Open Garage Doors? (Florence, Parks: HOA, homes, neighborhood)

[bdeclee56]

My husband has returned from an early scouting trip to the area and he loved Merrill Ranch (Parkside) in Florence. When we spoke to their main office about Restrictions, asking specifically if there would be an issue with my husband's car hobby (garage workshop), they told him that garage doors have to be closed at all times unless you are going into or out of your home.

I find this absurd. This part of Merrill Ranch is an all-ages neighborhood. Why if you have small kids and they are out riding their bikes in the street? Does the garage door have to be shut when they leave? What if my husband wants to wax his car on a hot day. He has to have the door closed and suffocate?

I can understand not wanting to see a row of messy, overcrowded garage interiors while driving down the street. But if a person is working in his or her garage, it seems crazy that you can't have an open door.

We are going to try to determine if garage door issue is just a "preference" or if it is written into the C & Rs. Meanwhile, I'm curious: Do any of you live in an area with this regulation? Wondering how common it is.

[thinkalot]

I wish we did have this rule. We have a few that open it in the morning and close it at night.

There may be a rule about doing car repairs.

There is no such thing as a "preference." It may not be in the CC&Rs(should be) but it could be in the Rules and Regulations, and you have to follow those too.

Do you expect to have someone go up on your drive to look to see if he is waxing the car instead of the door was just left open? Too hard to enforce that way. You can't leave gray areas in rules like this. Open only when coming or going is to the point and easy to enforce.

That you think it is "crazy" tells me you really don't belong in an HOA. That is a very common rule and shouldn't have surprised you.

[hikernut]

Sounds like you should skip that neighborhood. There's a wide variety in restrictiveness. I know someone who lives in an HOA where garbage cans are only allowed to be out on the curb for something like 16-18 hours, and yes they do enforce it. Owners get fined if their winter grass is not seeded by a certain date. On and on... I couldn't live there.

[wase4711]

my hoa has that in their CC&R's, but doesn't enforce it
I guess you have to ask the folks who live there if its enforced..

we have lots of rules in our CC&R's, but after living here 4 months, it appears most of them are NOT strictly enforced, so, you never know unless you ask current residents

[Bummer]

Here's a suggestion for you, Bdeclee . . .

Try living next to or across the street from an open garage door 24/7. Not only unnecessary and looks bad but does nothing for property values.

Sad that such a rule is even slightly necessary as a little Logic and Common Sense should be adequate . . . OBVIOUSLY NOT.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Here's a suggestion for you, Bdeclee . . .

Try living next to or across the street from an open garage door 24/7. Not only unnecessary and looks bad but does nothing for property values.

Sad that such a rule is even slightly necessary as a little Logic and Common Sense should be adequate . . . OBVIOUSLY NOT.

An open garage?! The horror

I am so glad I don't have an HOA.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by bdeclee56

What if my husband wants to wax his car on a hot day.

Well, if your husband is into cars, he should know that you shouldn't wax your car when its hot out. Just sayin.

[bdeclee56]

Yes, it very well be that we can't live in an area with an HOA, although the director at Estrella Mountain Ranch did said that while they "prefer" garage doors be down, they do not require it. We will just have to get a copy of the CC & Rs for each development we're interested in and read them.

Life was different when garages were behind our homes.

@BigCats: I'm sure HE knows. Clearly, I do not.
@JGMotorSport64: I'm with you.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by wase4711

my hoa has that in their CC&R's, but doesn't enforce it
I guess you have to ask the folks who live there if its enforced..

we have lots of rules in our CC&R's, but after living here 4 months, it appears most of them are NOT strictly enforced, so, you never know unless you ask current residents

Fair points, but all that could change when a new neighbor arrives, a new Board president, etc. If it's a deal breaker sort of restriction I'd go with what's in writing.

[MNSvenska]

Guess that I'm happy that I live in a neighborhood with some carports attached to homes. When the garage doors up, you really can't tell them from the carports. Btw, seeing an open garage door does not really constitute an "eyesore", imho.