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HOA Question Swamp in Common Area - No drainage!

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by lupo, May 13, 2013.

  1. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    We have a common area that sits between six of our houses (our house + surrounding neighbors' houses). It is a beautiful little section, however, when it rains, it becomes a swamp land covered in still water/mud and bugs. I was literally up to my ankles in water and mud on Sunday, just from the rain on Friday!

    This common area also slopes directly into my backyard and causes pools of still water, just sitting in my backyard. I have small children and they were soaking wet after 5 minutes of playing in the backyard. This common area is also where the neighborhood kids gather to play, and also the area where they all run back and forth between all the different houses.

    Our next door neighbors are also being greatly affected by this because our yard drains pools of water that get stuck on the property line between our yards. At one point, it was so bad that we had to line the worst area with cones because we were concerned that one of the kids were going to get hurt if they ran through it.

    I am hoping the HOA can help us out with a solution here since the problem seems to be originating from the common area. Help please!
     
  2. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I am not sure what recourse you have. When we bought our house, the house behind us was not slated for a pool so the yards funneled the water correctly. However they soon had a pool put in and it somehow elevated the grade end dumped all run off directly into our yard and our neighbors. Van M had to come and regrade to correct the problem but this was back when our houses were being built and there was not a common area involved.
     
  3. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    We bought the house in October of last year so this is the first time we have seen what happens when winter melts. We have yet to have a dry yard!
     
  4. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    I am quickly regretting sending the HOA a request for some help. I have been told that now myself and all of my neighbors will be getting nasty-grams in the mail regarding the common area. I apologize to my neighbors for this! I had no idea what I was getting into. By the way, is it appropriate for the HOA to enter your backyard with cameras without knocking on your door first? They scared the crap out of my nanny who looked up from preschool time with our kids to find women in orange vests taking pictures in our backyard. A knock on the door or a phone call would have been nice...
     
  5. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    The HOA does have the authority to enter your yard without permission. Modification Sub-Committee members, to review applications and covenanent inspections, to insure guidelines are being followed.

    Notifying the homeowner would be nice IMO.
     
  6. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    Yeah, common courtesy...
     
  7. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

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    Why are you and the neighbors getting nasty mail from the HOA? What do they say?
     
  8. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Just a hunch, but I am guessing they have play equipment in the common area.
     
  9. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    We haven't received the nasty gram yet, but I was given a heads up that it is coming :(

    There is no play equipment in the area. The kids run through the grassy part of the common area to and from all of our backyards. I was told that because we have stepped foot on the common area that the common area wetlands have now been modified and can not absorb water appropriately. They said they are going to temporarily going to fence it all off to restore it to its natural state. They also said because all of our yards have been landscaped, we have all messed up the grade which is causing the pools of water in our yards. This started out as just a simple request for some help and is quickly turning into a huge ordeal with fingers being pointed at the homeowners. Can I just withdraw my request now?
     
  10. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

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    If this the common area on Ridgeway, I live next door to it and it has always been a wet mess (at least for the last 7 1/2 years). We have not landscaped so I am curious as to what they are going to do. Did they say how long they are going to rope it off?
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    We desperately need a wetland management plan in this community.
     
  12. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

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    Also, I don't think that area is supposed to be a wetland. It gets soggy in certain areas but I don't think I would ever classify at as a wetland. When we moved in we were told it was a tree save area. I guess this will be interesting.
     
  13. lupo

    lupo New Member

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    Yes, this is the Ridgeway common area.

    I have to say that I am so grateful to my next door neighbor for helping out with this situation. She contacted the HOA and had a great conversation with them regarding the situation and was able to clearly express my concerns appropriately and update me on the history and politics that have occurred over the years. Thank you, neighbor!

    I also received a call from the HOA (and am currently playing phone tag with them) to let me know that it sounded like the worst case scenario was reported to me, which included the HOA fencing off the area and sending nasty-grams. I am anxious to speak with them and hear what they have to say, and I am in hopes that any letters that any of us do receive are polite and helpful.

    The landscaping that one of my neighbors completed included removing a pitching mound from an all dirt yard which extended into the common area when they purchased their home. As fun as a full time pitching mound sounds, I am so glad that my neighbors have beautiful grass that is trimmed (which reduced the huge tick problem that was coming from the overgrown grass and weeds and poison ivy!). They even had it wildlife certified (they are total tree huggers!). I don't think anyone could ever possibly complain about maintaining a healthy, beautiful, animal friendly environment for all of our children!

    I guess in the future, I will consult with my neighbors before attempting to request any improvements or fixes from the HOA. I really hope I didn't upset anyone in trying to make the common area a more kid-friendly area and not flood my yard. I had the best intentions in mind. Thanks to everyone that has pitched in thoughts and advice!

    My yard flooding problem still has yet to be addressed, which was really my original and only issue reported... Sigh... How did this get so off track?

    --D
     

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