DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES of the FARMINGTON WOODS MASTER ASSOCIATION
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DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES Of The FARMINGTON WOODS MASTER ASSOCIATION Revised November 2, 2016 1 11/2/2016 Design Review Handbook Table of Contents Page I. Introduction 3 II. Procedures 4 A. Applications 4 B. Notice to Interested Unit Owners 4 C. Financial Responsibility 4 D. Fees 5 E. Reply 5 F. Covenant Restrictions and Agreements 5 G. Appeal 5 H. Time for Compliance 5 I. Deviation from Approval 6 J. Alleged Violations 6 K. Inspections 6 III. Items Requiring Approval 6 A. Items Requiring Approval by Design Review Committee 6 B. Items for Which Approval Should Not be Expected 12 IV. Guidelines, Rules and Specifications 14 A. Roof Windows and Skylights 14 B. Storm Windows; Combination Storm/Screen Door 14 C. Awnings 14 D. Decks 15 E. Enclosed Porches/Patios 15 F. Antennas 23 G. Exterior Painting/Staining 27 H. Gutters 27 I. Window Installation 27 J. Landscape Lights 28 V. Excerpts from Declaration of Condominium 32 A. Design Review Committee, Article XVIII, Section 2 32 B. Description of Limited Common Element, Article XI, Section 1 and Section 2 33 VI. Forms A. Property Improvement Request 36 B. Proposed Alteration(s) Neighbor Notification 37 C. Agreement Regarding Addition or Improvement 38 D. Covenant Restriction (Agreement Regarding Enclosed Porch or Patio) 40 E. Notice of Intent to Install Antenna 42 F. Covenant Restriction (Agreement Regarding Antenna) 43 2 DESIGN REVIEW HANDBOOK I. INTRODUCTION The Design Review Committee (the “Design Review Committee”) is a group of Farmington Woods Unit Owners appointed by the Executive Board (the “Executive Board”) of the Farmington Woods Master Association (the “Master Association” or “FWMA”). The Design Review Committee is authorized under the Declaration of Condominium for Farmington Woods. Its primary responsibility is to advise and assist the Executive Board in preserving the harmonious design and appearance of Farmington Woods and in protecting the values of property within the community of Farmington Woods. Many other similar communities have discovered to their distress that unauthorized changes in landscaping and other external appearances have led to a lack of design unity not only offensive to the eye but tending to diminish property values and increase the cost of maintenance. Most people cherish their personal ideals of taste and appearance, and outside of the condominium method of ownership, have nearly total liberty to display them. But in a condominium where all of the land and the outside of buildings are commonly owned and maintained, it is obvious that changes in exterior appearance must be approved. For practical reasons, such approval from every other Unit Owner would be impossible. As a workable substitute, the Design Review Committee provides a consensus of the collective tastes and style preferences of the community, and acts as the basis for evaluating requests for change. The Design Review Handbook as established by the Design Review Committee and approved by Executive Board, provides for strict controls as to what Farmington Woods Unit Owners may or may not do to alter the design and appearance of the individual Units and common grounds and when other Unit Owners must be notified. Deviation from the Procedures, Guidelines, Rules and Specifications then in effect will result in the Covenants Committee of the Master Association imposing a fine of $50.00 per day (not to exceed an aggregate of $3,000.00) until infractions are corrected, as provided in the Resident’s Handbook. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Approval, in writing, from the Design Review Committee is required before making any of the following changes from the original design of Farmington Woods. These changes include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: ALTERATIONS (ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS) WHICH IN ANY WAY CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OF THE STRUCTURE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LANDSCAPING INTERIOR ALTERATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS THAT REQUIRE A BUILDING PERMIT ANYTHING AFFECTING THE APPEARANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Since the legal documents specifically prohibit the construction of permanent living structures on Common Elements or Limited Common Elements, the Design Review Committee will neither consider nor approve these applications. At the present time, enclosed porches, decks and patios for seasonal enjoyment are permitted provided prior approval of the Design Review Committee has been granted. The Executive Board periodically adopts detailed Guidelines, Rules and Specifications covering alterations such as awnings, skylights, storm doors, decks and enclosed porches. See Section IV below. The Declaration of Condominium for Farmington Woods, Article XVIII, Section 2, (see Section V. A. below), provides for strict control of structural additions, alterations, and/or improvements to individual Units or any Common Element. The standards that follow, combined with the forms described in later sections of this document, assist in accomplishing this needed control. 3 II. PROCEDURES A. APPLICATIONS Applications for approval of alterations or changes must be submitted to the Design Review Committee on a Property Improvement Request form (See section VI. A. below) ten days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. Forms may be obtained from the Master Association Office. There is a non-refundable filing fee of $25.00 if the work to be completed exceeds $500.00. This fee covers Master Association administrative costs. Applications to install an antenna or satellite dish must be submitted on a Notice of Intent to Install Antenna form (see Section VI. E. below). Care should be taken to adequately describe the changes requested. If the request is not clear, the Design Review Committee will defer its decision and request that the Unit Owner resubmit a clarified application. Applications will be reviewed by the General Manager or another member of the Master Association staff who will inspect the site/Unit and determine if alterations meet specific construction standards. The staff member will submit all requests to the Design Review Committee in a timely fashion. The Design Review Committee will review applications and perform inspections as necessary, depending upon the extent of the alterations. A filing fee shall be required after the approval of the Design Review Committee for alterations which in the discretion of the Design Review Committee require completion of an Agreement or a Covenant Restriction. This charge is to cover the cost of a filing fee for these forms to be recorded at the town office. Subject to specific construction requests, conditional approval may be authorized. Final approval will be subject to receipt of a building permit. All applications will be formally logged by the Design Review Committee indicating type of alteration, inspection and decision. The Chairperson of the Design Review Committee, or appropriate designee will review the applications to ensure all procedures have been completed. B. NOTICE TO INTERESTED UNIT OWNERS The Design Review Committee will consider any application with due regard to the effect it will have on the rights and privileges of other residents in the area. If an application involves changes to the exterior of a Unit, notice shall be given to the adjoining Unit Owners, and Unit Owners within the same group of Units who have a direct view of the proposed alteration (“Interested Unit Owners”). Notice is not required for storm/screen doors, flag poles and flag pole brackets. Such notice must be in writing and the Unit Owner must provide proof that the notice was either mailed to all Interested Unit Owners by the applicant at least seven days prior to the meeting of which the application will be considered, or delivered personally to all Interested Unit Owners and receipt acknowledged by them, and shall state: 1. That an application has been submitted to the Design Review Committee; 2. The date, time, and location of the meeting at which the application will be considered; 3. The name of the Unit Owner and the address of the property to which the application relates; 4. That the application and related plans and information are available for inspection at the offices of the Master Association during regular business hours; 5. Comments may be submitted in writing to the chairperson of the Design Review Committee prior to the meeting or may be submitted orally at the meeting. A neighbor notification form is available at the Master Association office (see Section VI. B. below). In the event that consideration of an application is postponed or continued, provided that notice was given as set forth above, notice need not be given again for any subsequent meeting(s). C. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Costs of approved alterations will be the sole responsibility of the Unit Owner, including costs of permits, engineering fees and any other fees. The cost of maintenance and repair of such alterations shall be the sole responsibility of the Unit Owner unless the Master Association charges an additional maintenance fee and agrees to be responsible for such maintenance and repair. Alterations which the Unit Owner is responsible to maintain which are not properly maintained by the Unit Owner may be removed and the area restored to its original condition by the Master Association at the Unit Owner’s expense. Such action is subject to notice and appeal procedures. 4 D. FEES Property Improvement Request (Application