Don't worry if you already sent an email opposing the change, as discussed in this blog post. It still goes into the record. That link will bring you up to speed if you aren't familiar with what's going on and how the development could impact our community.
In addition to the email and mailing address listed there, you can send comments or testimony to either Hearings@HillsboroughCounty.org or by regular mail to:
PGM - ZONING HEARING SECTIONThe board approved retaining an attorney to verify what the community's property rights are for our entrances. The best information we have now, including that from a former HOA board member who works in the county planning department, is that we own the roads that enter the community at Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Johanna Ave. We want to learn definitively whether that means we can prevent a developer from cutting into those roads to create entrances into the commercial property.
PO BOX 1110
TAMPA, FL 33601
In other news, the board approved fines for two units that have satellite dishes installed on building roofs that never submitted applications for them. You should know that for any modification to the exterior of your home, you need to fill out and submit an Architectural Review Application. You can download one on the Architecture Review Committee Guidelines page.
In the case of these units, the residents installed the dishes on the roof in a way not permitted by our guidelines, mainly because they could compromise the integrity of the roof. The unit owners of the units now face fines of $25 a day (up to a maximum of $1,000) until they remove the dishes.
The board approved plans to replace the coping around the edge of the pool as well as the fence surrounding the pool. Some of the stone has broken and our vendor recommended replacing all of it. The new fence will be made of steel instead of aluminum, to secure the pool area better. Too many people can simply jump over or simply pry the bars apart on the current one.
Work will begin either late August or September and will require the pool to close for the week or so it will take to complete the jobs.
The board has discussed adding a key fob system to replace simple key locks for entering the pool. That would do two things: It would help ensure that people did not make copies of pool keys that they should not. It would also enable the community to deny use of the pool to residents of units more than 90 days behind in their HOA dues. The board did not vote on this.
The pool furniture needs replacement. Our property manager recommended waiting until November when we can find better deals. The board agreed.
The board explored looking for other ways to recoup missed HOA dues. Some of that money we will never see because of foreclosures and bankruptcies. But the HOA can recover at least some of the outstanding balance through a number of means, which it has become more determined to pursue.
The next board meeting, open to all unit owners, happens August 28 at 7 p.m.
