It's not easy building green (Home Owners Association rejects solar panels)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_green_0131jan31,0,1455634.story

It's not easy building green

Lack of education, bureaucratic tangles hinder progress

By Monica Kass Rogers
SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
January 31, 2008

Nora and Richard Parkman thought their plan to use the rays of the sun to heat the water for their Plainfield home would be would be approved long before winter arrived.

They figured wrong.

"We spoke with them several times, but our homeowners association still hasn't let us put up the system," said Nora, who said she first met with the homeowners association last May.

The Parkmans' application to the Caton Ridge Homeowners Association to install solar panels on the roof of the south side, which is also the front, of their house -- to maximize solar energy collection -- was rejected because the group didn't like the way the panels looked.

...

[hobbit709]

1. I would NEVER buy property where there is a Homeowners Association.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Your neighbors are far worse than any government. n/t

[Tikki]

3. Remember darling...it is better to look good than...

to do any G_D D__N thing about the environment.

<irony smilie>
Tikki

[Javaman]

4. HOA's are a blight on society run by little control freak nazi's

who have nothing better to do then maintain green lawns during a drought, ban clothes lines, eliminate any alternative power upgrades and make sure that those not in charge are fully aware of their fully functional death star like powers over the community.

When I'm king of the world, the first thing that goes are HOA's.

[ladjf]

6. If I can ever sell my house, I will never, never buy another one

in an area that is under the auspices of a H.O.A. They are the worst. I wasn't even allowed to grow
one potted tomato plant on my porch because it "wasn't a flower".

[hunter]

5. The first thing I asked when my wife and I were looking at our house was...

... "Is there a homeowners association?"

The Real Estate agent had obviously heard that question before and she answered, "No, no..." with great enthusiasm.

So we moved in, ripped out the front lawn and replaced it with flowering perennials that don't need much water, and there wasn't anything the neighbors could say about that.

We could paint our house international orange if we wanted to, but we actually like our neighbors very much, and we all treat one another with great respect, and we tolerate the individual tastes and preferences that make a neighborhood interesting.

[dbackjon]

7. Arizona passed a law recently making this type of action illegal

Illinois needs to follow suit.

[ChazII]

9. That is one of the smarter decisions

our state (AZ) gov't made. Thank goodness I live in a historical district and while there are now some constraints at least it is not an HOA.

[TransitJohn]

8. Don't buy real estate with covenants eom

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