CAMELOT

VILLAGE

 

PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 

 

 

 

ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES

& 

PROPERTY STANDARDS 

 

ADOPTED – APRIL 2015

UPDATED - JANUARY 2021

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

 

In a planned community, the question naturally arises as how to maintain a harmonious, quality development as the  community matures. The following guidelines attempt to provide a meeting ground between private interests and the  broader interest of the community.  

 

The Declaration of Covenants runs with the land and is binding with all homeowners and should be fully understood.  Please retain these additional Guidelines as part of your permanent papers. You should make these Guidelines available to  any renters of your home. In the event you need additional copies of this document or The Declaration of Covenants for  the community, please contact the management company.  

 

The fact that each homeowner is subject to these Covenants should assure all homeowners that the standards of design  quality shall be maintained, enhancing the community's overall environment and protecting property values.  

 

The rules, responsibilities and procedures outlined in these Guidelines have been approved by the Board of Directors  (BOD), in compliance with the community’s Declaration of Covenants. 

 

The intent of these guidelines are: 

 

∙ To insure quiet enjoyment for the residents; 

∙ To minimize problems and expenses for the association; 

∙ And to provide for the architectural integrity of the neighborhood. 

 

The cooperation of each owner will be mutually beneficial. 

 

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) 

 

The Declarations establish an Architectural Review Committee, from now on referred to as the ARC, to be comprised of  three (3) representatives to rule on architectural submittals. The ARC is charged with conducting the review of all  applications for exterior changes and with rendering a decision to the applicant within 60 days. The ARC will respond in writing with either an approval, approval with conditions, disapproval or a request for more information on the project.  More information may be required for the ARC to make an informed decision. It is the Homeowner’s responsibility to  provide that information in a timely manner. If the ARC fails to render a decision (after receiving all required  information) in the allotted 60 days, the approval will not be required and the application will be considered to have been  approved. 

 

The ARC may from time to time publish and promulgate architectural standard bulletins, which shall be fair, reasonable, and uniformly applied. The ARC shall be responsive to technological advances or general changes in architectural  designs and materials and related conditions in future years and use its best efforts to balance the equities between matters of taste and design (on the one hand) and use of private property (on the other hand). Such bulletins shall supplement the  Declaration and are incorporated herein by reference. 

 

THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS 

 

The Declaration of Covenants requires prior written approval for any improvements to an owner’s lot. Therefore, do not commit labor or materials until you have received written approval. 

 

1. Owner submits to the Architectural Review Committee, in care of the management firm, an Application for Architectural  Improvement. Please note the Architectural Review Committee has sixty (60) days to review the application. Should nothing be received within 45 days, please call to follow up. Occasionally items get lost in the mail and the review period does not start until Community Association’s management company receives the completed application. Complete applications will be considered on individual merit, using these documented standards as a basis for decision-making. 

 

**Out of courtesy, we request you inform your neighbors of your proposed improvement(s). 

Note: when attaching to a neighbor’s fence, written approval must be obtained from the neighbor. 

 

2. The application, noted with the date of receipt by the manager, is turned over to the Architectural Review Committee within two working days, provided all information necessary for review is received. (Management will make a cursory review of the  application and request of owner any additional information needed. The committee may still require additional information, as  detailed in 4d, below. The 60-day timetable begins when the application is complete and appropriate for review.) 

 

3. The committee will act on the application within 60 calendar days from receipt. In most cases the owner will receive a response  within 5 weeks. 

 

4. The committee’s decision will be noted on the application. The owner will be notified by management of all final decisions,  either: 

 

a. APPROVAL: The application is approved as submitted.  

 

b. APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS: The overall proposal is accepted, but with certain specified changes, limitations, or requirements that must be followed. 

 

c. DISAPPROVAL: The application is denied. The owner can appeal to the Architectural  Review Committee within 15  business days. Further escalation may require the involvement of the Board of Directors. (see Appeal Process section for more details) 

 

d. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED: The Committee has determined that additional information is needed for appropriate review of the application. In this case, the entire process begins again once management receives the information. The owner should follow the same submission procedure. The Architectural Review Committee will act swiftly on all re-submissions. 

 

5. Architectural Review Committee inspection: The Architectural Review Committee reserves the right to visit your lot and  inspect the improvement. This will be done for two specific reasons: 

 

a. to ensure that the application details were followed and to note problems encountered which might help other residents  on similar projects; and  

 

b. to learn any “pointers” that other residents may employ in more easily completing an improvement project. 

 

6. Once work has begun on an improvement, it must be completed within 90 days. Applications are valid for 1 year from the date of  approval.  

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** Please note: Many design changes require a permit and the City and/or County may not issue a permit without the written approval  of the ARC. Please plan in advance. THE ARC HAS 60 DAYS TO REVIEW ALL REQUESTS, AFTER ALL THE  APPROPRIATE INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED. It is strongly suggested that the City and /or County be contacted to  determine what permits or approvals are required from a City/County Ordinance. Architectural Review Committee approval does not  substitute for approval by the City. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to acquire appropriate approvals, permits, etc. from the City.

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REVIEW CRITERIA 

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The ARC evaluates each application on the individual merits of the application and the standards listed below:

 

Validity of Concept - The basic idea of the exterior change must be sound and appropriate to its surroundings. 

Landscape and Environment - The exterior change must not unnecessarily destroy the natural landscape or the achieved  man-made environment. 

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Relationship of Structures and Adjoining Property - The proposed change should relate harmoniously among its  surroundings and to existing buildings and terrain that have a visual relationship to the change. 

 

Protection of Neighbors - The interest of neighboring owners should be protected by making provisions for such matters  as surface water drainage, sound and sight buffers, preservation of views, light and air, and other aspects of design, which  may have substantial effects on neighboring property. For example, fences may obstruct views, breezes or access to  neighboring property. The ARC should consider the various and appropriate criteria and exercise discretion in  determining which of these criteria will be governing in each specific application. 

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Design Compatibility - The proposed change must be compatible with the design characteristics of the applicant's home  and the general neighborhood setting. Compatibility is defined as harmony in style, scale, materials, color and  construction details. 

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a. Scale: The three-dimensional size of the proposed change must relate satisfactorily to adjacent structures and  their surroundings.  

 

b. Materials: Continuity is established by use of the same or compatible materials as used in the existing home.  Siding materials and shingles must match existing structure. 

 

c. Color: Color may be used to soften or intensify visual impact.  

 

Workmanship - The quality of work must be equal to or exceed that of any existing structure. Poor practices may cause  the owner problems and may be visually objectionable to others. For example, a wooden fence not properly treated and  maintained may in a short period start to decay and become unsightly to the owner and neighboring property owners. 

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APPEAL PROCEDURE 

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If the applicant disagrees with the decision of the Committee in its review or inspection, the process is noted for an  appeal: 

 

1. Within 15 business days after receipt of a notice of disapproval, the homeowner must file a written appeal with  the Architectural Review Committee at the address of contact for the community. 

 

2. Upon receipt of the appeal, the ARC may contact the homeowner and schedule a review of any further  information relating to the request and appeal. 

 

3. Should the ARC determine that the disapproval remain, the homeowner may request (within 7 days) that the  appeal be forwarded to the Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of the ARC to forward any correspondence  and pertinent information to the BOD at this time. 

 

4. The Board of Directors shall then establish the date and the time that the appeal will be heard. Normally, this will  be made at the next scheduled Board meeting. To reverse an Architectural Review Committee decision, requires  a majority vote of the BOD. 

 

5. No work may progress during this appeal process time period.

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VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES 

 

An exterior change made without the required approval of the ARC or non-compliance with the Property Standards  contained herein constitutes a violation of the Declaration of Covenants and Community’s Property Standards or Rules &  Regulations. A violation may also require removal or modification of the work at the expense of the property owner.  

 

When a violation is determined to have occurred, the following steps shall be taken: 

 

1. The ARC or Board of Directors will investigate any reported violation and attempt to bring the owner into  compliance. Homeowners will be notified in writing of the violation and are expected to bring the violation  into compliance within ten (10) days. 

 

2. Should the owner fail to act upon the recommendations for corrections, the violation shall be submitted to the  Board of Directors. 

 

3. The homeowner shall be invited to a hearing with the BOD where the homeowner will have opportunity to be  heard and present evidence. Failure to appear shall result in a fine beginning to accrue on the day after the  scheduled hearing date. Of course, if the violation were brought back into compliance prior to the hearing, no  hearing would be necessary. 

 

4. Should the finding of a violation be sustained, five (5) days after the hearing, daily fines for a continuing  violation may be from that day forward assessed. Any penalties or costs relating to the violation (and the date  from which the accrual shall begin) shall be noted in the letter from the BOD. 

 

Fines: The Association shall have the right to assess a maximum fine of $100 per day (or such higher amount as  may be allowed by law) per violation against any owner who violates any provisions of the Declaration, Bylaws  or Rules & Regulations of the Association. The North Carolina Community Act passed in January of 1999,  allows planned residential communities the ability to uphold standards that will protect and insure homeowners of  maintained property values, with regard to holding all property owners accountable for abiding by the existing  covenants. 

 

Fees: A violation may also result in payment of damages incurred by the Association in having the work  removed or modified, as well as a fine assessed by the Association. Attorneys’ fees, court costs, site assessment  will all be incorporated into the fine process. 

 

*For additional information regarding the enforcement of the regulations contained herein, please refer to Section 11 of  the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions. 

 

** Please remember Owner’s are responsible for their renters.

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IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL NON-RESIDENT OWNERS 

 

Each Owner who rents out his dwelling in the Subdivision must meet the following conditions:

• Not less than the entire Dwelling can be leased (no individual room rental) 

• The term of the lease is not for less than six (6) months 

• All leases of any Dwelling shall be in writing. 

• All such leases shall provide that they are subject to all of the provisions of the Declaration, the Bylaws, and the  Rules & Regulations and that any failure by the lessee to comply with any of such provisions shall constitute a  default under the lease 

• Upon the request of the Declarant or the President of the Association, a copy of the lease shall be provided.

• If any lessor or Lessee is in violation of any of the provisions of the governing documents listed above, the  Association may bring action in its own name and/or in the name of the Lessor to have the Lessee evicted and/or  to recover damages. The Association will pursue to recover all of its costs, including Court costs and reasonable  attorney’s fees and such costs shall be a continuing lien upon the Lot which shall bind the Lot in the hands of the  then Lot Owner and the Lot Owner’s successors and assigns. 

 

EXPLANATION OF STANDARDS 

 

The Standards that follow are the procedures and guidelines applied by the ARC to assist the Association and its members  in the design review process. It is hoped that these Standards will serve as a positive tool to assist in the full and free use  of each homeowner's property in a manner that is consistent with the aesthetic and harmonious development to the  community. 

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There are three major categories of items for specific home improvement guidelines: 

 

BLANKET APPROVALS 

COMMON IMPROVEMENTS 

APPEARANCE STANDARDS 

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These three are very important to you because they identify which improvements are permitted and how approvals can be  secured. Items not specifically mentioned here require approval. 

 

BLANKET APPROVALS 

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Items in this category do not require approval, provided the guidelines mentioned are followed. 

• Plants, shrubs and flowers planted within three feet of the front of your house, not to grow higher than the lowest portion of the windows.  

• Bedding borders, if constructed of common landscaping borders not to exceed 8 inches in height.

• Plantings of flowers and shrubs around trees or mailbox. 

• Mailboxes and posts, if repainted or replaced in original colors and style. 

• Low voltage lighting.  

• Hose caddies affixed to the home or enclosed in appropriate container. 

• Outside seasonal decorations, displayed up to four (4) weeks prior to and two (2) week after the holiday season. 

• Vegetable gardening in rear yards, provided they are not visible from the street, do not exceed allowed fence heights or grow through to the neighbor’s yard and are properly maintained, with dead plantings removed at the end of the growing season.

• Removal of trees that are less than six inches (6”) in diameter and less than four feet (4’) above the ground. All other trees must have the approval of the ARC and possible neighbors signatures. Any dead tree may be removed without approval. 

• Lawn furniture, barbecue equipment, toys, bikes, trampolines, etc., if kept in good repair. These must be stored within the rear yard when not in use.  

• Attic turbines, if they are mounted on the rear of the house roof, extend no higher than the roof peak, and are no more than 12” above the roof surface. 

• Satellite Dishes 

-No more than one meter (30") in diameter, with hidden cable. 

-Preferred placement of the dish is on the roof. If placement is necessary on the side or front of the house,  screening with plant material and/or painting the dish to match the background is also preferred.

-Dishes placed on poles in the front yard are prohibited, unless written architectural approval is received.  

• Front Storm Doors 

-White, Black, or the same color as your existing trim; 

-One pane of glass, with no etching or design; 

-Of anodized aluminum (including baked-on enamel); 

-Unadorned.  

• Back Storm Doors 

-White or the same color as existing trim; 

-Of anodized aluminum (including baked-on enamel). 

• Exterior Painting / Maintenance 

-Provided that material and color remains the same, no approval is required for standard maintenance of the house exterior. 

• Basketball Goals 

-Basketball goals are to be placed on the rear third (toward the house) of the driveway or parking pad;

-Goals should be mounted on a single pole with a backboard that is predominately white, clear or gray;

-Basketball goals are prohibited from being mounted directly on the house; 

-Basketball goals may be cemented into the ground with ARC approval; 

-One goal per house; 

-It is required that player be courteous and not hinder a neighbor’s property during normal play;

-Goals are not to be placed so basketball is played in the street; 

-Moveable basketball goals are to be located in the rear third (toward the house) of the driveway or parking pad

-Basketball goals need to be erect at all times. 

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COMMON IMPROVEMENTS 

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Items in this category require approval. An application must be submitted and meet these guidelines. Approval is not  necessarily limited to constraints listed here, but is much more likely to be given for: 

 

Grading 

• Major changes to the topography of a lot are required to be approved by the ARC prior to being started.

• Drainage and water flow patterns must be taken into consideration prior to the start of any grading. 

** The Association, its Board of Directors, nor the Architectural Review Committee accepts any  liability for any damage caused by such grading, whether or not the committee approved the  request. 

 

Exterior Color and Maintenance (Changes) 

• You must specify the new material and/or color you wish to use; include a color sample from the store. 

 

Drives and Parking Areas 

• Proposed changes in driveways or driveway extensions must be submitted to the ARC; 

• Application must include plat map showing proposed location and dimensions of driveway extensions

• Gravel driveways or parking areas will not be permitted. 

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Hot Tubs 

• Hot tubs may not be visible from the street; 

• Must meet all City, County, and State requirements (enclosed, fencing, plumbing, electricity, etc.). 

 

Play Equipment / Treehouses 

• All play equipment should be located in the rear of the house, not the side, front yard or porches

• Play equipment is only permitted in fenced yards 

• Play equipment must be located at least 5 feet from property lines 

• Treehouses are prohibited. 

• Play equipment must be constructed predominately of wood. Metal play equipment is prohibited. 

 

Pools 

• No above-ground swimming pools shall be permitted in the Subdivision; 

• Requests for in-ground swimming pools shall be considered. 

 

Fences/Walls 

• Fences must enclose all or part of the back yard and must extend along side of house up to 10 feet from front corner of house; 

• The approved fence design for your community is a white 6 foot vinyl privacy fence. No other type of fencing is permitted. A picture of the approved fencing is shown below. 

• Must be no higher than 6’ and must start within 6 inches of the property line. 

• If attaching to the fence of an adjoining neighbor, written permission must be obtained and submitted with  architectural request. 

• Fences must be maintained and kept in good repair. 

• Sample of approved vinyl fencing for community. Decorative finials optional.