Florida's ban on total yard vegetable gardens are lifted. (University: real estate, HOA)

[sarasotalaw52]

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2019/00082

HOA's such as the restrictive ones by Lakewood Ranch don't allow these GREEN concepts.

[bbronston]

If it becomes law, it can’t be restricted. Until it becomes law, restrictions are legal and there are similar restrictions all over the state. I doubt this is really much of a problem that people care about (front yard gardens) and I’d bet a statewide survey of residents would show it. Personally, I’m OK with either decision.

BTW, Lakewood Ranch had an answer for those who wanted to have gardens. They created a community food plot at the Greenbrook Adventure Park. I’m not sure if there was enough interest to continue it but it was an option.

[Grand Mane]

I guess the next thing is to allow pot grown outside your house....geez

[sarasotalaw52]

That's an absurd argument but if it's legal I don't see why not?

In Lakewood Ranch you cannot do much to your front yard without an approval from the modifications committee and then you can only use plants from the approved planting palette located in your "Homeowners Manual". This is on Page 10 of the GBVA manual.

When we lived in Lakewood Ranch we would always laugh that they would advertise themselves as one of the GREENEST communities in the nation but would not allow you do grow food or even simply modify your own front yard.

You can read it for yourself and see how restrictive things are in the GREENEST community out there.

http://doclib.lwrtownhall.com:26932/Documents/Forms/Ordered%20Folders.aspx?RootFolder=%2FDocuments%2FH omeowners%27%20Manual&FolderCTID=0x01200067B28ED11 72CA1439BCF94D681296C9D&View={3218C359-787D-4E9A-A62A-7C80BF540071}

[bbronston]

Originally Posted by sarasotalaw52

That's an absurd argument but if it's legal I don't see why not?

In Lakewood Ranch you cannot do much to your front yard without an approval from the modifications committee and then you can only use plants from the approved planting palette located in your "Homeowners Manual". This is on Page 10 of the GBVA manual.

When we lived in Lakewood Ranch we would always laugh that they would advertise themselves as one of the GREENEST communities in the nation but would not allow you do grow food or even simply modify your own front yard.

You can read it for yourself and see how restrictive things are in the GREENEST community out there.

http://doclib.lwrtownhall.com:26932/Documents/Forms/Ordered%20Folders.aspx?RootFolder=%2FDocuments%2FH omeowners%27%20Manual&FolderCTID=0x01200067B28ED11 72CA1439BCF94D681296C9D&View={3218C359-787D-4E9A-A62A-7C80BF540071}

I'm sure you must know that the "green" described in the marketing of Greenbrook described a certain level of energy efficiency and healthier building materials. It seems to me that anyone buying in a community like Greenbrook would be smart enough to read their contract, disclosures, and HOA docs, especially if they desired to grow a mini-farm in their front yard.

[sarasotalaw52]

Originally Posted by bbronston

I'm sure you must know that the "green" described in the marketing of Greenbrook described a certain level of energy efficiency and healthier building materials. It seems to me that anyone buying in a community like Greenbrook would be smart enough to read their contract, disclosures, and HOA docs, especially if they desired to grow a mini-farm in their front yard.

I am glad that you clarified that GREEN only means what pertains to the dwelling and not anything a homeowner does that offers efficiency, conservation and sustainability outside of the "dwelling's manufacturing". Clothes lines? Tomato Plants? Pole based solar panels? Composting Piles? Rain Barrels?

I would think that anyone buying in a community like Greenbrook would be smart enough to have their realtor read all 75 pages of the "Homeowner's Manual" to them.

Ranch: "a large farm, especially in the western US and Canada, where cattle or other animals are bred and raised."

Live, Work and Play. Just hold off on the gardening.

[bbronston]

Lol...OK

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by Grand Mane

I guess the next thing is to allow pot grown outside your house....geez

These days they grow it inside...science and all. They can have many more yearly crops and much better control.

They don't even use seeds anymore.....all female plants from cuttings.
(It's legal where we live...to grow it and the hydrophonics stores do big business).

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by sarasotalaw52

I would think that anyone buying in a community like Greenbrook would be smart enough to have their realtor read all 75 pages of the "Homeowner's Manual" to them.
.

Hah.....I am familiar with many millionaire owners of condos and I don't think 10% of them have ever read their condo docs or contracts. Even those who are lawyers.....

In fact, we have two owners...one was the head of Columbia University Press in NYC and the other comes from a family of attorneys and they don't even seem to know the basics.

It's pretty much impossible for most people to grok 100 pages of anything. That's why many laws require simple contracts. You know, the Paperwork Reduction Act and all that stuff....

Right or wrong, most people don't read. AND, you can bet the Marketing Department at LWR doesn't have a slogan in the ad that say "The Green Community where you can't grow Basil".....

There is a name for that. Greenwashing.

[bbronston]

I don’t know the percentage that read the docs but I do know that nearly 100% (if not actually 100%) of buyers have a disclosure in their contracts notifying them of the association(s) involved. And, I can also bet with great certainty that not one of them had their real estate agent read them the association docs.