just want to fix an honest issue with drainage. My yard is reduced to being a swamp for as long as a week plus with each rain storm and the answer from the HOA is that my property is not going to be protected by the HOA. I might be crazy but isn't that the whole point of being in the HOA?

    I have been emailing Bob Tate, Robin Crews and Sarah Gerstein but they don't seem to be interested in solving these issues or providing real answers. Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanks!!
     
  2. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    What I said was “whatever you choose to do and apply for cannot adversely impact your neighbors property”. The Modification Sub-Committee’s only concern is what you apply for. Your pre-existing issues are between you and the HOA and or the builder. The ModSub can make recommendations but again, nothing official unless an application is submitted. You can email me all you want but I am not biting nor should I.
     
  3. Damon Samuelson

    Damon Samuelson New Member

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    I am going to submit a proposal for modifications to OTHER people's properties. I am not of the opinion that I should have to pay to fix their water problem, a problem that they have shifted on to my property by using gravity. Then will I also be expected to finance the basic defect the builder installed? The builder said plant trees! For 20 years those trees were not able to resolve the issue and in fact those trees became as big an issue as the water.

    I am more than willing to pay for the part on my yard. I am not willing to pay for 15 other people that all have a water problem.

    For the record that is what you said once. Then I pointed out that my neighbors are adversely impacting my property and I would like them to stop doing that. Then you got a much more pointed with your replies. I don't blame you I kept you boxed in on that topic. My neighbors are not damaging my property and my quiet use and enjoyment because they aren't nice people. They just don't realize that there is a water problem because the problem has been sent down hill. I am at the bottom of the hill; I have their water problem damaging my yard.

    I would like to address this as an issue that isn't "just my property". The proper place for this is with the HOA; I will need to pay to help fix this. My neighbors are dumping hundreds of gallons of water on my property. I would like them to stop. The value of my home is negatively effected by that action. That will also cost them or the HOA some money. Up to now, this has been dumped 100% on me to fix. This is an HOA issue.

    I will have the drainage company draw something up. I will submit that drawing. I would recommend that the HOA do the same because this is a community issue. That is what I had originally requested. And that was why you said the issue was mine alone and I wasn't going to be approved for anything that impacts my neighbors in spite of their impact on my property. I am doing what anyone would do; I am defending the value of my home. I would like HOA help with that. That is why we have an HOA, to protect our home values.
     
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Damon, I have the same issue with grading which slopes into the 'common area' abutting my back yard. The issue worsened when my neighbors water heater started leaking. It drained onto that common property area at the high point of the slope - gravity did the rest. They finally fixed the leak after 6 months but by then, the erosion was much worse. After back and forth with the HOA, I'm told nothing can be done because the grading is part of the natural landscape as seen in the original developer's plans. This could have been resolved with a French drain but that cost $$$ and since the space abuts wetlands it cannot be altered, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

    A French drain may resolve your issue but it requires a trench along the entire area affected.
     
  5. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Yea Damon... after reading what you have posted, I would also agree with the point that you need to organize and document your concerns and present them to the HOA at the next meeting you can attend. If there is HOA common property involved, then yes, they should be involved. BUT if there is no HOA property involved then I think you have a different problem.

    If other homeowners property higher on the hill is where all the water is rolling downhill (originating), and no HOA property is in-between, then you are faced with the challenge of getting all of the other homeowners on the same page to fix it up hill. So, unless the HOA has property involved, it sounds like you are on your own to address. Have you looked into French drains? Assuming that the other homes do nothing, that would be one of the top ideas I would look into.

    Just my opinion, but I do not think the HOA has any responsibility to address issues like this unless there is HOA common property involved or in question.
     
  6. Damon Samuelson

    Damon Samuelson New Member

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    Zeratul,
    All the properties are part of the HOA. So I am attempting to get the HOA to help resolve the issue. Sara Gerstein has also emailed me too (today). I do hope to find a solution that makes everyone happy. I am sure that I will need to pay for part of the solution and that is fine. The "up hill" people won't be as happy but I am taking their water so they should be happy to have proper drainage.

    French drains won't work well. Not enough perk-rate with all the clay. This needs to get to a storm drain.

    I need additional pylons too. My Gateway is unpowered. Those guys used to cut my lawn and now I'm stuck doing it. :)
     
  7. PDILLM

    PDILLM Well-Known Member

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    Not an answer to your problem, but planting a weeping willow tree sucks up an amazing amount of water. At my former house I had a similar issue where our back yard would be a swamp for a week at a time. The tree would literally dry it out in a day or so, but had a new problem in that it grew too fast and was huge. Couldn't win.....
     

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