On
Tuesday, June 10, Westchase voting
members (VMs) rolled up their sleeves
and began the arduous task of reviewing
a draft of the new Westchase Residential
Guidelines, which are architectural and
use rules governing Westchase
homeowners’ properties. The Guidelines
Committee, co-chaired by VM Sue Syatauw
(Glenfield) and Bob Argus (Alternate,
Harbor Links/The Estates), has been
working on the new Guidelines for
months, and presented a draft for VMs to
review and revise during the two and
half hour meeting.
VM George Pennington (Villas of West Park)
prefaced discussion with a sincere thank you to Syatauw for her work on
the project. As the discussion began, Syatauw handed out copies of a
different version than distributed last month. Despite giving copies to
residents in the audience, she denied the WOW reporter a copy of
the latest draft. WCA President Ruben Collazo, presiding over the
meeting, noted afterward that a copy could be obtained. Following a
second request made to the property manager's office to acquire a copy
of the latest draft, Property Manager Patty Stewart committed to
forwarding a PDF of the draft within the next few days.
Line by line VMs discussed the various Guidelines. At times, the
discussion was contentious, at others, lighthearted. VMs changed some
items and tabled others until legal counsel could clarify matters. VMs
wrestled with trying not to “hyper-scrutinize” the restrictions on
residents as VM Tish Dietrich (Keswick Forest) warned, but also strove
to be as specific as possible as Collazo reminded them. The bulk of the
discussion and votes focused around holiday decorations, outdoor
furniture on front porches and sports equipment.
VMs discussed possible parameters of a Guideline regarding holiday
decorations outside of those currently permitted between Thanksgiving
and Jan. 15. VM Mike Niemis (WPV Townhomes) made a motion to cite
official state holidays and permit decorations seven days before to
seven days after those holidays. The motion passed with one dissenting
vote.
The definition of outdoor furniture was also at issue, and was expanded
to include “resin” materials.
Also discussed at length was the required storage of sports equipment.
Currently a dusk-to-dawn storage requirement is in place in the
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs), but a proposed Guideline
would have required their storage even during the day when not in use.
VMs, however, unanimously decided to remove this from the Guidelines,
leaving solely the CCRs’ dusk-to-dawn storage requirement in place.
VMs worked through eight of the 60 pages of the draft before motioning
to adjourn at 9:30 p.m.
Earlier in the evening, VMs passed two neighborhood-specific Guidelines,
representing a “re-vote” on rules passed without proper notice in March.
After re-noticing residents for the required time period in WOW,
the Radcliffe Mailbox Guideline and the Vineyards Color Palette both
passed unanimously.
VMs also discussed clarifying the Variance Committee’s scope. That
committee hears hardship appeals of Modification Committee denials. WCA
attorney Steve Mezer, however, advised that state statute changes
required any changes to the committee’s scope be included in a CCRs’
amendment, so the changes will be temporarily held off. A new
Modifications Form, however, will be used in the near future.
At the meeting a few residents in attendance voiced miscellaneous
opinions. A Glenfield resident expressed frustration at the suspension
of the swim and tennis programs due to insurance gaps, an issue resolved
later that week. A Woodbridge resident also requested that VMs permit
“phantom doors” or invisible screen doors within the new Guidelines.
The meeting ended at 9:30 p.m. The VMs are not scheduled to meet in
July.
