Just got back home from a jog around the neighborhood and counted six boats that I saw from the road plus one car parked on the grass.

Can you believe the audacity of some people? <--(sarcasm intended)

I'd like to know a few things, first of all, would everyone who cares if someone parks their boat in view of the road please say so, and why, on this thread? Please spare me the ''it's the rule'' line, I'm trying to figure out WHY it's the rule.

I'd also like to know what the heck can happen if I ignore the letter I received from the management company and continue to park my boat in view from the road. I know I can read the rules, but it's easier to ask.

Lastly, who polices this stuff? I'm assuming it's left up to the residents to complain about. I got my letter probably a month ago now, and at the time didn't know if it was a neighborhood wide 'sting', or if I was being singled out. The answer to that is pretty obvious now...

By Thad

Boats

As long as they are maintained, and not a rusting hulk, I realy don't care if they are visible from the front yard.

By Mitch

response

I'll bite on responding to your post. I realize this is an issue that seems very personal to you and my response is meant to be fully civil. On my street there is one home with 2 boats in the driveway. Neither are covered and one has a rusted hitch. They look pretty weathered to me...I'm not sure how seaworthy they are, but that's not for me to determine. Bottom line, the boats are an eyesore to me and they're the first thing you see as you pull onto my street.

The rule is an aesthetic issue. Most driveways in Hickory Hills are short and boats can dominate a front yard (especially pontoons). I understand we live in the ''city between the lakes'' and there are many boating enthusiasts in the neighborhood. However, there's not a lot of space in most lots and most boats take up a lot of space. I imagine the rule was intended for larger boats that probably should be in a slip, but the association decided to apply it to all boats rather than interpreting the sizes of boats. That's just a guess.

I'm sorry you feel called out or picked on. I probably would too, especially when I saw other homeowners breaking the rules without penalty. I hope that the association sends out notices to everyone who has boats, high grass, appliances in the yard, etc, and doesn't just target individuals.

I also hope that a member of the board will respond and provide a full explanation. In the meantime, I guess it is a rule whether the HOA has the power to enforce it or not.

By Chris

re: response

I appreciate your response Chris, and agree with everything you said.

I'm not lobbying for a rule change, instead, and as you pointed out, I'm just a little frustrated by the situation. I was warned by the HOA over a month ago, and have since corrected my situation, yet I still see several boats in driveways and yards around the neighborhood.

Ideally the HOA would send notices to everyone, however, I think they wait for complaints and then direct the warning letters to those specific homeowners. I don't want to come across sounding like I believe that if I can't, then nobody should be able to. Personally, it doesn't matter to me if there are boats in driveways or yards, but every time I drive through the neighborhood I get irritated at how many people don't seem to have a problem parking their boat in view of the road.

I just think the Association needs to be consistent. I'd be curious to see some statistics of how many and what types of warning letters have been sent out over the past couple months.

By Thad