A HOMEOWNER has slammed the HOA for refusing to finishing building her dream house.
After a curious question from her neighbor, the HOA halted work on the $150,000 construction project.
Monica Crim mentioned to WSB-TV, a local Georgia news outlet, that despite having all the required permits, she is now unable to continue with her project.
In 2020, the Georgia resident said she bought land on the corner of Shallowford Road and Pine Grove Road to finally build the house of her dreams.
After paying $150,000 a neighbor asked Crim if he could purchase the land from her.
Once Crim declined the proposal, the HOA began giving her trouble.
“It was like 30 members in that community basically came together to go against me,” Crim told WSB-TV.
She believes that the main issue arose from a negative encounter with a member of the community, who was able to gather support from others in the neighborhood.
Any HOA is tasked with maintaining a property and providing amenities for the community that lives in that designated area.
Homeowners are required to pay monthly or yearly fees to the agency for these amenities.
Oftentimes, the association can ask homeowners to pause or cease construction if they believe there are concerns to be addressed.
Sometimes, the HOA has been criticized for giving short notice when these projects are already underway.
The HOA members conveyed their issues with Crim’s property at a Board of Zoning appeals meeting in February, as reported by WSB-TV.
They were concerned about environmental issues which could arise due to the construction on Crim’s land.
Specifically, the HOA members claimed runoff from the construction site would find its way into the nearby stream.
Subsequently, the neighbors expressed concerns about the need to dredge the lake, which involves cleaning the water to eliminate mud, weeds, and debris that have built up over time.
What is an HOA?
One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners’ Association – or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?
- An HOA is a homeowner’s association – an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents.
- Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within “a planned development” will often make up an HOA.
- They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees.
- Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values.
- They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools – but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways.
- Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds.
- An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations.
- Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation – as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law.
- HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power.
- But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.
Crim said she already possessed the necessary permits and documents to start building from the city of Roswell.
However, the board denied her application because it didn’t meet the city’s stream buffer variance guidelines, according to WSB-TV.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these guidelines were created to protect water quality and reduce flooding using dividers.
Crim also told WSB-TV that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the city itself confirmed that the land she purchased would not have any negative environmental impact.
The WSB-TV team was informed that the city of Roswell cannot comment on Crim’s case because it’s currently pending.
The Roswell HOA did not immediately reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
