Chesterfield

Anyone else have a problem with the Board of Directors becoming the "parking police"?  Where do all the cars go now that they are making the whole community no parking and there is definitely not ample parking already?

There is a meeting scheduled tonight, November 11, 2009, to discuss this issue.  Without formally notifying homeowners of actions to be discussed at these regular monthly meetings, apparently we must make a point of attending each month to be sure we, as homeowners, exercise our rights to agree or disagree with the actions our Board takes from time to time.

Parking on some of the streets in Chesterfield, which are County roads, has been allowed because they are County maintained, etc.  This has been allowed for at least the last six years, but now, we have all been informed that this right on certain "sides" of a particular street and at certain "times" of the day will be restricted by the County due to our Board's decision and request.  This request by the Board to the County is not an approved (by a two-thirds vote) decision. 

I live on Tower Bridge Drive, and see the amount of cars, etc. (mainly cars) that are parked on the weekend, for example, on my street.  I think it would be unfair and unjust to force parking elsewhere.  We, as homeowners who pay assessments have a right to park our registered lawful vehicles on these County maintained roads at any time.

I have been told that "safety" is the issue.  Excepting the drivers of vehicles speeding up and down Tower Bridge Drive from time to time, where safety has never been a concern before to enforce a speed limit, I do not believe we have a "safety" issue with those who park their cars, boats or trailers on either side of Tower Bridge Drive.

Safety in the subdivision obviously is not much of an issue either, as I can attest personally to having my residence broken into on several occasions.  When I complained to the Homeowner's Association, nothing was done about it.  It wasn't until I had to threaten the Association with being complicit in this unlawful violation, that I finally had some attention paid to my situation.  How many other residences face this threat?  I did not wait for the Association to publicize this activity to alert other homeowners, but instead had to incur monthly fees for a home security system.  Where is the line drawn on "safety?"

Chesterfield is (usually) a quiet, peaceful, friendly residential community.  Just as any other residential community elsewhere in Maryland and other states, families live.  Nowadays most families have two income earners requiring two automobiles.  Most families have a child who drives and depends on his or her own transportation for school or work, thus, another vehicle for that resident.  Most families enjoy recreation, and living on the Chesapeake Bay or near the Appalachian mountains in western Maryland, boating and camping are very popular recreational activities enjoyed by many.  If parking of these vehicles is restricted, it will be detrimental to the resale of our residences, which parking has always been allowed before.

Please attend the meeting tonight to voice your opinion on this subject.  As a democratic society, the majority should rule, not a few. 

Thank you.

Does anyonw know what came of this?  I was unable to attend - however am very against this new rule - which it seems would be unenforcable as tower bridge is a county road?  Either wasy - I am interested in learning what the end results were.

There will be another meeting in February at the Police station on Mt. Rd. but in the mean time everyone is suppose to write a letter with concerns and potential solutions to both the HOA and Ed Horkey the Asst. Chief of AA Co. Traffic Engineering Division.  Nothing will be considered unless it's in writing with your name and address on it.  You can go to the HOA site www.chesterfield-hoa.com