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DECLARATION OF PROTECTIVE
COVENANTS
FOR
PIERCE POINTE
HYATT & RHOADS, P.C.
Attorneys
2400 Marquis One Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 659-6600
-TABLE OF CONTENTS -
Article Section
II PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THIS DECLARATION
1. Property Hereby Subjected To This Declaration
III ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS
1. Membership
2. Voting
IV. ASSESSMENTS
2. Creation of the Lien and Personal Obligation for Assessments
3. Computation
6. Effect of Nonpayment of Assessments:
7. Date of Commencement of Assessments
9. Budget Deficits During Declarant Control
V. MAINTENANCE, CONVEYANCE OF COMMON PROPERTY
1. Association's Responsibility
3. Conveyance of Cannon Property by Declarant to Association
VI. USE RESTRICTIONS AND RULES
1. General
4. Signs
5. Vehicles
6. Parking
7. Leasing
10. Nuisance
11. Unsightly or Unkempt Conditions
12. Antennas
13. Tree Removal
14. Drainage
15. Sight Distance at Intersections
16. Garbage Cans, Woodpiles, Etc.
18. Guns
19. Fences
20. Utility Lines
22. Lighting
23. Artificial Vegetation, Exterior Sculpture, and Similar Items
24. Energy Conservation Equipment
25. Swimming Pools
26. Gardens, Play Equipment and Pools
27. Mailboxes
28. Clotheslines
30. Entry Features
VII INSURANCE AND CASUALTY LOSSES
1. Insurance on Common Property
3. Damage and Destruction - Insured by Association
4. Damage and Destruction - Insured by Owners
VIII CONDEMNATION
IX ANNEXATION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY
1. Unilateral Annexation By Declarant
2. No Priority
XI. EASEMENTS
1. Easements for Encroachment and Overhang
2. Easements for Use and Enjoyment
6. Easement for Entry Features
7. Construct ion and Sale Period Easement
XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Enforcement
2. Self‑Help
3. Duration
4. Amendment
5. Partition
7. Severability
8. Captions
9. Preparer
10. Perpetuities
11. Indemnification
13. Financial Review
14. Notice at Sale, Lease or Acquisition
15. Agreements
16. Implied Rights
17, Variances
18. Litigation
DECLARATION
OF PROTECTIVE COVENANTS
FOR
PIERCE POINTE
THIS DECLARATION is made on the date hereinafter set forth by UG I - GP, L.P., a California limited partnership (hereinafter sometimes called "Declarant");
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Declarant is the owner of the real property described in Article II, Section 1 of this Declaration (or, if not the owner, Declarant has the written consent of the owner to subject such property to the provisions of this Declaration); and
WHEREAS, Declarant desires to subject the real property described in Article II, Section 1 hereof to the provisions of this Declaration to create a residential community of single‑family housing and to provide for the subjecting of other real property to the provisions of this Declaration;
NOW, THEREFORE, Declarant hereby declares that the real property described in Article II, Section 1 of this Declaration, including the improvement constructed or to be constructed thereon, is hereby subjected to the provisions of this Declaration and shall be held, sold, transferred, conveyed, used, occupied, and mortgaged or otherwise encumbered subject to the covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, assessments, and liens, hereinafter set forth, which are for the purpose of protecting the value and desirability of, and which shall run with the title to, the real property hereby or hereafter made subject hereto, and shall be binding on all persons having any right, title, or interest in all or any portion of the real property now or hereafter made subject hereto, their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, successors-in-title, and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each and every owner of all or any portion thereof.
Definitions
The following words, when used in this Declaration or Supplementary Declaration (unless the context shall prohibit), shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Association” shall mean Pierce Pointe Community Association, Inc.., a Georgia nonprofit corporation, its successors and assigns.
(2) "Board of Directors" or "Board” of the Association shall be the appointed or elected body, as applicable, having its normal meaning under Georgia law.
(3) "Bylaws” shall refer to the Bylaws of Pierce Pointe Community Association, Inc., attached to this Declaration as Exhibit "C" and incorporated herein by this reference.
(4) "Common Property” shall mean any and all real and personal property and easements and other interests therein, together with the facilities and improvements located thereon, now or hereafter owned by the Association for the common use and enjoyment of the Owners.
(5) "Community” shall mean and refer to that certain real property and interests therein described in Exhibit "A", attached hereto, and (i) such additions thereto as may be made by Declarant by Supplementary Declaration of all or any portion of the real property described in Exhibit "B" attached hereto: and (ii) such additions thereto as may be made by the Association by Supplementary Declaration.
(1) "Community‑Wide Standard" shall mean the standard of conduct, maintenance or other activity generally prevailing in the Community. Such standard may be more specifically determined by the Board of Directors of the Association. Such determination, however, must be consistent with the Community‑Wide Standard originally established by the Declarant.
(g) "Declarant” shall mean and refer to UGI - GP, L.P., a California limited partnership and its successors-in-title and assigns, provided any such successor-in-title or assign shall acquire for the purpose of development or sale all or any portion of the remaining undeveloped or unsold portions of the real property described in Exhibit “A”, attached hereto, or in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and provided further, in the instrument of conveyance to any such successor-in-title or assign, such successor-in-title or assign is designated as the “Declarant” hereunder by the grantor of such conveyance, which grantor shall be the “Declarant” hereunder at the time of such conveyance; provided, further, upon such designation of such successor Declarant, all rights of the former Declarant in and to such status as "Declarant" hereunder shall cease, it being understood that as to all of property described in Exhibit "A", attached hereto, and in Exhibit "B", attached hereto, which is now or hereafter subjected to this Declaration, there shall be only one (1) "Declarant" hereunder at any one point in time.
(1) "Lot” shall mean any plot of land within the Community, whether or not improvements are constructed thereon, which constitutes or will constitute, after the construction of improvements, a single-family dwelling site as shown on a plat recorded in the land records of the county where the Community is located. The ownership of each Lot shall include, and there shall pass with each Lot as an appurtenance thereto, whether or not separately described, all of the right, title, and interest of an Owner in the Common Property, which shall include, without limitation, membership in the Association.
(i) “Mortgage" means any mortgage, security deed, deed of trust, and any and all other similar instruments used for the purpose of encumbering real property in the Community as security for the payment or satisfaction of an obligation.
(j) "Mortgagee” shalt mean the holder of a Mortgage.
(k) "Occupant” shall mean any Person occupying all or any portion of a Lot or other property located within the Community for any period of time, regardless of whether such Person is a tenant of the Owner of such property.
(l) "Owner" shall rnean and refer to the record owner, whether one or more Persons, of the fee simple title to any Lot located within the Community, excluding, however, any Person holding such interest merely as security for the performance or satisfaction of any obligation.
(m) "Person" means any natural person, as well as a corporation, joint venture, partnership (general or limited), association, trust, or other legal entity.
(n) "Supplementary Declaration" means an amendment or supplement to this Declaration which subjects additional property to this Declaration or imposes, expressly or by reference, additional restrictions and obligations on the land described therein, or both.
(o) "Total Association Vote" means all of the votes attributable to members of the Association (including votes of Declarant), and the consent of Declarant so long as Declarant owns any property for development and/or sale in the Community or has the right to unilaterally annex additional property to the Community.
Property Subject To This Declaration
Section 1. Property Hereby Subjected To This Declaration. The real property which is by the recording of this Declaration, subject to the covenants and restrictions hereafter set forth and which, by virtue of the recording of this Declaration, shall be held, transferred, sold, conveyed, used, occupied, and mortgaged or otherwise encumbered subject to this Declaration is the real property described in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof.
Section 2. Other Property. Only the real property described in Section 1 of this Article II is hereby made subject to this Declaration; provided, however, by one (1) or more Supplementary Declarations, Declarant and the Association have the right, but not the obligation, to subject other real property to this Declaration, as hereinafter provided.
Association Membership and
Voting Rights
Section 1. Membership. Every Person who is the record owner of a fee or undivided fee interest in any Lot that is subject to this Declaration shall be deemed to have a membership in the Association. The foregoing is not intended to include Persons who hold an interest merely as security for the performance of an obligation, and the giving of a security interest shall not
terminate the Owner's membership. No Owner, whether one or more Persons, shall have more than one (1) membership per Lot. In the event of multiple Owners of a lot, votes and rights of use and enjoyment shall be as provided in this Declaration and in the Bylaws. Membership shall be appurtenant to and may not be separated from ownership of any Lot. The rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote and to hold office, may be exercised by a member or the member's spouse, but in no event shall more than one (1) vote be cast nor office held for each Lot owned.
Section 2. Voting. Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each Lot owned. When more than one (1) Person holds an ownership interest in any Lot, the vote for such Lot shall be exercised as those Owners themselves determine and advise the Secretary prior to any meeting. In the absence of such advice, the Lot's vote shall be suspended in the event more than one (1) Person seeks to exercise it.
Assessments
Section 1. Purpose of Assessment. The assessments provided for herein shall be used for the general purposes of promoting the recreation, health, safety, welfare, common benefit, and enjoyment of the Owners and occupants of Lots, including the maintenance of real and personal property, all as may be more specifically authorized from time to time by the Board of Di rectors.
Section 2. Creation of the Lien and Personal Obligation for Assessments. Each Owner of any Lot, by acceptance of a deed therefor whether or not it shall be so expressed in such deed, covenants and agrees to pay to the Association: (a) annual assessments or charges; (b) special assessments, such assessments to be established and collected as hereinafter provided; and (c) specific assessments against any particular Lot which are established pursuant to the terms of this Declaration, including, but not limited to, reasonable fines as may be imposed in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, All such assessments, together with late charges, interest, not to exceed the lesser of the maximum rate permitted by law or eighteen percent (18%) per annum on the principal amount due, costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred, shall be a charge on the land and shall be a continuing lien upon the Lot against which each assessment is made. Each such assessment, together with late charges, interest costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred, shall also be the personal obligation of the person who was the Owner of such Lot at the time the assessment fell due. Each Owner shall be personally liable for the portion of each assessment coming due while the Owner of a Lot, and each grantee of an Owner shall be jointly and severally liable for such portion thereof as may be due and payable at the time of conveyance; provided. However, the liability of a grantee for the unpaid assessments of its grantor shall not apply to any first Mortgagee taking title through foreclosure proceedings or deed in lieu of foreclosure.
The Association shall, within five (5) days after receiving a written request therefore and for a reasonable charge, furnish a certificate signed by an officer of the Association setting forth whether the assessments on a specified Lot have been paid. A properly executed certificate of the Association as to the status of assessments on a Lot shall be binding upon the Association as of the date of issuance.
Annual assessments shall be levied equally on all similarly situated Lots and shall be paid in such manner and on such dates as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, which may include without limitation, acceleration, upon ten (10) days' written notice, of the annual assessment for delinquents. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the assessment shall be paid in annual installments.
Section 3. Computation. It shall be the duty of the Board to prepare a budget covering the estimated costs of operating the Association during the coming year, which shall include a capital contribution or reserve in accordance with a capital budget separately prepared. The Board shall cause the budget and the assessments to be levied against each Lot for the following year to be delivered to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the current fiscal year. The budget and the assessment shall become effective unless disapproved at a meeting by a Majority of the Total Association Vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, in the event the membership disapproves the proposed budget or the Board fails for any reason so to determine the budget for the succeeding year, then and until such time as a budget shall have been determined, as provided herein, the budget in effect for the then current year shall continue for the succeeding year.
Section 4. “Special Assessments”. In addition to the other assessments authorized herein, the Association may levy special assessments from time to time if approved at a meeting by two-thirds (2~3) of the Total Association Vote. Special assessments shall be paid as determined by the Board, and the Board may permit special assessments to be paid in installments extending beyond the fiscal year in which the special assessment is imposed.
Section 5. Lien for Assessments. All sums assessed against any Lot, pursuant to this Declaration, together with late charges, interest, costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred, as provided herein, shall be secured by a lien on such Lot in favor of the Association. Such lien shall be superior to all other liens and encumbrances on such Lot, except for (a.) liens for ad valorem taxes; or (b) liens for all sums unpaid on a first Mortgage or on any Mortgage to Declarant duly recorded in the land records of the county where the Community is located and all amounts advanced, pursuant to such Mortgage and secured thereby in accordance with the terms of such instrument.
All other Persons acquiring liens or encumbrances on any Lot after this Declaration shall have been recorded in such records shall be deemed to consent that such liens or encumbrances shall be inferior to future liens for assessments, as provided herein, whether or not prior consent is specifically set forth in the instruments creating such liens or encumbrances.
Section 6. Effect of Nonpayment of Assessments: Remedies of the Association. Any assessments or installments thereof which are not paid when due shall be delinquent. Any assessment or installment thereof delinquent for a period of more than ten (10) days shall incur a late charge in an amount as the Board may from time to time, determine. The Association may cause a notice of delinquency to be given to any member who has not paid within ten (10) days following the due date. If the assessment is not paid within thirty (30) days, a lien, as herein provided, shall attach and, in addition, the lien shall include interest, not to exceed the lesser of the maximum rate permitted by law or eighteen percent (18%) per annum on the principal amount due, all late charges from the date first due and payable, all costs of collection, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred, and any other amounts provided or permitted by law. In the event that the assessment remains unpaid after sixty (60) days, the Association may, as the Board shall determine, institute suit to collect such amounts and/or to foreclose its lien. Each Owner, by acceptance of a deed or as a party to any other type of a conveyance, vests in the Association or its agents the right and power to bring all actions against such Owner personally, for the collection of such charges as a debt or to foreclose the aforesaid lien in the same manner as other liens for the improvement of real property. The lien provided for in this Article shall be in favor of the Association and shall be for the benefit of all other Owners, The Association, acting on behalf of the Owners, shall have the power to bid on the Lot at any foreclosure sale or to acquire, hold lease, mortgage, or convey the same.
No Owner may waive or otherwise exempt himself from liability for the assessments provided for herein, including, by way of illustration, but not limitation, abandonment of the Lot. No diminution or abatement of any assessment shall be claimed or allowed by reason of any alleged failure of the Association to take some action or perform some function required to be taken or performed by the Association under this Declaration or the Bylaws, or for inconvenience or discomfort arising from the making of repairs or improvements which are the responsibility of the Association, or from any action taken by the Association to comply with any law, ordinance, or with any order or directive of any municipal or other governmental authority, the obligation to pay assessments being a separate and independent covenant on the part of each Owner.
All payments shall be applied first to costs, then to late charges, then to interest and then to delinquent assessments.
Section 7. Date of Commencement of Assessments. The assessments provided for herein shall commence as to a Lot subject to this Declaration on the first day of the month following the conveyance of such Lot to a Person who has not purchased such Lot for the purpose of construction of a residence and resale of such Lot and residence. Lots which have not been so conveyed shall not be subject to assessment. Assessments shall be due and payable in a manner and on a schedule as the Board of Directors may provide. The first annual assessment shall be adjusted according to the number of months then remaining in that fiscal year.
Section 8. Specific Assessments. The Board shall have the power to specifically assess pursuant to this Section as, in its discretion, it shall deem appropriate. Failure of the Board to exercise its authority under this Section shall not be grounds for any action against the Association or the Board of Directors and shall not constitute a waiver of the Board's right to exercise its authority under this Section in the future with respect to any expenses, including an expense for which the Board has not previously exercised its authority under this Section. Fines levied pursuant to Article XII, Section 1 of this Declaration and the costs of maintenance performed by the Association which the Owner is responsible for under Article V, Sections 1and 2 of this Declaration shall be specific assessments. The Board may also specifically assess Owners for the following Association expenses (except for expenses incurred for maintenance and repair of items which are the maintenance responsibility of the Association as provided herein):
(a) Expenses of the Association which benefit less than all of the Lots may be specifically assessed equitably among all of the Lots which are benefited according to the benefit received.
(b) Expenses of the Association which benefit all Lots, but which do not provide an equal benefit to all Lots, may be assessed equitably among all Lots according to the benefit received.
Section 9. Budget Deficits During Declarant Control. For so long as the Declarant has the authority to appoint the directors and officers of the Association, Declarant may: (I) advance funds to the Association sufficient to satisfy the deficit, if any, between the actual operating expenses of the Association (but specifically not including an allocation for capital reserves), and the sum of the annual, special and specific assessments collected by the Association in any fiscal year, and such advances shall be evidenced by promissory notes from the Association in favor of the Declarant; or (ii) cause the Association to borrow such amount from a commercial lending institution at the then prevailing rates for such a loan in the local area of the Community. The Declarant in its sole discretion may guarantee repayment of such loan, if required by the lending institution, but no Mortgage secured by the Common Property or any of the improvements maintained by the Association shall be given in connection with such loan.
Maintenance: Conveyance of Common Property to Association
Section 1. Association's Responsibility. The Association shall maintain and keep in good repair the Common Property. This maintenance shall include, without limitation, maintenance, repair, and replacement, subject to any insurance then in effect, of all landscaping and improvements situated on the Common Property. The Association shall also maintain: (a) all entry features for the Community including the expenses for water and electricity if any, provided to all such entry features; (b) landscaping originally installed by the Declarant whether or not such landscaping is on a Lot or public right-of-way; and (c) all property outside of Lots located within the Community which was originally maintained by Declarant.
In addition, the Association shall have the right, but not the obligation, to maintain other property not owned by the Association, whether within or without the Community, where the Board has determined that such maintenance would benefit all Owners.
In the event that the Association determines that the need for maintenance, repair, or replacement, which is the responsibility of the Association hereunder, is caused through the willful or negligent act of an Owner, or the family, guests, lessees, or invitees of any Owner, and is not covered or paid for by insurance, in whole or in part, then the Association may perform such maintenance, repair or replacement at such Owner's sole cost and expense, and all costs thereof shall be added to and become a part of the assessment to which such Owner is subject and shall become a lien against the Lot of such Owner.
The foregoing maintenance shall be performed consistent with the Community-Wide Standard.
Section 2. Owners Responsibility. Except as provided in Section 1 above, all maintenance of the Lot and all structures, parking areas, landscaping, and other improvements thereon shall be the sole responsibility of the Owner thereof, who shall maintain such Lot in a manner consistent the Community-Wide Standard and this Declaration In the event that the Board of Directors of the Association determines that any Owner has failed or refused to discharge properly any of such Owner’s obligations with regard to the maintenance, repair, or replacement of items for which such Owner is responsible hereunder, the Association shall, except in an emergency situation, give the Owner written notice of the Association's intent to provide such necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement at the Owner's sole cost and expense. The notice shall set forth with reasonable particularity the maintenance, repairs, or replacement deemed necessary. The Owner shall have ten (10) days after receipt of such notice within which to complete such maintenance, repair, or replacement, or, in the event that such maintenance, repair, or replacement is not capable of completion within a ten (10) day period, to commence such work which shall be completed within a reasonable time. If any Owner does not comply with the provisions hereof, the Association may provide any such maintenance repair, or replacement at such Owner’s sole cost and expense, and all costs shall be added to and become a part of the assessment to which such Owner is subject and shall become a lien against the Lot.
Section 3. Convevance of Common Property by Declarant to Association. The Declarant may transfer or convey to the Association any personal property and any improved or unimproved real property, leasehold, easement, or other property interest. Such conveyance shall be accepted by the Association, and the property shall thereafter be Common Property to be maintained by the Association for the benefit of all or a part of its Members. Declarant shall not be required to make any improvements whatsoever to property to be conveyed and accepted pursuant to this Section.
Use Restrictions and Rules
Section 1. General. This Article, beginning at Section 2, sets out certain use restrictions, which must be complied with by all Owners and Occupants. These use restrictions may only be amended in the manner provided in Article XII, Section 4, hereof regarding amendment of this Declaration. In addition, the Board may, from time to time, without consent of the Members, promulgate, modify, or delete other use restrictions and rules and regulations applicable to the Community. Such use restrictions and rules shall be distributed to all Owners and Occupants prior to the date that they are to become effective and shall thereafter be binding upon all Owners and Occupants until and unless overruled cancel led or mod tied in a regular or special meeting by a Majority of the Total Association Vote.
Section 2. Residential Use. All Lots shall be used for residential purposes exclusively. No business or business activity shall be carried on, in or upon any Lot at any time except with the written approval of the Board. Leasing of a Lot shall not be considered a business or business activity. However the Board may permit a Lot to be used for business purposes so long as such business, in the sole discretion of the Board, does not otherwise violate the provisions of the Declaration or Bylaws, does not create a disturbance and does not unduly increase traffic flow or parking congestion. The Board may issue rules regarding permitted business activities.
Section 3. Architectural Standards. No exterior construction, alteration, addition, or erection of any nature whatsoever shall be commenced or placed upon any part of the Community, except such as is installed by the Declarant, or as is approved in accordance with this Section, or as is otherwise expressly permitted herein. No exterior construction, addition, erection, or alteration shall be made unless and until plans and specifications showing at least the nature, kind, shape, height, materials, and location shall have been submitted in writing to and approved by an Architectural Review Committee, The Architectural Review Committee may be established such that it is divided into two (2) subcommittees, with one (1) subcommittee having jurisdiction over modifications and the other having jurisdiction over new construction. The Board may employ architects, engineers, or other Persons as it deems necessary to enable the Architectural Review Committee to perform its review. Written design guidelines and procedures may be promulgated for the exercise of this review, which guidelines may provide for a review fee. So long as the Declarant owns any property for development and/or sale in the Community or has the right to unilaterally annex additional property to the Community, the Declarant shall have the right to appoint all members of the Architectural Review Committee. Upon the expiration or earlier surrender in writing of such right, the Board shall appoint the members of the Architectural Review Committee.
If the Architectural Review Committee fails to approve or to disapprove submitted plans and specifications within sixty (60) days after the plans and specifications have been submitted to it, approval will not be required, and this Section will be deemed to have been fully complied with. As a condition of approval under this Section, each Owner, on behalf of such Owner and such Owner's successors-in-interest, shall assume all responsibilities for maintenance, repair, replacement, and insurance to and on any change, modification, addition, or alteration. In the discretion of the Architectural Review Committee, an Owner may be made to verify such condition of approval by a recordable written instrument acknowledged by such Owner on behalf of such Owner and such Owner's successors-in-interest. The Architectural Review Committee shall be the sole arbiter of such plans and may withhold approval for any reason, Including purely aesthetic considerations, and it shall be entitled to stop any construction in violation of these restrictions. Any member of the Board or its representatives shall have the right, during reasonable hours and after reasonable notice to enter upon any property to inspect for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not these restrictive covenants have been or are being complied with. Such Person or Persons shall not be deemed guilty of trespass by reason of such entry. In addition to any other remedies available to the Association in the event of noncompliance with this Section, the Hoard may, as provided in Article XII, Section 1, hereof, record in the appropriate land records a notice of violation naming the violating Owner.
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE NOT APPROVED FOR ENGINEERING OR STRUCTURAL DESIGN OR QUALITY OF MATERIALS, AND BY APPROVING SUCH PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS NEITHER THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS THEREOF, NOR THE ASSOCIATION ASSUMES LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY THEREFOR, NOR FOR ANY DEFECT IN ANY STRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED FROM SUCH PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS NEITHER DECLARANT, THE ASSOCIATION, THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE THE BOARD, NOR THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS OF ANY OF THEM SHALL BE LIABLE IN DAMAGES TO ANYONE SUBMITTING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO ANY OF THEM FOR APPROVAL, OR TO ANY OWNER OF PROPERTY AFFECTED BY THESE RESTRICTIONS BY REASON OF MISTAKE IN JUDGMENT, NEGLIGENCE, OR NONFEASANCE ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OR FAILURE TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY SUCH PLANS OR SPECIFICATIONS. EVERY PERSON WHO SUBMITS PLANS OR SPECIFICATIONS AND EVERY OWNER AGREES THAT SUCH PERSON OR OWNER WILL NOT BRING ANY ACTION OR SUIT AGAINST DECLARANT, THE ASSOCIATION, THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, THE BOARD, OR THE OFFICERS. DIRECTORS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS OF ANY OF THEM TO RECOVER ANY DAMAGES AND HERESY RELEASES, REMISES, OUITCLAIMS, AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE FOR ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY JUDGMENT. NEGLIGENCE, OR NONFEASANCE AND HERESY WAIVES THE PROVISIONS OF ANY LAW WHICH PROVIDES THAT A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME THE RELEASE IS GIVEN.
Section 4. Signs. No sign of any kind shall be erected by an Owner or Occupant within the Community without the prior written consent of the Architectural Review Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board and the Declarant shall have the right to erect reasonable and appropriate signs. "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs and security signs consistent with the Community-Wide Standard and any signs required by legal proceedings may be erected upon any Lot. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any Person holding a Mortgage who becomes the Owner of any Lot as purchaser at a judicial or foreclosure sale conducted with respect to a first Mortgage or as transferee pursuant to any proceeding in lieu thereof.
Section 5. Vehicles. The term "vehicles," as used herein, shall include, without limitation, motor homes, boats, trailers, motorcycles, minibikes, scooters, go-carts, trucks, campers, buses, vans, and automobiles. Unless and except to the extent that the Occupants of a Lot shall have more vehicles than the number of parking areas serving their Lot, all vehicles shall be parked within such parking areas. Where the Lot contains a garage, "parking areas" shall refer to the number of garage parking spaces. All single-family detached homes shall contain a garage; carports shall not be permitted. Garage doors should be kept closed at all times, except during times of ingress and egress from the garage.
No vehicle may be left upon any portion of the Community, except in a garage or other area designated by the Board, for a period longer than five (5) days if it is unlicensed or it is in a condition such that it is incapable of being operated upon the public highways. After such five (5) day period, such vehicle shall be considered a nuisance and may be removed from the Community. Any towed vehicle, boat, recreational vehicle, motor home, or mobile home regularly stored in the Community or temporarily kept in the Community, except if kept in a garage or other area designated by the Board, for periods longer than twenty-four (24) hours each shall be considered a nuisance and may he removed from the Community. Trucks with mounted campers which are an Owner's or Occupants primary means of transportation shall not be considered recreational vehicles, provided they are used on a regular basis for transportation and the camper is stored out of public view upon removal,
No motorized vehicles shall be permitted on pathways or unpaved Common Property except for public safety vehicles and vehicles authorized by the Board.
Section 6. Parking. Vehicles shall be parked only in appropriate parking spaces or designated areas. All parking shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Board may adopt.
Section 7. Leasing. Lots may be leased for residential purposes. All leases shall have a minimum term of at least six (6) months. All leases shall require, without limitation, that the tenant acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Declaration, Bylaws, use restrictions, and rules and regulations of the Association. The lease shall also obligate the tenant to comply with the foregoing and shall provide that in the event of noncompliance, the Board, in addition to any other remedies available to it, may evict the tenant on behalf of the Owner and specifically assess all costs associated therewith against the Owner and the Owner's Lot.
Section 8. Occupants Bound. All provisions of the Declaration, Bylaws, and of any rules and regulations, use restrictions or design guidelines promulgated pursuant thereto which govern the conduct of Owners and which provide for sanctions against Owners shall also apply to all Occupants even though Occupants are not specifically mentioned. Fines may be levied against Owners or Occupants. If a fine is first levied against an Occupant and is not paid timely, the fine may then be levied against the Owner.
Section 9. Animals and Pets. No animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind may be raised, bred, kept, or permitted on any Lot, with the exception of dogs, cats, or other usual and common household pets in reasonable number, as determined by the Board. No pets shall be kept, bred or maintained for any commercial purpose.
Section 10. Nuisance. It shall be the responsibility of each Owner and Occupant to prevent the development of any unclean, unhealthy, unsightly, or unkempt condition on his or her property. No property within the Community shall be used, in whole or in part, for the storage of any property or thing that will cause such Lot to appear to be in an unclean or untidy condition or that will be obnoxious to the eye: nor shall any substance, thing, or material be kept that will emit foul or obnoxious odors or that will cause any noise or other condition that will or might disturb the peace, quiet, safety, comfort, or serenity of the occupants of surrounding property. No noxious or offensive activity shall be carried on within the Community, nor shall anything be done tending to cause embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance, or nuisance to any Person using any property within the Community. There shall not be maintained any plants or animals or device or thing of any sort whose activities or existence in any way is noxious, dangerous, unsightly, unpleasant, or of a nature as may diminish or destroy the enjoyment of the Community. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no speaker, horn, whistle, siren, bell, amplifier or other sound device, except such devices as may be used exclusively for security purposes, shall be located, installed or maintained upon the exterior of any Lot unless required by law.
Section 11. Unsightly or Unkempt Conditions. The pursuit of hobbies or other activities, including specifically, without limiting the generality if the foregoing, the assembly and disassembly of motor vehicles and other mechanical devices, which might tend to cause disorderly, unsightly, or unkempt conditions, shall not be pursued or undertaken in any part of the Community.
Section 12. Antenna. No exterior antennas of any kind shall be placed, allowed, or maintained upon any portion of the Community, including any Lot, without the prior written consent of the Architectural Review Committee. No free standing antennas whatsoever shall be placed on any Lot including, without limitation, satellite dishes. However, the Board shall have the right (but shall not be obligated), to erect a master antenna, satellite dish or other similar master system for the benefit of the entire Community. Each Owner and Occupant acknowledges that this provision benefits all Owners and Occupants and each Owner and Occupant agrees to comply with this provision despite the fact that the erection of an outdoor antenna or similar device would be the most cost-effective way to transmit or receive signals sought to be transmitted or received.
Section 13. Tree Removal. No trees that are more than four (4) inches in diameter at a point two (2) feet above the ground shall be removed without the prior written consent of the Architectural Review Committee. Notwithstanding all of the above, no consent or approval is required for the removal of any trees, regardless of their diameter, that are diseased or located within ten (10) feet of a drainage area, a sidewalk, a residence or a driveway.
Section 14. Drainage. Catch basins and drainage areas are for the purpose of natural flow of water only. No obstructions or debris shall be placed in these areas. No Owner or Occupant may obstruct or rechannel the drainage flows after location and installation of drainage swales, storm sewers, or storm drains. Declarant hereby reserves the benefit of Declarant and the Association and their respective successors and assigns a perpetual easement across the Community for the purpose of altering drainage and water flow. Rights exercised pursuant to such reserved easement shall be exercised with a minimum of interference to the quiet enjoyment of affected property, reasonable steps shall be taken to protect such property, and damage shall be repaired by the Person causing the damage at its sole expense.
Section 15. Sight Distance at Intersections. All property located at street intersections shall be landscaped so as to permit safe sight across the street corners. No fence, wall, hedge, or shrub planting shall be placed or permitted to remain where it would create a traffic or sight problem.
Section 16. Garbage Cans. Woodpiles. Etc. All garbage cans, woodpiles, swimming pool pumps, filters and related equipment, air conditioning compressors and other similar items shall be located or screened so as to be concealed from view of neighboring streets and property. All rubbish, trash, and garbage shall be regularly removed and shall not be allowed to accumulate. Declarant, however, hereby expressly reserves the right to dump and bury rocks and trees on property within the Community as needed for efficient construction and to allow developers and builders within the Community to bury rocks and trees removed from a building site on such building site. Trash, garbage, debris, or other waste matter of any kind may not be burned within the Community.
Section 17. Subdivision of Lot. No Lot shall be subdivided or its boundary lines changed except with the prior written approval of the Architectural Review Committee. Declarant, however, hereby expressly reserves the right to replat any Lot or Lots owned by Declarant. Any such division, boundary line change, or replatting shall not be in violation of the applicable subdivision and zoning regulations.
Section 18. Guns. The use of firearms in the Community is prohibited. The Term "firearms" includes without limitation "B-B" guns, pellet guns and small firearms of all types.
Section 19. Fences. No fence or fencing type barrier of any kind shall be placed, erected, allowed, or maintained closer to the street than the rear line of the dwelling located on the Lot without the prior written consent of the Architectural Review Committee. All fences shall conform to any acceptable fence styles or specifications issued by the Architectural Review Committee,
Section 20. Utility Lines. Except as may be permitted by the Architectural Review Committee, no overhead utility lines, including lines cable television, shall be permitted within the Community, except for temporary lines as required during construction and lines installed by or at the request of Declarant.
Section 21. Air-Conditioning Units. Except as may be permitted by the Architectural Review Committee, no window air conditioning units may be installed.
Section 22. Lighting. Except as may be permitted by the Architectural Review Committee, exterior lighting visible from the street shall not be permitted except for (a) approved lighting as originally decorative post light. (c) street lights in street lighting program for the Community, (d) seasonal decorative lights; or (e)