Letter from Amberleigh Board of Directors
Section
| From: | Amberleigh Board of Directors |
| To: | Amberleigh Homeowners and Residents |
| Subject: | Design Guidelines 2003 |
At the April 2003 Board of Director's monthly meeting, an updated version of the Design Guidelines was approved. This new layout should be easier to use, as it is divided into three sections: Front of the House, Roof, and Rear of the House. The use of new construction materials is also discussed, as are the procedures for obtaining written approval for projects.
If you have any questions regarding this material please contact either the Property Management Company or one of the members of the Architectural Review Committee.
Article V, Sections 1-5 of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (The Declaration) establishes the responsibilities of the Architectural Review Committee and lays out the procedures for making exterior changes to homes. This document places limitations on the exterior changes homeowners may make to their property. The Declaration, a legal document, binding on all homeowners, is provided to each homeowner at settlement. Every homeowner is encouraged to read the document in its entirety and to refer to it before beginning exterior changes. Exterior changes, except as noted in the first paragraph of II below, must be approved in writing. The purposes of the Architectural Review Committee are to establish and preserve the harmonious design for the community and to protect the value of property in the community.
If general maintenance and repair is being done that does not alter the design or materials used in the original structure no approval is required. Some examples are: (Refer to Section "Design Guidelines" for more of these items.)
Step 1: The homeowner should fill out the Standard Request Form available from the web site, the Property Management Company, or any of the ARC members. Only written requests will be considered.
Step 2: Deliver the filled out Standard Request Form with detailed drawings and specifications of the project to the Property Management Company. A copy of the house location plat should be attached. The plan should be drawn to scale neatly with full dimensions and details clearly labeled. Any request for color changes must be accompanied by a color sample. A time clock of "30-days maximum" to review the proposal begins upon receipt by the Property Management Company of a complete package.
Step 3: The ARC chairman will receive the Request Package from the Property Management Company. If all of the documentation is not received the chairman will return the package to the Management Company with a request for the required information. If the package is considered complete each member of the ARC will review the request making a visual inspection of the property.
Step 4: The ARC, made up of at least three people, will review all requests, and either approve as submitted, suggest changes to the plans to adhere to these Guidelines, or disapprove. The applicant will receive written notification of a final decision through the Property Management Company.
If the applicant desires to modify the plans or specifications for architectural changes during construction, a revised application must be submitted to the Property Management Company. The ARC will review the revised application and reply through the Property Management Company.
Step 5 (a): Approvals are valid for 6 months from the date the applicant receives the official notification. Upon completion of the proposed project the homeowner should notify the Property Management Company and the ARC will make an inspection to determine compliance with the approved plan. A Certificate of Compliance will be issued upon compliance or a request for corrective action will be issued if the project was not built as approved.
Step 5 (b): If the application is not approved, the ARC will respond in writing to the Property Management Company. The ARC may make suggestions for modifying the application to make it acceptable. The Property Management Company will notify the applicant. The applicant may appeal this decision by writing to the Property Management Company within 30 days of receipt of the decision and request to be on the agenda for the next available monthly meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board after listening to an appeal may reverse or modify a decision by a 2/3 vote of those Directors present and voting at a meeting at which quorum is present.
Homeowners may not cause drainage problems to their yards, their neighbor's yards, and/or to the common grounds.
All homeowners are entitled to use the common grounds. However, no individual homeowner may convert any portion of the common grounds for his exclusive use. Homeowners may not plant gardens, store firewood, or drive vehicles on the common grounds. Everything in Amberleigh that is not a private lot is considered common grounds, with the exception of Crestleigh Way, which is a State road.
The one exception to this rule of not using the common grounds is the placement, by a homeowner, of a single flagstone step (18" x 24") between the sidewalk and the curb directly in front of the homeowners' property.
New construction materials may become available that are superior to the products originally used in construction. Homeowners are encouraged to bring these new materials to the attention of the ARC. One example is the new composition material for deck construction.
All wood trim above and below the windows may be removed on houses with siding. If all is removed, the entire front must have the siding replaced, NOT patched. An alternative is to cover this wood with aluminum or vinyl to match other trim color(s). On brick front houses the wood may be covered. (see Shutters below)
Trim below the roofline and directly above the second story windows may be covered with aluminum or vinyl to match other trim color(s).
Aluminum siding may be replaced with vinyl siding in either wide or narrow style. New siding should be similar to current style. Please submit color samples and include information on colors of neighboring houses.
Shutters of either type, louvered or plain, must be added on both sets of windows if the wood trim is completely removed. If shutters are already on the front they must remain in place using either style. On the style house with shutters on either side of the front door, these shutters must remain, but may be of either type.
The wood trim above and beside the front door, on homes in Section B, must remain in place and may not be covered in any material in order to retain architectural details. If replacement is needed due to deterioration, the replacement materials should be of similar style as the original. On end units with the triangular section over the porch, this wood may be covered with aluminum or vinyl to match other trim color(s).
Windows may be either plain glass or 6 over 6-style windows. The basement windows must remain similar in size and look as the originals or match replacement windows of the upper floors.
All front doors must be steel or solid wood. Front doors may have glass inserts at the top or a fixed decorative glass panel insert of different shapes. End units houses may exchange the 9 panel glass doors for any of the above. Any standard deadbolt lock, peephole, electric doorbell or standard doorknocker may be installed.
The storm door on the front of the house may be full glass, full glass with a bottom kick panel, full glass with a bar in the middle, barn style crosshatched, or a decorative security door. Only screens that are integrated as part of the storm door are permitted. The trim of the storm door should match one of the colors on the front of the house or be black, white, or off-white.
Houses with split gutters and 2 downspouts may have these changed into one continuous gutter and one downspout.
Wall mounted front exterior lamps should be either black or brass and similar in shape and style to the existing lamp. All lamps should be four sided and installed at the existing mounted location. The total length of the lamp should not exceed 16 inches. The lamp may be equipped with a light sensor.
Either brass or black address Arabic numerals are permitted on the front of the house. Replacements must be the same size and similar design as the original numbers with the location remaining as originally installed under the front house lamp.
All must be kept in good repair. Holes and gaps under stoops, porches and walkways must be promptly filled in to prevent collapse. For safety purposes stoop and contiguous steps may be enlarged up to 12 inches in width and one tread in depth. The extension must be made of concrete to match the existing installation and be of professional quality workmanship.
Railing material should be wrought iron, aluminum, or material similar in appearance and durability and painted black. Railings may be placed on either side of the stoop and steps or on both sides. Railings may be installed on the outside edge of the stoop and steps for safety and space reasons.
Homeowners/residents are responsible for the maintenance of the front pole lamps including replacement of bulbs and sensors. Lamp must remain black in color and be of the same size and design as the original. Long life bulbs may be used.
Edging material, for front flowerbeds and around front yard tree, may be landscaping timbers, bricks, stones, concrete landscaping blocks, scalloped concrete blocks, and black professional edging only if materials were originally designed for such use. Edging should be installed so that the tubular top is firmly in contact with the ground.
No railway ties are to be used in the front yard. Landscape timbers are not to exceed 24 inches in height except to adjust for a severe slope.
The front and side yards are to remain as grass or plant beds. Front and side yards are not permitted to be all rock, mulch, stone, etc.
These vents may be covered with screening to keep out small animals. Small gauge wire installed with screws and washers must be used. Vented covers may also be installed that match the siding in material and color.
The color may be changed only with prior approval to ensure coordination with neighbors' roofs. Replacements should be of similar materials as originally used.
Upon written application to, and approval from, the Committee, owners may install freestanding fireplaces, provided that the chimney serving such fireplace is installed, attached to the rear wall of the house, and is visible from the front of the unit only to the extent it extends above the ridge line of the roof. Such chimney or flue shall extend above the ridgeline to the same height as adjoining chimneys. In all cases the flue enclosures must be constructed of siding that exactly matches in texture and color the siding of the house. Installation must meet all current federal, state, and local codes. Chimneys must be maintained with the cap ends being repainted as needed due to rust, etc. Bird screens made of small gauge wire may be installed.
Both electrical and turbine wind driven exhaust fans are allowed. Either must be installed on the roof's rear slope of the house and not extend above the roof's peak. Ridge roof vents may be installed for ventilation.
Both skylights and light tubes are allowed on the roof. If possible units should be located on the rear part of the roof.
Fences must be constructed using the board on board design of either Western Red Cedar or pressure treated vertical slats and posts. It must match the height of the side fences originally installed by the builder with a maximum height of six (6) feet.
Fences may only be stained with a natural shade as a preservative. Fences may extend to the lot line in the rear and on the sides. Clear pedestrian access must be maintained for lawn maintenance. The fence line on end units may extend ½ way up the sides of the house or ½ way between the front stoop and the rear edge of the house. No drainage problems may be created for the unit's yard, adjoining neighbor's yards, or common ground.
Gates must be constructed with a round top or a straight top design, of the same height as the fence, and be of the same material as the fence. End unit houses may install the gate on the side section of the fence. No double gates or top pieces, such as trellis over the gate, are allowed.
Elevated decks may be installed on the rear of a house and may extend across the entire width of the house with the exception of 6 inches offset on both sides. The deck may extend 10 feet in depth from the rear wall of the house, excluding the chimney/bay window in the measurement. No awnings, mesh screens or any type of attached enclosures are allowed above or below the deck.
Pressurized treated wood or composite material may be used as construction material. No drainage problems may be created for the unit's yard, adjoining neighbor's yards, or common ground.
Plans submitted for decks should be accompanied by plats for the lot. If a deck does not already exist access from the house should be described in detail showing the style of the door to be installed.
Privacy screens may be added to elevated decks on either side. The screen must be made of pressure-treated lattice of any style framed by pressure-treated wood. The screen may not exceed past the rear edge of the deck. The top of the privacy screen must not exceed eight (8) feet from the deck floor.
Stairways must remain within the property lot lines and should be constructed from the same materials as the deck. The stairways must have handrails and be of a similar design as the deck.
The following design measurements are to be followed:
Ground level patios may be built of poured concrete, brick, stone, commercial paving tiles, pressure treated wood, or composite materials. Drainage must not be adversely affected to the house lot, neighbors' yards, or common ground. Must be designed to prevent animal infestation under the patio area if raised above the ground.
Sheds and storage units are permitted only within fully enclosed rear yards unless the rear of the house backs to woods or wooded Common Ground. They must be a closed structure no higher than the fence height and be built from the same material as the fence and stained to match or be of a plastic type material (i.e. Rubbermaid). No metal sheds are allowed. Storage sheds must be properly maintained by the owner so as not to present an unsightly appearance.
No shutters are allowed on the rear windows or doors.
Patio sliding doors may be upgraded to a full glass "French" styled doors with or without grids. If a rear window is converted to a single door for access to a deck it must be the full glass style.
Window or wall units are prohibited as each house has been built for central air conditioning. Central units are to be placed only in the rear yard of the property preferably under an existing deck.
Satellite dishes may not exceed 39 inches in diameter and should be placed on the rear of the house preferably on the roof with interior wiring. All effort should be made so the unit is not visible from the front of the house.
Professionally installed cable must enter only through the rear of the unit as inconspicuously as possible.
All exterior clotheslines and clothes drying apparatus must be within an enclosed yard, must not be visible above the rear fence and are not allowed on elevated decks.
Firewood may only be stored within the fence line, should not be visible above the fence, and should not create any drainage problems.
Exterior ground lighting may be installed in the rear yard if low voltage fixtures are used. Rear yard floodlights are permitted only if the house backs to heavily wooded areas. The light fixture attached to the rear of the house may be on a sensor. Only low voltage lights may be mounted on elevated decks with the fixtures facing downward.