THE COMMONS HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Table of Contents
Welcome from the President 3
Board Members and Committee Chairs 4
Declaration of Covenants, Conditions,
Restrictions, Easements, and Rights and By-Laws 5-9
Insurance 10,11
Conway Commons Website 12
Architectural and Landscape Control 13,14
Landscape 15
Recreation 16
Snow Removal 17
Certificate of Insurance 18
Preferred Contractors 19
Lake Forest Sanitation 20-24
Pets 25
Exiting the Commons 26
Resident Contact Change Form 27
Directory 28
Welcome to the Commons at Conway Farms and to our Homeowners Association. We are proud of our community and through our Association work together to keep it friendly and beautiful.
Living here may be somewhat different from what you experienced previously, especially if you lived in an individual home. Among other things the Association is responsible for maintenance, repair and preservation of the exterior of your townhome, and of the common area around it. This is managed by our Association Board of Directors assisted by several committees, with all members of both being homeowners. The value of your individual townhome is dependent on how well the entire community, collectively, is maintained. It is the responsibility of all of us to see to it that this is done well. The homeowners through quarterly assessments provide the Association funding for these responsibilities.
We want to encourage you to become actively involved with your Association. This is our community and with all of us participating we can make sure it is a great place to live. We have a website www.conwaycommons.com, which is updated periodically and will provide much useful information. Please contact any of our Board members or Committee Chairmen with your comments. We will do our best to correct any problems that occur and continue to make improvements. Let us know how you would like to participate and contribute most effectively.
This welcome package contains a lot of information that will be helpful to you as a new member of our community. Please review the enclosed excerpts from the Covenants and By-Laws with particular attention to the Insurance Section. You should also review the complete Covenants and By-Laws, which were provided to you at closing.
Again, welcome to our community. We look forward to getting to know you.
Cardy Davis
President
Board of Directors INTRODUCTION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President – Cardy Davis (847) 482-1132
Treasurer – Ron Moore (847) 482-1966
Secretary – Bob Patterson (847) 295-1540
Director – Bill Morell 847) 295-1841
Director – Dick Molokie (847) 283-0590
Property Manager – Phil Duncan (847) 295-7461
Landscape – Phil Duncan (847) 295-7461
Architectural Review – Bob Patterson (847) 295-1540
Snow Removal – Phil Duncan (847) 295-7461
Social Committee – Betsey Thurman (847) 295-3822
Recreation Committee – Judi Duncan (847) 295-7461
DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS AND BY-LAWS
The Board asks all Homeowners to read the by-laws from cover to cover to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the association. You will find a list of use restrictions below for quick reference. This list is not all-inclusive.
10.1 Architectural And Landscape Control Committee. No structure, improvement
or addition or permanent (as opposed to annual) landscaping or plant materials, shall be erected, placed or altered on any Townhome Lot within the Premises described herein (except as are installed or approved by the Declarant in connection with the initial construction of the Townhome and other improvements on the Townhome Lot) until the building plans, specifications and plot plans showing the location and proposed erection, placement or alteration of any such structure, improvement or addition or a plan or description of any permanent landscaping or plant materials have been approved in writing as to conformity of external design and harmony with existing structures or landscaping on the Premises and as to location with respect to topography and finished ground elevation, by an Architectural and Landscape Control Committee (“The Committee”). The Committee shall notify an applicant of such approval or disapproval of its action within thirty (30) days after building plans and specifications and plot plans or landscaping plan or description has been submitted.
10.2 Approval by Conway Farms Homeowners’ Association Required. No
Townhome, structure, driveway, fence, patio or other improvement not any landscaping or plant materials, shall be erected, placed, modified or altered on any Townhome Lot within the Premises unless the building plans, specifications and plot plan showing the location and proposed erection, placement, modification or alteration of any such Townhome, structure, driveway, fence, patio, or other improvement or any landscaping or plant materials have been approved in writing by the Architectural Review Board of the Conway Farms Homeowners’ Association pursuant to Article IX of the Conway Farms Declaration.
11.6 Townhomes and Townhome Lots The Association shall maintain and repair the Townhome Lots and the Townhomes located thereon, as follows:
- Painting, caulking, maintenance, repair and replacement of and tuckpointing of all exterior surfaces of the Owner’s Townhome, including among other things, siding, roofs, chimneys, gutters, downspouts and shutters, and garage doors, but excluding the following: all glass surfaces; window systems; landscape improvements added by Owner; patios and decks whether installed by the Declarant or otherwise; subsurface structures including but not limited to, foundation walls and floors, window wells, drain tile, and utility lines and pipes, etc.; interior areas of the townhome (i.e., beginning from the back surface of the roof decking, siding or brick veneer inward towards the living space); sillcocks; and ejection (sump) discharge pipes. All of the foregoing services shall comply with the aesthetic standards from time to time adopted by the Architectural and Landscape Control Committee pursuant to Article 10 hereof. In addition, the Association shall adopt and follow a schedule of inspection and maintenance of those items which are the responsibility of the Association hereunder.
- The Association shall provide of contract for landscape maintenance upon each Townhome Lot which shall, among other things, consist of cutting lawns, lawn sprinkling, watering of landscaping installed by the Declarant or the Association, cultivating trimming and feeding evergreens and shrubs, reseeding, fertilizing, weed control programs, spraying feeding and trimming of trees. The Associations obligations shall not include care of Owner’s private flower gardens.
- Snow removal from driveways and service walks, seal-coating of driveways and service walks (but not stoops), maintenance of mailboxes and other services with respect to the residence areas to the extent deemed by the Board to be beneficial and convenient.
12.2 Animals. No animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or
kept on any Townhome Lot except for dogs and cats kept as household pets subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the Association. Any such authorized household pet causing or creating a nuisance or unreasonable disturbance shall be permanently removed from the Premises upon three (3) days written notice from the Association.
12.3 Trash Removal. All rubbish, trash and garbage shall be regularly removed from
the Premises and shall not be allowed to accumulate thereon. Each Owner shall be responsible for trash removal from his Townhome Lot. There shall be no trash piles or storage piles on the Premises. All rubbish, trash and garbage shall be stored within the Owner’s garage in trash containers with sealed lids.
12.5 Changes or Improvements; Decks or Patios; Prohibition of Changes of Exterior Colors. Additions, changes or improvements to any building, surfaces or any part thereof (including roofs, siding, doors, storm doors, windows or trim), the placement of any patios on the rear portion of any Lot by any Owner or the planting of any trees, decorative shrubs or other permanent (as opposed to annual) landscaping or plant materials will be allowed only with the approval of the Architectural and Landscape Control Committee. There shall be no awnings, canopies or shutters constructed or added to any building. Except for decks or patios installed by Goebeler, no deck or patio shall be installed on the Premises without the approval of the Architectural and Landscape Control Committee. No changes shall be made to the exterior colors provided by Goebeler on the initial
construction of any building. Any painting or restaining of any building or any part thereof or the replacement of any building or any part thereof shall be with the same colors as were provided by Goebeler on initial construction unless the Association with the approval of the Conway Farms Homeowners’ Association Architectural Review Board shall otherwise direct and approve a general change in the color scheme. All improvements, which require a permit from the City of Lake Forest, will only be approved subject to the issuance of such permit.
12.7 Radio, TV Antennae. Unless approved in writing by the Association, no radio or television receiving or transmitting antennae or external apparatus shall be installed on any Townhome Lot. Normal radio and television installations wholly within a building are excepted.
12.8 Maintenance of Easement Areas. Easement for installation and maintenance of
the utilities, sewer pipelines and facilities and drainage facilities over each of said
Townhome Lots and the Common Area are reserved as shown on the recorded
Plat of Subdivision or as created in accordance with this Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions or any amendments hereof. Within these easements, no structure, planting or other materials shall be placed or permitted to remain which may damage or interfere with the installation and maintenance of utilities or which may change the direction in the flow of drainage channels in the easements, or which may obstruct or retard the flow of water through drainage channels in the easements. The easement area of each Townhome Lot and all improvements in it shall be maintained continuously by the Owner of the Townhome Lot, except for those improvements for which a public authority, a private or public utility company or the Association is responsible. The easement area of the Common Area shall be maintained continuously by the Association.
12.9 Leases of Townhomes. Any owner including Declarant may lease his Townhome, but no lease may be for a period of less than thirty (30) days. All leases must be made expressly subject to the terms of this Declaration. In the event any owner leases his Townhome, he shall at all times keep the Association advised in writing of the address of his own current residence and any changes thereto, and of the names (s) of his tenant (s).
12.10 Prohibition of Fences, Clotheslines, Storage Sheds, Doghouses or Dog Runs. There shall be no fences (except invisible electric dog fences), clotheslines, service sheds, storage sheds, doghouses or dog runs constructed or placed on any Townhome Lot within the Premises, other than fences installed by Declarant or the Association.
12.11 Prohibition of Window Air Conditioners or Window Fans. No window air conditioners or window fans shall be placed in any Townhome constructed on the Premises.
12.12 Prohibition of Commercial Vehicles, Buses, Trucks, Limousines, Boats, Trailers and Recreation Vehicles. No commercial vehicles, buses, trucks (except pickup trucks that are used as a principal personal vehicle by the Owner), limousines, boats, trailers, or recreational vehicles shall be parked or stored on the Premises, except for those which are stored within a garage constructed on a Townhome Lot, with the garage door shut during periods of storage. No vehicle or equipment of any kind or nature shall be kept, maintained, overhauled, or repaired on any portion of the Premises except within an enclosed garage.
12.13 Prohibition of Increased Insurance Risks. No owner shall permit anything to be done or kept in his Townhome or on his Townhome Lot or in the Common Area which will result in injury or damage to the trees, bushes, or other planted items in the Common Area or Townhome Lot, or which will result in an increase in the rate charged or in the cancellation of any insurance carried by the Association, or which would be in violation of any law.
12.14 Prohibition of Personal Property on Common Areas. No personal property, including but not limited to swings, sandboxes, chairs, benches, bicycles or toys are permitted on any part of the Common Area without the prior written consent of the Association.
12.15 Nameplates. There shall be not more than one nameplate on each Townhome. A nameplate shall be not more than 54 square inches in area. It may be located on the door of the Townhome or the wall adjacent thereto.
12.16 Prohibition of Basketball Backboards, Playground Equipment. No basketball backboards, standards or nets shall be installed in the Premises. No playground equipment shall be installed in the Premises.
12.17 Draperies, Blinds, & Shades. All draperies, blinds and shades shall be lined with a neutral or off-white colored liner.
12.18 Mailboxes. Mailboxes for each Townhome shall be provided by the Declarant and/or the Association. No substitutions shall be allowed to those mailboxes, except with approval by the Architectural and Landscape Control Committee. All mailboxes shall be uniform in color and design and shall be maintained by the Association.
12.19 No Disturbance or Removal of Trees on Lots or Common Area. No Owner may remove, disturb, or alter any tree located on any Townhome Lot or Common Area. Any tree removal, disturbance, or alteration on Townhome Lots or Common Areas shall be performed solely by the Association.
12.20 Right of Enforcement, Abatement, Correction, or Removal. All Owners, Occupants and guests shall abide by the Declaration and By-Laws of the Association and any rules and regulations adopted by the Board. If any Owner, either by his own conduct or by the conduct of any Occupant or guest, shall violate any of the covenants, restrictions or provisions of this Declaration or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board, and if such violation shall continue after written notice or request to cure such violation from the Board, then the Board may impose fines and pursue any available remedy at law or in equity. Said actions may include an injunction action and in the event a lawsuit of any nature is filed, the owner shall be liable for all court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred therein, and the reasonable expenses of any Directors or officers of the Board called to testify, or attend the trial. In addition to other rights and remedies that may be available to the Association, as provided in this Declaration, or as may otherwise be available to the Association, in the event any Owner shall violate or suffer on his Townhome Lot the violation of any of the Use Restrictions contained in this Article 12 or any rules or regulations adopted by the Association to supplement the Use Restrictions, the authorized agents of the Association, upon an affirmative vote taken by the Board, may enter upon the Townhome Lot with no further notice than that provided by recording of this Declaration, and may, but shall not be required to, abate, correct or remove such violation and the cost of such abatement, correction or removal shall be paid by the owner and if unpaid, shall constitute a lien against the Townhome Lot, collectible in the manner provided in Article 6 hereof. In such event, neither the Association, its Board, or the authorized agents of the Association shall be guilty of trespass or held liable for damages.