Transformers defeated by an HOA rules

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee have fought their fair share of enemies over the years, but recently they were defeated by the pen unlike their cosmic battles versus Megatron and Devastator.  The Old Georgetown board , a federal board, who oversee the preservation of the historic area have ruled that two recently built sculptures made from actual automobile parts had to be removed from the home, as the Autobot sculptures do not meet the standards of the character of the community.

As fans of the "Transformers", it is very difficult to understand why these kind of restrictions exist, but they do in fact exist in many communities around the United States. Many HOA communities have community standards that govern the architectural changes for the exterior of the home. These guidelines are designed to insure homeowners do not create changes that could lead a overall lowering of the community values. Obviously, these sculptures are amazing (and I truly wish I could have one in my front yard at home), but the rules are designed to insure that the integrity is maintained for the community. If a person was allowed a exception, then the HOA would have a difficult time preventing a homeowner from doing things like painting home a color that clashes or may seem to be a eyesore, or adding in structures that ruined the aesthetic that the community is striving to maintain.   How do you allow this, but then say no to the owner who puts a huge bass sign on the front yard that sings and dances to a loud rock song?  Also, HOA use these powers of review and oversight to help insure homeowner do keep up with obligation to maintenance and upkeep. 

When you living in a HOA community, homeowners should read their governing documents to understand the obligations and restrictions that you agreed to upon living in the community. As deed restrictions exist, any rules and restrictions will be assumed to be agreed to by a homeowner who is buying in that HOA community.  You are choosing to live in the community and as such you are agreeing to the HOA rules and restrictions when you buy and living in that community.  As a new homeowner who joins a HOA community, you should try to review governing documents and familiarize yourself with how the community works.  For example in Texas, when you buy a home, the title company and seller should furnish the community documents along with statement .  This is very important to communicate with title companies and sellers that you would like the opportunity to review the HOA rules and governing documents.

Therefore, our all our HOA management teams ( Houston HOA management team, Dallas HOA management team, and Arizona HOA management) strongly encourage homeowners to submit changes to your exterior or projects like this in advance to the HOA board, so they can get approval, before spending money and resources to build such elaborate structures (each robot sculpture weighs over a ton per the report).  HOA communities can request a structure be removed or taken down, and they often have the ability to enforce this through the courts as well. As stated above, homeowners will be on the wrong side of case law ,as homeowners voluntarily join their HOA community who wield these kind of powers, and so they limit their ability to argue that it is not correct.

As a huge fan of Optimus Prime and "The Transformers" series, I do hope that a solution will present itself where these wonderful, joy inspiring recreations of many of our childhoods find a home while still leaving the communities mission to protect the historical integrity in tact.  To paraphrase Optimus, I hope that homeowners in HOA communities do learn from these kind of stories, and from these lessons; we can have a stress free and prosperous future in our community.

"Do Not Forget What You Have Learned Of Our Past, Rodimus. From Its Lessons The Future Is Forged." - Optimus Prime