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

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by frostsh, May 6, 2008.

  1. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Cliff I think this discussion is larger in scope then what is currently in place in the HOA. That's why its a discussion of possibilities, not just about the specific issue in front of the board.
     
  2. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Yes, but the topic was begun, and is, an issue in the community that the HOA Board will be making a decision on, so I'm looking for thoughts and opinions on it.

    For a broader discussion on the topic, maybe a new thread of "General Topics" should be started.
     
  3. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    I don't live on a culdesac so cars going back and forth don't get noticed.

    A daycare...say on Ridgeway would have less noticeable traffic.

    If traffic is the issue do you just ban daycares in culddesacs?
     
  4. Mr. FAN

    Mr. FAN New Member

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    Nobody is trying to ban anything. Folks are trying to get limit the effect this home daycare is having on its neighborhood. The proposal Fern Brook Court neighbors had was no more that 5 kids per day Monday - Friday (between the hours of 9am & 5pm) and for no more than 3hrs. The day care wants to have up to 6 kids for a 3hr morning session and another 6 kids for a 3hr afternoon session thus creating lots of traffic.
     
  5. frostsh

    frostsh New Member

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    I'm digressing from the original post and being unreasonable, but it seems I'm not the only one and since I started the thread, I'll take a little creative license.

    Let's start with "neighborhood." I think a neighborhood is a place where neighbors watch out for your children when you aren’t looking, grab your newspaper from the sidewalk and toss it onto the porch while you are on vacation, and rescue your mail on a rainy day if they see it sticking out of the mailbox. They wave when you drive past, or stop you to ask how you are doing. Neighbors are the kind of friends with whom you exchange house keys, to whom you lend your car or a stick of butter, even if it means they go into your refrigerator when you aren’t home. Neighbors are people with whom you share your life stories, major announcements, concerns for your children, and sometimes even your tears. We overlook their foibles because they do the same for us and we support each other in our undertakings and endeavors, because we're friends. I'm guessing the Fern Brook folks have a pretty good neighborhood going.

    Those are some of the reasons we moved to the Broadlands and have loved it here for the past 5+ years. I think there are some positive benefits from having the preschool where it is. It's very convenient to a lot of us in the neighborhood (slightly expanded definition to include another 1/2 mile or so). I personally know of at least 4 children (based on anecdotal discussion with my neighbors) between Ellzey and Vestals Gap that are trying to get in there for the fall. I would suspect that there are others. If the limit were 5 children (below the state/county limit) wouldn't we be short-changing others of our neighbors who want to attend a neighborhood school? Also, having the neighborhood kids together provides them (and their parents) with opportunities to begin developing friendships and acquaintances that will continue through elementary school, middle school, etc. That'll help develop the neighborhood even more.

    If folks are seeing things that are of concern, then talk to the people that are involved. I like to think we're all generally reasonable people with similar concerns. If you see somebody speeding down your cul-de-sac to school, walk down and talk to them as they drop their kids off. Stand outside in the mornings (they're actually pretty nice now) and talk to parents as they walk their kids to and from school, tell them how you feel, ask them how they like the school. It also sounds like a great opportunity for a block party with the pre-schoolers and the Fern Brook residents (any volunteers?). Heck in the spirit of neighborhood unity, I'll even let any Fern Brook kids cut through my yard to get to Hillside (Vestals Gap to Thornhill--direct), it'll really save you time (although I may insist on talking or waving).

    Again, I'm probably being unreasonable, but like most things, I think some communications by all parties involved could go a long way in this situation.
     
  6. frostsh

    frostsh New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Cliff, I do see a distinction here. It appears to me that the HOA docs have reserved for the board the right to "regulate" a "business." Don't have the docs with me, but is there a definition of "business"?

    I know of hobbies that make money and businesses that don't, so I'm curious how "business" is being defined in the docs. I'm very involved with scouts and could probably make an argument based on sales of cookies, popcorn and mulch, that its a business, but you probably wouldn't consider it that way in this context.

    As to the more narrow issue of whether the HOA should go beyond current zoning/licensing rules, I don't believe so given the current facts and circumstances. That being said, I'll have to give some thought to whether I think there would be any circumstances where the HOA should step in to regulate an otherwise legally operating business.
     
  7. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: Jeremy Baker running for the HOA board

    Again I say.. 5 days a week every week,, year roung.. Yes.. my neighbors have the right to complain.
     
  8. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: Regarding LITTLE SPROUTS PRESCHOOl

    And thats fine.. You stated to me "the one car I missed" might have been speeding, and that was my retorical response.
    The problem is not with MRS SMITH.. I am one of many. If you choose to disregard my frustration of this repetative conversation than so be it.
    My credibility is lost by you as are my patience with this whole situation.
     
  9. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Mrs Baker has stated she is now zoned and will be having 9 kids on a regular weekly basis(5 days a week) pending the HOA outcome
     
  10. StevieD

    StevieD New Member

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    Wow, I just picked up on this thread. I don't have this problem on my street, but if a daycare opened up I would definitely havr a problem. Its one thing to have a home-based business, or telecommute. Its quite another to have a business that involves customers coming to the residence and traffic. That is generally not conducive to the tranquility of the neighborhood. Sorry folks, but if you didn't want to be "regulated" in some way, you shouldn't have moved to a neighborhood with an HOA. I specifically wanted an HOA neighborhood because I appreciate that those controls, while sometimes restrictive, protect my peace and tranquility, and maintain or improve my property value. This is one of those issues that left unchecked, could become in the nature of a prescriptive easement. I am sure there are situations where a business like a home daycare could be unobtrusive - but who can guarantee that? I would hope this issue gets thoroughly debated and discussed - however I would be in favor of a formal restriction on home-based businesses which involve public traffic.
     
  11. Nova Native

    Nova Native New Member

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    I hope a woman (like Staci for example) becomes our next HOA president. Its very difficult to deal with homeowners coming at you from a million angles, often angry and confrontational. I think women have much thicker skins and have an easier time remaining civil.
     
  12. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Where have you been for so long.:happygrin:. Finally some sensibility...
     
  13. cmbm

    cmbm New Member

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    Mrs. Smith,

    Do you believe that any activity that occurs 5 times a week at the same time every day, resulting in 15-20 cars being on a particular cul-de-sac or street for 15-20 minutes should be regulated by the HOA?
     
  14. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    If you knew Cliff, you would not be making this IMO, veiled accusation. Cliff has been an OUTSTANDING President of our HOA and I will "dare say it", that he cares about this community much more than most of us. He gives ALOT of his time to the care and well being of this community, which also means the care and well being of most of the residents (there will always be some who disagree).

    Not that Staci wouldn't be a fine President either. :D
     
  15. SportsFan

    SportsFan New Member

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    Just to clarify, the cars are coming and going up to 4 times a day due to the 2 preschool classes. Since the pickup of the first class and drop off of the second class occurs at the same time, this increases the number of cars coming and going. When she becomes licensed, she stated she will increase the number of children attending her programs. In the summer, this is a lot of cars coming and going when all the kids are out of school and playing outside.
     
  16. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Again this is a business not an activity,but if the activity is causing what this business is causing(amongst the neighbors) and the home in question doesnt see a problem, then yes I believe the HOA needs to step in...
     
  17. Mr. FAN

    Mr. FAN New Member

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    There are 18 houses on Fern Brook Court and over half of them have concerns about this daycare. The neighborhood has tried to work out a solution with the Bakers but the Bakers are not willing to meet half way.
     
  18. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    I propose a shuttle bus service!
     
  19. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    If Broadlanders could simply see the actual text of what people want to enforce, I think every family in this community could form their own opinions. Would whoever wants to stop people from working out of their homes please post in this forum what they propose?

    Reagan famously said, "Trust, but verify." I'll develop some trust when I can verify that the restrictions some people here want are not designed to stop people from working from home / telecommuting. If there is nothing to hide and no malicious intent why not show people the actual language?
     
  20. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    Wow! Aside from this seeming to be a pretty darned sexist statement, it's obvious that it's really a poorly disguised sneak attack on vacliff. If you have a problem with vacliff, why not be be upfront about it?
     

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