Petition to Change HOA Manual regarding Fences in the Seven Oaks Community

Greetings esteemed Board and Council members,

We, the undersigned, are community members that wish to see a change regarding the Seven Oaks fencing HOA regulations. We acknowledge the subject of these regulations has been a source of contention throughout the community over a long period of time. We are asking for the HOA to change the regulations to benefit the community’s desire for privacy and safety in their backyards.

The current regulations for a detached single-family home (SFH-D) states they must be open fence style with a maximum height of 48-inches except when a SFH-D was situated against one of the main roads or adjacent to a property not a part of the Seven Oaks community. In those excepts, a 6-ft privacy fence could be erected only on the side of the property affected. Whereas the regulations for an attached single-family home (SFH-A) states privacy fencing may be used to enclose the rear of yards in SFH-A in the style the builder used to the maximum height of 6-feet. Both regulations require the material of the fence to be constructed of pressure treated wood, vinyl or composite material. Fences constructed of pressure-treated wood may not be painted or left untreated to age naturally. Wood fences and wood decks must be stained/sealed with the same approvable earth toned color. Colors other than white or earth toned may be approved on a case-by-case basis. In cases where the deck is a composite or vinyl material, the fence stain should match the color of the deck boards as closely as possible.

We are requesting a change to allow the use of privacy fences within lot lines and to increase the height of all fences to 6-feet for all homes (attached and detached).

Our homes are a place of comfort and safety which extends to our backyard. The regulations were written during a time when there wasn’t immediate access to phones or recording devices. In todays technological age, the current maximum height in addition to the prohibition of privacy fences fails to protect the citizens of the community’s right to privacy. There is concern of children being recorded without consent from the parents, items being stolen due to the short stature of the fences, and animals unable to have free access to their yard without being harassed or under stress. Additionally, the inconsistent ruling and enforcement of the fences does not adequately create the sense of uniformity which is strived for, throughout the community.

We urge the BOD and the Committee Council to take great consideration to changing the HOA manual in regards to the fence regulations. A decision to change to the aforementioned suggestions would not only provide the homeowners a sense of privacy and safety in their backyards, but also alleviate one of the larger issues of discourse within the community.

Thank you for your time and we eagerly await your response.