Look Out! Four Lessons You Should Learn Now

Companion Pot Belly Pigs

You see “companion animals” at department stores, grocery stores and even at your local restaurants. They are infiltrating our communities. Pet owners can buy a certification online without even having the animal trained, which aggravates the problem. Community managers are seeing a growing trend for companion animals (dogs, cats and even pot belly pigs!) “needing” access to pet-restricted communities.

LESSON LEARNED? Make sure your CC&Rs protect your associations’ interests.

Competing Interest Developments

Many of the urban condo projects being developed in California today are mixeduse. (CACM showcased this urban infill trend in “The New Shape of California Communities,” Vision Winter 2005.)

They create live/work opportunities, transitoriented development and maximize the efficiency of a high-density location. Fast forward a decade and you have shop owners/office workers with customers and clients on the first floor generating noise, foot traffic and vehicular traffic – versus the homeowners on the upper floors who seek peace and quiet.

LESSON LEARNED? Concrete rules that are clearly communicated and adhered to can help reduce mixed-use “neighbor” disputes.

Conservatorship for Open Areas

If you have an association with an open preserve area, you can learn a valuable lesson from a manager member in Carlsbad. Her 15-year-old association was one of the first to own an open preserve area with public access and deed restrictions. With great benefits and minimal responsibility as the selling points, the association deemed that a conservatorship was not necessary to oversee the area at the time. Unfortunately, the recent wild fires in San Diego destroyed nearly 80% of the open space and left the association with over $100,000 in damages. Federal, state and city officials provided regulation information that must be followed to restore the area, but the financial aid given to this community was minimal.

LESSON LEARNED? Set up a conservatorship or extra funding for potential restoration in the future.

Emerging From Rough Economic Times

We’ve seen boards recognized by owners on fixed incomes as heroes when they've kept dues increases “flat” by deferring contributions to reserves and foregoing needed maintenance projects during the recession. Now those same fixed-income owners are facing large, unanticipated special assessments to resolve maintenance issues that should have been addressed years ago. Now who’s the hero? And who will be the scapegoat?

LESSON LEARNED? Community managers can use this example to professionally guide their boards’ decision-making process and ensure the future financial health of their associations.