EVERY HOME IN WESTCHESTER COMMONS
IS BOUND BY PROTECTIVE COVENANTS
Since its inception, Westchester Commons was a community which was bound by covenants. However, under these original declarations homeowner's association membership was not mandatory, nor were there provisions set in place for placing liens against or fining covenant violators-- limiting the effectiveness of the HOA and their ability to maintain our community. In and around 2003, all that changed, when the WCSTA board took on the project of having mandatory covenants created and enacted for our subdivison. A majority of residents voted mandatory covenants in place by signing in to participate in the newly drafted declarations which would govern Westchester Commons. Those homes which did not become WCSTA members under the new covenants continue to be protected under the original covenants, which continue to remain in effect for those homes-- although again, there are no provisions for placing liens or fining violating homes under these covenants.
Research shows the subdivisions with protective covenants have homes that routinely sell higher priced than in subdivisions without mandatory covenants in place. Westchester Commons, fortunately, has these covenants enacted, although not everyone in the subdivision has joined the homeowner's association and is subject to the covenants-- yet.
One of the roles of the board is to help move our subdivision to 100% membership, and your existing board is taking steps to move in that direction. Currently aproximately 2 out of every 3 houses are subject to the covenants, with that number growing all the time. Many people have questions regarding violation letters, architectural requests, and the like, and fortunately, our covenants are very explicit with what can and what cannot be done. Should you have questions about the covenants, HOA procedures, or what is or is not permissible, then please check the covenants and amended By-laws. Once a home has entered into mandatory covenants then the property must remain under the covenants.
Both sets of declarations are available in the right sidebar for your perusal. You may need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view them, which can be obtained free at http://www.adobe.com/ .
