The Heritage Hills people are at it again.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-could-restrict-whats-kept-on-downtown-balconies/article/3677242?custom_click=pod_headline_politics

Hmm. Whats the difference between an upstairs outdoor deck and a balcony?


I wonder if this is being pushed by that HH lady, or some of her ilk, whose apartment project didn't get selected by the selection committee... She builds nice things, but I can imagine feelings of spite and desires to obstruct since she didn't get her way...

I only say that because one day last fall I was watching the City Gov't channel and she was trying to throw a fit to the historic district or whatever its called about the style of roofing material some other HH resident was using to replace her hail damaged roof, that was leaking. To go into detail, it was the same visual condition as the original material, only those original tiles are no longer fabricated. The HH resident whose roof was leaking had already replaced the roofing tiles with the next closest available product currently in the market, but didnt get permission first from the committee of insane zealots. Trying to remember, its called a Certificate of Appropriateness or some such swag...This is where the people who know the zigs and zags enter and throw wrenches into the mix...

Anyway...

They (HH residents) were trying to get the homeowner to have the roof torn off and replaced with roofing tiles that are no longer available. those kinds of people are insane.

The HH HOA is probably the only thing that has given us pause when it comes to moving there. We've put offers in on a couple of homes so far. One home owner was actually moving because of the HOA. They wanted to do energy efficient windows (expensive, attractive and looked similar to the time period of the home) but the HOA wouldn't let them. They also wanted to use energy efficient siding made to look like painted wood. Another realtor told us about a neighboring home that now had a lien on it because the home owner resurfaced a badly cracked driveway without paying the fees and getting permission and waiting on the HOA's approval.

I have mixed feeling over this proposed ordinance. I am for the spirit of the ordinance, but I think time has shown that the spirit and the enforcement may not match.

I don't see an issue with larger complexes, like the Regency. They will police themselves to keep the majority happy. Its the smaller, older, unkept 4 and 8 plex's where you do tend to see the sofa on the porch with the workout bench, etc.

While I understand that there are things that can be put on a balcony that many would consider unsightly, I think there are too many grey areas. You would have to specify the size of couch prohibited, or perhaps the fabric on the couch. Would it be ok to put a couch that was made for outdoor use outside, but not one from Mathis Brothers on the balcony? Or, would a couch from Mathis Brothers be OK, but not one from Jude N Jodies? There are some great looking plastic couches for sale up at the NH Plaza. OK or not OK? Maybe you just create balcony police that go around deciding whose balcony is unacceptable and whose is not. Tricky.

from the early CC comments .. i doubt that this gets passed ....