HOA Homeowners' Rights Task Force

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  Granny

  by Elfie, over 2 years ago
  Very long story - starting when I bought my townhome in 1995. It was in foreclosure and the Realtor filled out the disclosure saying there had been small seepage of water in the basement family room BUT it had been resolved. When the rains came in the spring, my basement was flooded. Discovered that the builder had never installed the french drains that were required because of the high water table, took 4 years of complaining and finally engineers were hired and the drains were installed throughout. Problem resolved until 2019 when some boys took the cover off the drain... Continue reading

  Very long story - starting when I bought my townhome in 1995. It was in foreclosure and the Realtor filled out the disclosure saying there had been small seepage of water in the basement family room BUT it had been resolved. When the rains came in the spring, my basement was flooded. Discovered that the builder had never installed the french drains that were required because of the high water table, took 4 years of complaining and finally engineers were hired and the drains were installed throughout. Problem resolved until 2019 when some boys took the cover off the drain and filled it with rocks - flooded basement again. HOA took care of having it dried , new pad installed and carpet cleaned. That was the last time the drains were flushed out.

  In the mean time, there has been multiple disagreements with the HOA board over neglecting to have any oversight on contractors they hire, spending money on unnecessary things while what should be taken care of is ignored. When we had new roofs installed in 2019, the contract was for $1,275,497.73 and was for ALL ROOFS INCLUDING CAR PORTS. There is over 30 east/west facing car ports and none of those were done. One of the board members tried to investigate it after I talked to her about it and she was accused of harassment and never could get information on it so after she moved away, I tried to get the other board members to investigate why we actually paid more than the original bid. Was told by one member said she didn't have time, another said " well the insurance company said it was o'k, another said he would try to look into it. NOTHING WAS DONE. Thousands and thousands have been wasted over the years and because I ask questions, the board doesn't like that. We had a sink hole that formed in the empty lot - took the board two years to finally get it filled.Again, no oversight. The company that filled it claim they used 8 ton of crushed granite, 8 ton of gray granite, 3 ton of rip rap and 4 cubic yds of sand. I didn't take a tape and measure but guessing it was probably 3X3X3 or so. According to google, that size hole would take about 237 pounds of fill. We were charged $7,433.42 . Then there is the apartment connected to our clubhouse. Some one turned the heat off and a pipe broke and destroyed the interior. Long story on all that, but it has now been vacant for 33 months at a loss of probably $2400.00 per month rent. The board treats it like it's their private property and none of our business.

  So, now I am in a real dispute with them. This past spring when we got the heavy rain, my basement flooded again. The management company sent a company out to place fans , cut the pad out and dried the moldy carpet. When I complained about that, they said it was homeowners responsibility and refused to reimburse me for the cost of removing the moldy drywall and carpet. The records show they have taken care of other homes before but not only refuse to take care of mine, they retaliated by sending me a bill for $12,142.86 for a gas line repair that had been done 5 months before. Another case of no oversight on contractors. They claim they replace 40' of line, said there was 3 leaks, Xcell said there was one. The management company refuses to give me an itemized list with separate costs. Home Depot has the 1" gas line kit with 100' for $239.00. I found in the financial records we had paid a different contractor in 2021 $244.00 for an underground gas leak. Bottom line is that it's still not settled. When they finally got a company out to flush the drains, they spent 2 full days in front of my home and took out huge bags of debris to get it running again.

  Something really needs to be done to protect homeowners. I have tried to get the board to do the right thing, they refuse to talk to me personally, instead they hire an attorney AT THE HOMEOWNERS EXPENSE to get me to go to mediation. They could care less that I would have the expense of an attorney .

  And now, we have the new budget meeting and were informed we are getting yet another increase in dues. I was paying $110.00 per month when I purchased here and will now be paying $410.00 and can expect another increase next year. What is the answer, I'm not sure, but one thing I am sure of is that people are being priced out of our homes with taxes and fees. HOAs might have been a good idea when they started but like everything else, there is real abuse going on.

  
  

  
  
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  HOAs work when Owners, Boards & Mngt Do Their Part, A Quick Perspective from a Sr. Board member of one of the largest true HOA in the State

  by eschoenheit, over 2 years ago

  First and Foremost. 90% of owners do the right things all the time. They pay assessments on time, maintain and repair their home are great neighbors. They abide by the CCRs and rules which 95% of the time are the same are local City Codes. 2-3% are late on their assessments but take care of their home and are good neighbors, 2-3% have minor issues but are trying and do make progress with simple reminders. 1-2% have a hard time living in a Community in an urban setting. <1% are nightmares to their neighbors. Their are personal stories and circumstances... Continue reading

  First and Foremost. 90% of owners do the right things all the time. They pay assessments on time, maintain and repair their home are great neighbors. They abide by the CCRs and rules which 95% of the time are the same are local City Codes. 2-3% are late on their assessments but take care of their home and are good neighbors, 2-3% have minor issues but are trying and do make progress with simple reminders. 1-2% have a hard time living in a Community in an urban setting. <1% are nightmares to their neighbors. Their are personal stories and circumstances behind all the issues which the Boards deal with on a weekly basis. Good boards and owners communicate and resolve issues. Some owner refuse to communicate and some go as far as to threaten others with harm. Some owners need help (singles, and seniors and deployed) and that help is there. Board member offer and provide free help but cant do everything or pay assessments.

  Some owners don't understand that when they buy their home they have to maintain it over decades if they live in the community that long. (even the mortgage holder and hm insurance company require the same) Assessments are no different then local taxes to provide for services and maintenance of the Community. Some residents think the City if on the hook to maintain things which is far from reality. The City can barely maintain its own property. Both HOAs and Metro have to maintain themselves over decades longer them most owners will ever live there. Fighting with select owner to pay assessments costs so much money to even collect modest sums. Owners that pay their assessments should not see their assessment rise as a result of owners that refuse to pay and meet their obligations under the CCRs. Under 1137 those responsible owners are eating tens of thousands in certified mail fees for those delinquent owners. Boards are owners as well and don't want to see assessment rise any more then they should to keep pace with inflation. We have kept ours below 3% per year for the last 20 years but that is become near impossible with inflation and owners that refuse to pay even on a 18month payment plan of $25 a month. How many warning letters, late letters, posted notices and lawyer demand letters are necessary before going to collections/court? We send no less then 6 letters and a posted notice all of which cost money. This fact has been lost when it comes to drafting knee jerk legislation without full stakeholder input.

  Over the years I have personally dealt with every conceivable issue with owners, Management, and Legal companies. I still get surprised. Their will always be friction between the HOA and the Management and Legal company due to the non-profit to for profit relationship between those entities. That fact always seems to get lost. Managing a large Community costs money. Board members are unpaid but do tremendous work. Most owners don't know or appreciate all the things that Board are responsible for. Its not unlike a small City Government and the large Metros are just that. All these requirements and process are actually written into the State, County and City law for managing Communities and that property the HOA or Metro owns. This is not just some ragtag system process. When you start making a bunch of small changes that are not synchronized you have adverse affects on other system processes. (make it harder to collect assessments= less assessment income= less funds to maintain the community= increase in common assessments a vicious do loop).

  Mngt. Companies need to get paid but they have to do so in a manner that is not predatory on the HOA or the owners or break budgets. The HOA Board have a duty to supervise and control that. Same goes for legal companies. They perform a needed service. Board members and Mngt personnel don't have time to sit in small claims court for hours and days on end with 50 owners who wont pay there assessments or fix their houses that are falling apart. Who is going to sign up for that? Completely unfeasible. Engaging legal costs HOA money upfront that is needed elsewhere.

  Owner communication. Select owners don't read their government documents, they don't read City Code and have no idea how to maintain a home or live with others. When they get a simple now 30 day warning notice they freak out, blame everyone else under the sun or make nasty threats. How is having a dead dog carcass in your back yard, 1ft tall 3ft diameter of dog feces in the yard, 5ft tall weeds, setting your neighbors fence on fire, snakes in your back yard, rats and vermin eating your neighbors solar system, bullet holes in your home, trees falling on your neighbors house, shattered windows, junk disabled cars stored on the street and in the front yard, chop shops in the garage, dumping oil in the street, farm animals running wild in the street, killing goats in your back yard, setting the greenspace on fire by tossing ashes over the fence, urinating on your neighbors home, houses that haven't been painted in 16years with bare rotted wood, bare dirt yards, trash piles around the home, grow houses, not paying your assessment for 2yrs on your rental since you lived out of state and the list goes on (and on) any ones else fault but that owner? Boards deal with all those and more and just ask for timey and polite communication to get things resolved. I have dealt with these issues for years and the owners that promptly communicate things get resolved before ever having to involve any fines, legal or the police. No one wants to call the police on their neighbors as that escalates things, police are busy chasing murders and other felonies, They don't have time to deal with HOA business. City Code enforcement are so understaffed and work only from a complaint based system. They have no interest in caretaking an HOA. Unless you have sat in a Board members position its easy to cast stones. Their are good Boards and no so good Boards. Owner have a voice and can serve on the Board if they want, They can vote. Many owners choose not to vote not unlike our local, state and national elections. That is a sign of the time not a fault of the HOA or its construct. Look at the good models for best practices, If there are no so good Board or Management Companies out there work with them to resolve issues. Establish a HOA and Metro mentorship program for those HOAs and Metro that need help and guidance. The system is not broken but all systems can be improved. We all have a part to play.

  
  

  
  
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  A Manager's Perspective

  by kchrist8, over 2 years ago

  I’m an HOA portfolio manager in Littleton Colorado. I manage 8 of them. Been doing it for about 8 years and take pride in my work. Seen some horrible things done by volunteer board of directors that I’d call slumlords in open meetings if it didn’t get me in trouble. Almost all of my other volunteers are good though and would pay for a neighbor’s grocery bill if they asked them to. As managers, we have to bite our tongue and go along with most of what a ruling board of directors does in order to protect our paychecks for... Continue reading

  I’m an HOA portfolio manager in Littleton Colorado. I manage 8 of them. Been doing it for about 8 years and take pride in my work. Seen some horrible things done by volunteer board of directors that I’d call slumlords in open meetings if it didn’t get me in trouble. Almost all of my other volunteers are good though and would pay for a neighbor’s grocery bill if they asked them to. As managers, we have to bite our tongue and go along with most of what a ruling board of directors does in order to protect our paychecks for our company and self; I'm personally glad I put a foot down and got a client taken off my portfolio for their HOA Board's actions though. This brings me to HB 22-1137 and a question.

  HOAs cannot fine for noise but apartments can. HOAs cannot fine for rules for 30 days but apartments can evict for lease violations in under 30 days. HOAs cannot evict tenants at all if it’s a rental and HOAs now must sue if a tenant or owner destroys the property in excess of $500. Apartment and rental deposits are well over $500, by triple at least. HOAs must pay for the return receipt, certified mail cost, of at least $9.00 and posting fees of process servers, which all income from HOAs come from the monthly, quarterly or annual assessment billing (paid by deeded homeowners). HOAs and the management company get a 7-day window to follow up and fine a homeowner. Any rental building would get more leeway. How is this fair?

  Answer is it isn’t. HOAs have to refer residents to calling the police for noise which is much more hostile than sending violation notices and fines. We can send a warning letter or letters and that’s it… In writing our state legislature about this concern, I was advised to “read the HOA documents and contact local authorities or my HOA for assistance on noise complaints”. The response include reading the ”Bylaws” that deal primarily with voting, that HB 22-1137 had nothing to do with noise complaints and running HOA meetings along with other documents like rules and regulations. Guess what, a noise violation/complaint is in the HOA governing documents and rules. Honestly, we (HOA Managers) are going to give up without help and guidelines that are appropriate to protect the people (homeowners and tenants) that call us daily. We used to be licensed then you took it away. Yes you. It was taken away and I know many, including me, were very proud of earning that…

  There’s a lot about fair housing in the United States. It’s a great ideal. Everyone should have a home to go to if they work hard at any job. Apartments and condo communities are a necessity for this to exist in our country. Not everyone wants a 4-bedroom and 4-bathroom house to maintain while living in it. Cost of living dictates housing availability and affordability.

  The underlying point is that legislators and people don’t understand HOAs in general. Many times, they associate their management company as an HOA. They’ll get 200+ pages of closing documents and the realtor tells them to call XYZ if they have a question about the HOA. HOA’s are already required to provide annual education to homeowners but how many do it…?

  I encourage you all ON THE TASK FORCE to read the basics (Decs, articles, bylaws, rules, design guidelines, sb 100 policies, etc.) … and laws that helped HOAs such as CCIOA and the SB 100 policies to make an informed recommendation on how to protect homeowners/consumers; make pros/cons lists for the items.

  The only thing I see in HB 22-1137 that helps homeowners is that volunteer board of directors have to sign something to send a neighborhood member to collections. All the certified mailing, door postings, and treating property owners like little kids in timeout for 30 days is ridiculous. This was written for single family communities with homes being foreclosed upon for weeds and other covenant violations, not condos which make up a good 1/3 of the HOA portfolio in Colorado. Can you imagine giving your neighbor above you 30 days to take the leaky garbage to the dumpster...? IMO, everything else is a con in this bill as it is slighted toward single family communities; you all make your choices.

  The county and cities give almost NO leeway on time to cure matters. How do I know, well they cite HOAs too. Why treat HOA's so far differently than other property owners in respect to standard maintenance obligations.

  
  

  Honestly, I’d move to another state just because of HB 22-1137 but am staying due to my immediate family being here. I love helping people with their homes even though they seldom see it that way. I've had so many angry calls about the cure letters that it makes me not want to pick up my phone after emailing them out, which is good though as they don't have to cost $ by USPS...
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  Karyn

  by anabelle, over 2 years ago
  I received an email notice this morning at 6a.m. informing me of a meeting at 1pm today. The meeting is called by our HOA Board which is going out of office at the end of this year. We have a new Board elected. The current Board is calling this meeting to recall the HGMD Board, duly elected this year, because they are having problems negotiating with them. This is the first notice of this meeting and it's purpose. They give no mention of providing zoom attendance. It seems as if they are trying to sneak something over on our members... Continue reading

  I received an email notice this morning at 6a.m. informing me of a meeting at 1pm today. The meeting is called by our HOA Board which is going out of office at the end of this year. We have a new Board elected. The current Board is calling this meeting to recall the HGMD Board, duly elected this year, because they are having problems negotiating with them. This is the first notice of this meeting and it's purpose. They give no mention of providing zoom attendance. It seems as if they are trying to sneak something over on our members. Especially calling this type of meeting to hire a lawyer and provide another election which will cause big expenditures. Especially activating this motion at a time when many of our residents are out of town for the winter or the Holidays. I am sure that they have not had time to contact non resident owners. Is this type of action legal?
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  SOS

  by Rod, over 2 years ago

  Sharping of sabres

  SOS

  I received my 2023 HOA assessment in October and almost passed out. It was due in 24 days and I did not have the amount the board was demanding. Then I get another notice there is going to be another large assessment due January 1^st. It was time to do some studying. Sixty one percent of the budget was attorney and management cost. Twenty nine percent for reserves and ten percent for operating cost.

  What I found out was that as new laws were being passed (primarily hb22-1137) to bring down to reality some... Continue reading

  Sharping of sabres

  SOS

  I received my 2023 HOA assessment in October and almost passed out. It was due in 24 days and I did not have the amount the board was demanding. Then I get another notice there is going to be another large assessment due January 1^st. It was time to do some studying. Sixty one percent of the budget was attorney and management cost. Twenty nine percent for reserves and ten percent for operating cost.

  What I found out was that as new laws were being passed (primarily hb22-1137) to bring down to reality some of the out of control HOA boards, it had unintended consequences. My HOA board, which is made up of two people, the developer and his spouse, started sharpening their sabres. This included hiring a attorney to set up a narrow board, bylaws and polices that all reflect fees, fines, and foreclosures. All of which is being paid for by the members who did not want any of this in the first place because we cannot afford it. Now we are stuck with a money pit.

  I do appreciate the legislature trying to look out for the regular folks. However the same HOA executive boards that needed to be reigned in just hired attorneys and managers to set up and get ready for fees, fines, and foreclosures, and passed that bill down to the membership.

  Now I am faced with a 30% increase in property tax and an increase in HOA cost so high I cannot even calculate it in percentage.

  One of the things driving this madness is the system heavily favors those with lots of money resulting in ownership of many lots. With 12 lots owned by multi millionaire/billionaire companies out of 20 total lots the remaining membership has no say what so ever. Even though they out number the rich.

  I am not sure if you could assign a mil levy cap based on the value of all the properties added together and then apply the mil to the total. Then that figure could be divided by the number of properties to have an equal assessment amount.

  Another problem is the only mechanism to fight the corruption is to file a law suit and that is extremely expensive as well.
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  Current State Law Provides Too Much Protection for HOAs and Metropolitan Districts

  by dprato, over 2 years ago
  I would like to preface this message by saying that I am currently a Director on the Board of the Heritage Ridge Metro District in Berthoud for the past 3 years. I have also been a public-school administrator for 28 years now retired. I believe the current laws in Colorado provide far too much protection to these organizations but I do believe they should have protection against frivolous lawsuits. The current laws and covenants protect Boards and Management Groups by not holding them accountable to any oversight agency or rules governing reasonable rules of conduct. They are literally protected from... Continue reading

  I would like to preface this message by saying that I am currently a Director on the Board of the Heritage Ridge Metro District in Berthoud for the past 3 years. I have also been a public-school administrator for 28 years now retired. I believe the current laws in Colorado provide far too much protection to these organizations but I do believe they should have protection against frivolous lawsuits. The current laws and covenants protect Boards and Management Groups by not holding them accountable to any oversight agency or rules governing reasonable rules of conduct. They are literally protected from any kind of punitive action short of committing a crime and are free to act inappropriately while at the same time being able to fine residents and attach financial burdens to their homes. The only method residents currently have is to replace Board members in elections and in this District, they are discouraged from doing so by being told that it will cost $10,000 to run an election and as long as all positions are currently filled it will save the District money not to run. This act promotes stagnation and inhibits changes in operating procedures and promotes nepotism.

  Remedies to these types of situations are as follows. There needs to be a Government agency in Colorado that has the authority to actually do something when inappropriate behaviors by Boards are reported. They need to have the power to investigate and levy fines against districts that are abusive of their powers and not transparent with residents. They need to establish a State training program for new Board members. They need to develop a process of legal actions that can be taken by residents when abuses of power become obvious. In short, no government agency should be so completely unregulated or untouchable as is the current case with HOA's and Metro Districts. There is absolutely no control over them whatsoever and this promotes many of the notorious practices within these organizations. I would very much like to be contacted by someone on the committee to elaborate on my findings.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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  Wut? We don't need any transparency

  by whoownsmyhome, over 2 years ago
  It's that time of year again. Assessments are under the tree. My HOA has only doubled the assessment, so I'll think of that as a gift. We got the email on Friday with the information about the increased assessment and notice of a Budget Ratification meeting. We are not being told why we need the increase, in fact, we aren't even being given a budget summary. I am told, come to the meeting and you will be given a "packet". That makes me very comfortable about voting but then since the ratification can only be overturned by 80% of the... Continue reading

  It's that time of year again. Assessments are under the tree. My HOA has only doubled the assessment, so I'll think of that as a gift. We got the email on Friday with the information about the increased assessment and notice of a Budget Ratification meeting. We are not being told why we need the increase, in fact, we aren't even being given a budget summary. I am told, come to the meeting and you will be given a "packet". That makes me very comfortable about voting but then since the ratification can only be overturned by 80% of the homeowners, my ability to understand the need for an increase is really moot.

  The physical posting of the "notice" doesn't even give the location of the meeting or the time. It seems pretty clear what the choices are.

  Now, the increase maybe perfectly reasonable but somewhere between plunking down 500K and NOT joining the Board, I have lost the ability to think like an adult and must be treated like an idiot. HOA - just sign the checks and let us think the hard things.

  
  
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  HOA Board System is a Faulty Product

  by Ruth Carroll, over 2 years ago

  Dear Task Force Members,

  
  

  I have read every story submitted here, re: the HOA Task Force. Many--most--sound angry.

  This is not a surprise. They should be angry.

  The original founder of CAI, Byron Hanke himself, stated around 2000, that the industry itself was doing fine, making money for attorneys and managers and vendors--but the homeowners themselves were NOT doing fine inside --and something should be done. That's a long time--and lot of homeowner suffering--ago.

  Many times in American history, a product has been found to injure or harm those persons using it. And then laws and standards are passed to... Continue reading

  Dear Task Force Members,

  
  

  I have read every story submitted here, re: the HOA Task Force. Many--most--sound angry.

  This is not a surprise. They should be angry.

  The original founder of CAI, Byron Hanke himself, stated around 2000, that the industry itself was doing fine, making money for attorneys and managers and vendors--but the homeowners themselves were NOT doing fine inside --and something should be done. That's a long time--and lot of homeowner suffering--ago.

  Many times in American history, a product has been found to injure or harm those persons using it. And then laws and standards are passed to protect the consumers. Think about asbestos. Cigarettes. Cars without seat belts. The product had been found to harm--not everyone--but sufficient numbers so that people in general needed to be warned of the pitfalls of that product and provided ways to mitigate it.

  The HOA Board model produces harm. As the model is currently set up-- individuals charged with tasks they're wholly unqualified for, are given total responsibility, unlimited power and placed under a bright light of group pressure--all too often, an HOA Board devolves into bullying, ignorance, shifting of blame, wasting of money. The evidence that the HOA Board model produces the worst sort of human behavior is everywhere and undeniable.

  To blame that behavior on the people themselves, rather than look at what causes it, is--at this point--unconscionable gaslighting.

  You either need to fully educate a Board--which is no 5-hour or even all-weekend affair! It's a serious undertaking!--or devise a system where these properties are managed by highly skilled professionals. NOT the unlicensed, predatory management companies that currently abound.

  I write these words with great frustration and sadness.

  
  

  
  
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  To: Hands Tied by Metro District

  by MD and HOA Homeowner, over 2 years ago

  There is a critical nexus between many HOAs and Metro Districts, hence two different task forces created under HB23-1105.

  You might want to take a look at Engage DORA and "stories" for the Metro District Task Force's consideration at: https://engagedora.org/metropolitan-district-homeowners-rights-task-force

  If you would like the Metro District Task Force to learn about your Metro District experience, you could re-post your story there. (You'll find other Sterling Ranch Metro District stories/commentary there.)

  There is a critical nexus between many HOAs and Metro Districts, hence two different task forces created under HB23-1105.

  You might want to take a look at Engage DORA and "stories" for the Metro District Task Force's consideration at: https://engagedora.org/metropolitan-district-homeowners-rights-task-force

  If you would like the Metro District Task Force to learn about your Metro District experience, you could re-post your story there. (You'll find other Sterling Ranch Metro District stories/commentary there.)
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  Hands Tied by Metro District

  by Kdeadwy, over 2 years ago

  We have lived in Sterling Ranch (Littleton) for over 5 years. We have many of the same issues as others who have posted their stories. It is frustrating to have little say in how the rules are defined. Granted, they go through the motions to make it APPEAR as if the homeowners have input, but very few of the comments/recommendations are ever adopted. If the family that runs the development doesn’t agree, they have enough influence with the other non-residents on the board to have them voted down… the ratio of resident to non-resident board members is laughable.

  
  

  Our biggest... Continue reading

  We have lived in Sterling Ranch (Littleton) for over 5 years. We have many of the same issues as others who have posted their stories. It is frustrating to have little say in how the rules are defined. Granted, they go through the motions to make it APPEAR as if the homeowners have input, but very few of the comments/recommendations are ever adopted. If the family that runs the development doesn’t agree, they have enough influence with the other non-residents on the board to have them voted down… the ratio of resident to non-resident board members is laughable.

  
  

  Our biggest concern is that because this development is governed by metro districts, there is no legal recourse when something truly underhanded transpires.

  
  

  Because our home was one of the first ones built and because many of the contractors were not educated on how the two-water-meter approach was to be implemented, our house was built with a glaring construction defect, through no fault of our own. The CAB recognized that it was a defect, but decided for some reason they would *not* be holding the builders accountable to correct the defect (we have documentation), and they came up with an alternative proposed solution. We naively believed that the proposed solution was underway and would resolve the issue.

  
  

  Unfortunately we were informed JUST AFTER the 2-year statute of limitations expired that the trial of their proposed solution would not work, and we were told we had to incur the cost to repair the defect ourselves. Otherwise, we would be held out-of-compliance for the water covenants. Fortunately, the 150 or so property owners affected banded together and fought back hard enough to get the CAB to provide a variance to the water covenants and we did not need to spend the $10,000 to fix the construction defect.

  
  

  During this battle, it was extremely frustrating that original board members acted like they were unaware of the situation, blamed it on the builders not overseeing construction properly, claimed it was an inspection issue, etc.

  
  

  At the moment, we have the variance for our property, but were advised that this could change at any time should a future CAB board vote that the variances are no longer agreeable, for whatever reason.

  
  

  Because our development is governed by metro districts, we have been advised that we cannot sue the CAB or metro districts. Our hands are completely tied by something that was done long before we purchased our home.

  
  

  We are not suggesting that metro districts should be sued frivolously, but when something like this occurs, the homeowners should be able to receive financial compensation, allowing them to make the changes necessary to meet the covenants for the neighborhood.

  
  

  UPDATE: Thank you for pointing out I had posted this to the wrong task force, I have moved it to the correct one.