Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Question: Why do we have an H.O.A.?

Answer:
In a nutshell, when the neighborhood was originally being proposed by the developer, Provo City placed certain conditions for placing a neighborhood of houses on the land. One of the conditions was that there must be a detention basin. Because the detention basin would need to be maintained, a homeowners’ association needed to be formed.
The HOA would need to be responsible for maintenance of the detention basin, which collects storm water that is prevented from draining into the ground because of the structures that have been placed there. Water cannot be absorbed by the ground when the ground is covered by a road, driveway, or a house and this water needs somewhere to go to prevent flooding.
The city of Provo decided that the bulk of the cost of such development needed to be borne by the property owners in the area. The city agreed to provide the hydraulic system beneath the ground in the detention basin, which they continue to maintain, while the HOA takes care of the maintenance above the ground.
We all purchased a portion of that property when we purchased the lot(s) upon which our homes sit. In addition to the detention basin, we all have part ownership of two pathways that connect different parts of the neighborhood. Property owners always pay property taxes levied on the property, as well as insurance on the property. The HOA takes on the responsibility to see that those expenses are paid by collecting dues from the members.
Below is the Provo City ordinance describing the requirement for having the detention basin.
18.03.050 Storm Water Easements
The requirements for this Section apply to all persons required to submit a plan or project that is subject to the Provo City development review process.
(1) The Developer shall provide a Storm Drainage System Maintenance Agreement for all components of the proposed private drainage system. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the following: storm drain piping, storm water inlet boxes, storm drain junction boxes, detention facilities, retention facilities, flow restriction devices, water quality devices, diversion structures, and screening structures.
(2) The maintenance agreement shall adequately describe the following:
(a) The party responsible for executing the maintenance agreement, i.e. homeowners associations, property owners, etc.
(4) Storm drainage system maintenance agreements shall be provided in form and substance as required by the Public Works Director, or his designee, and shall be properly recorded in the Utah County Recorder’s Office and shall constitute a covenant running with the land and shall be binding on the landowner, executors, assigns, heirs, and any other successors of interest, including any homeowners associations, as addressed in 18.03.060(2)(a).
18.03.060 Storm Drainage System Maintenance Agreements
The requirements for this Section apply to all projects proposing private storm drainage systems that are required to submit a plan that is subject to the Provo City development review process.
(1) The Developer shall provide a Storm Drainage System Maintenance Agreement for all components of the proposed private drainage system.
(2) The maintenance agreement shall adequately describe the following:
(a) The party responsible for executing the maintenance agreement, i.e. homeowners association, property owner, etc.
(b) Extent of the maintenance activities to be performed.

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