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Homeowners' Associations can't fine brown lawns, but cities can
http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2014/07/22/homeowners-associations-cant-fine-brown-lawns.htmlThe new law reaffirms the executive action Brown issued in April, which ordered homeowners’ associations from fining residents for brown lawns. This new legislation, which immediately went into effect, would apply during local and statewide droughts, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The glaring problem with the new law is that it falls short of protecting homeowners from their municipal overlords. Take for example, Glendora, where city officials impose harsh fines on residents who conserve water, and resultantly, acquire lawns with a brownish hue.
As has been reported here and elsewhere, Glendora City Manager Chris Jeffers explained away the city’s threatening letter -- one he described as “friendly” -- to a couple. The letter said their lawn could be a “potential public nuisance problem” and gave them 60 days to turn it green before fines from $100 to $500 would be issued.
The homeowner pointed out that the right thing to do was “observe we are in a drought.” Of course, driving through the neighborhoods of Glendora, one might never realize that. The city wants to call itself “the pride of the foothills,” but its utter disregard for the rest of society warrants something more along the lines of “the hubris of the foothillbillies.” No offense.
The glaring problem with the new law is that it falls short of protecting homeowners from their municipal overlords. Take for example, Glendora, where city officials impose harsh fines on residents who conserve water, and resultantly, acquire lawns with a brownish hue.
As has been reported here and elsewhere, Glendora City Manager Chris Jeffers explained away the city’s threatening letter -- one he described as “friendly” -- to a couple. The letter said their lawn could be a “potential public nuisance problem” and gave them 60 days to turn it green before fines from $100 to $500 would be issued.
The homeowner pointed out that the right thing to do was “observe we are in a drought.” Of course, driving through the neighborhoods of Glendora, one might never realize that. The city wants to call itself “the pride of the foothills,” but its utter disregard for the rest of society warrants something more along the lines of “the hubris of the foothillbillies.” No offense.
"foothillbillies"!!
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
fines for wasting water; at least the HOAs are curtailed.
As disappointed as I am in the general drought response of Californians so far, these mixed messages do create a bind. Some top-to-bottom consistency would be nice... 
