SpringLake North Homeowners Association
P.O. Box 993
Clarkston, MI 48347
September 12, 2007
Re:Solid Core Vinyl Siding Amendment and
Reminder for Approval Process for Improvements, Maintenance
or Home Modifications
DearFellowSpringLake Resident:
As you are aware, our neighborhood had a vote this year to amend the Spring Lake North Subdivision Homeowners Association Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (hereinafter “Declaration”) to allow the use of solid core vinyl sidingas an option on our homes. The votes have been tallied, and the amendment has passed by an affirmative vote of over 75%.
Accordingly, the following amendment shall be made to the Declaration:
Article II Restrictions, paragraph 5. The exterior of all buildings
must be brick, wood, solid core vinyl siding, or a combination
thereof. Visible exteriors of cement, slag, cinderblock, asbestos
siding, concrete or imitation brick are prohibited. All plans and
specifications for exterior work must be submitted to the
Architectural Control Committee, with sample materials, prior
to commencing work, and pursuant to paragraph 2 above.
BE ADVISED that Paragraph 2, as referenced in the amendment, continues to read as follows, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED:
No driveway, parking area, building, dwelling, fence, wall, hedge
or other improvement or structure shall be erected, placed or altered on
any lot in the Subdivision until the following have been submitted to
and approved in writing by [the Architectural Control Committee]:
(a)A topographical survey showing the existing and
proposed grades, the location of all trees in excess of eight (8)
inches in diameter, the proposed location of each building or
structure and the proposed location of drives and parking areas;
(b)Construction and architecture plans including dimensioned
floor plans, typical sections and all elevations;
(c)Specifications setting forth the type and quality of all
materials and workmanship to be employed including a detailed
finish schedule for all exterior materials, products and finishes,
with actual brick, stain and shingle samples;
(d)A landscaping plan showing finished grading, planting, sodding,
and lighting; and
(e)A construction schedule.
Refusal of proposed locations, plans, specifications or construction
scheduling may be based by [the Architectural Control Committee] upon any
ground whatsoever, including purely aesthetic considerations, which in the
sole and uncontrolled discretion of [the Architectural Control Committee] shallbe sufficient. [The Architectural Control Committee] intends to take into account the preservation of trees and the natural setting in passing upon plans, specifications and the like. No alterations in the exterior materials or appearance including stain, paint or roofing colors of any building or structure nor any alteration in the landscaping plans may be made without written approval by
[the Architectural Control Committee]. One (1) copy of all plans, specifications
and related data shall be furnished to [the Architectural Control Committee] for
[its} records.
As the Architectural Control Committee and Association Board, and your neighbors, we understand that improvements, maintenance, additions and the like to your home are very important to you (and often times stressful). Therefore, we wish for the process of approval to be as convenient as possible. We intend to take into consideration and balance your need for an expedited and thoughtful decision, as well as our responsibilities as an Association Board under the Bylaws and Declaration.
Accordingly, please be advised that in order to request a review of your plans, you may contact any of the following persons on the Board/Architectural Control Committee: Zachary B. Mack at (248) 762-4261 or (248) 738-5000;Dave Shamoun (248) 922-0953; or Ron Brown at (248) 922-0291. If needed, email addresses can be provided upon request. You may also drop requests off at the padlocked Association box on Ancroft Drive and contact the Association via the email address on our website at
Upon contact, we will notify you of the necessary or applicable information that we need to review your request or proposal, such as blueprints, construction plans, proposed colors, etc., as referenced in the portion of the Declaration cited above. Once we receive the necessary information to make our decision, we will endeavor to confer and advise you of the decision within a reasonable time frame, given the particular circumstances. We will make all efforts to inform you as soon as possible so that your activities may be planned accordingly.
Understand that it is our (volunteer) job as the Association Board and Architectural Control Committee to ensure that our neighborhood activities conform to the Bylaws and Declaration. To that end, a strong “Enforcement” provision is contained in Article V of the Declaration, which we STRONGLY URGE each homeowner to review. In short, any failure to abide by the Declaration can result in action including, but not limited to, a formal lawsuit brought by the Association against the offending homeowner. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO RELY ON PAST FAILURES OR OVERSIGHTS IN ENFORCEMENT. IGNORANCE OF THE DECLARATION, OR RELIANCE ON WHAT ANOTHER HOMEOWNER MAY HAVE OR HAS DONE IN THE PAST WILL NOT BE AN EXCUSE OR A DEFENSE. Furthermore, the Declaration not only provides for legal enforcement through such formal proceedings, but calls for the offending homeowner to be responsible for attorney fees and other litigation costs in having to enforce the Declaration. The Board has recently put aside moneys specifically for the purpose of such enforcement, and failure to abide by the Declarations could be an extremely unfortunate and costly mistake.
Our goal is to ensure the continued aesthetic beauty and desirability of our neighborhood. We hope that you will share in this goal, and follow the above guidelines as required.
As always, if you should ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact any of the individuals listed above, or via correspondence at our above-captioned address. In the meantime, we trust and hope all is well with you and your family, and hope your remaining summer days are pleasant.
Very truly yours,
Spring LakeNorth
Homeowners Association
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