Q. Exactly what does the LDHOA do?
The main purpose of the Lakeside Development Homeowners Association Inc. is to oversee the maintenance of our common ground area and to enforce the by-laws and covenants of the association. We are committed to having the association act to protect and not restrict the property owner.Q. What is the history of the LDHOA? The Lakeside Development Homeowners Association Inc. includes the following subdivisions: Lakewood Manor, Village at Lakeside, Lake Ridge, Lakemont, Appleton Downs Town homes, Frederick House, Lakeside Condominiums, Lakeview Condominiums, and Lakeside Townhouses.In 1985 the Lakeside Development Homeowners Association Inc. was created as a result of Frederick County ordinance number 164-35. This ordinance requires that common areas be created in each subdivision developed in the county. One of the methods to make sure that the common area was “maintained” was to create a homeowners association and make them responsible for such maintenance. In each deed of dedication, the governing covenants are referenced, making any property owner of the subdivision members of the association.David Holliday, previous co-owner and custom home builder of the property in said association, put the homeowners association into Deed Book 675 on page 645 to establish the association. He later incorporated the association and ran it until March 1997. In November 1996, Mr. Holliday, by deed of gift, turned the common areas over to himself as the Chairman of the Lakeside Development Homeowners Association Inc. With the assistance of Ms. Theresa Seitz of Common Ground Management, the LDHOA was transitioned over to the homeowners and we, the homeowners were first informed of the Association by letter dated February 5, 1997. A second mailing dated February 26, 1997 was sent by Common Ground Management informing the homeowners of the first association meeting to be held on March 18, 1997. Also enclosed was an invoice for the first annual dues for the fiscal year 1996-1997. At this meeting the board of directors were elected and the association was officially turned over to the homeowners.Q. Why must some property owners belong to two associations? Property owners of townhouses in the Lakeside Subdivision are members of the LDHOA and members of their local subdivision association (such as Appleton Downs, etc.). This is done by deed. The reason for two associations is that there are expenses related to the townhouses that are not relevant to the rest of the subdivision. For example, roads and parking lots for the townhouses are not state owned or maintained. Therefore, snow removal, resurfacing, and repair must be paid for by additional fees. Other amenities such as trash collection, street lights, lawn care, etc. are also taken care of by the townhouse association. Q. Is there an Annual Meeting? Yes, annual meetings are held the last Saturday of March at approximately 11:00 AM. Notices of the annual meeting's exact time and place will be mailed to all homeowners prior to the meeting. This information will also be posted on our web site. Q. When are LDHOA board meetings held and who may attend? Board meetings are held on a regular basis. Meetings are usually held at the Bowman Library on Tasker Road. Schedules of our board members vary, so please check the home page of our web site or contact a member of our board for exact dates and times. Q. How much are LDHOA dues and when are they due? By a vote of the LDHOA membership at a special meeting on May 22, 2004, dues will increase to $60 per year as of July 1, 2004. They are due within 30 days of the invoice date. Invoices are normally mailed in late May or early June. If you are purchasing a home in the LDHOA, the first year's dues (prorated) should be paid at closing. Subsequent dues will be invoiced. Q. What happens if I do not pay my dues? Dues not paid within thirty days of the due date will be considered delinquent. Late fees will apply. The LDHOA may also bring legal action. Keep in mind that if you sell your home you must by law inform the buyer of the fact that your home is located in the jurisdiction of the LDHOA. You are also required by state law to furnish the buyer with a disclosure packet. Part of the disclosure packet is a statement of whether your dues are up to date. If dues are not up to date, you will have to bring them up to date at closing. It is to your advantage to pay your dues on time and avoid penalties or legal action. For more information about disclosure packets, click here. If you suspect another homeowner is in violation of the subdivision covenants or restrictions, you should download the LDHOA Suggestion/Complaint Form and follow the instructions. Your complaints will be addressed at the first board meeting following receipt of the form. Complaint forms must contain the name and address of the person submitting the form, however, we will not release your name or address to anyone outside the board of directors. If you are not sure about the infraction, you can contact any board member prior to submitting the form. However, in order for the entire board to discuss the matter at a scheduled board meeting, the proper form must be filled out and submitted. Some infractions that are covered by county ordinances can be resolved without the involvement of the LDHOA. In these instances, the LDHOA will attempt to refer you to the proper authorities Inoperable and improperly tagged automobiles are not allowed in the LDHOA by county ordinance. If you have a complaint regarding a vehicle of this type please contact Candace Mills at the Frederick County Planning and Development Office at 540-665-5651. Q. I have a general comment or complaint. Who do I contact? Comments or complaints must be submitted on the LDHOA Suggestion/Complaint Form in order to receive consideration from the board of directors. You may contact a board member prior to filling out the form if you have a question or comment, however, if you wish to have the matter discussed by the full board at an official meeting, you must submit the form. Q. I want to place a storage shed on my property. Are there any restrictions? Outside Storage Buildings (OSBs) are restricted to one building per lot. In addition, the size of the building must be 149 square feet or less and no taller than one story. OSBs are generally considered non permanent structures and technically can be placed as close to the property line as is convenient. However, you should keep in mind that there is a 10 foot utility easement along all property lines (5 feet on either side of the line). For this reason we recommend keeping OSBs at least 5 feet from your property lines. For further information and detail on OSBs, please see Article XV of our association bylaws. Tractors and/or trailers may not be parked on any private or public property anywhere in the LDHOA. This is a county ordinance that affects not only LDHOA property owners, but the entire Lakeside subdivision. Any vehicle with a length of more than 25' may not be parked or stored in the subdivision by Frederick County ordinance. In addition, vehicles not in working order may not be parked in the subdivision. These include vehicles without current tags, vehicles that are not in running condition, vehicles with flat tires, etc. Violations should be reported to county officials. If you have a complaint about this type of vehicle, please contact Candace Mills at the Frederick County Planning and Development Office at 540-665-5651. By vote of the LDHOA membership on March 16, 1999, no commercial vehicles, including but not limited to, dump trucks, buses, ambulances, fire trucks, cement ready-mix trucks, etc. are to be parked or stored within the LDHOA. Dual wheel pickup trucks are allowed. The board of directors is currently researching whether smaller utility trailers and camping trailers less than 25' in length may be parked in the subdivision. Q. Can I build a fence around my property? You are permitted to build a fence no higher than 4 feet around the side and back of your home only. Fences are prohibited in front yards. NOTE: the board is currently considering an adjustment of this restriction to allow fences up to 6 feet in height. If you are planning to install a fence, please check with the board for the latest restriction information. The seller is obligated by law to inform any potential buyer of the existence of the LDHOA. This should be clearly noted on any brochures or listing information along with the amount of the annual dues. In addition, the seller must purchase a disclosure packet from the LDHOA which is given to the buyer at closing. The packet will include information about the LDHOA as well as a certificate which indicates whether dues have been kept current by the seller. The cost of disclosure packets is $50. If packets are delivered, a $15 delivery fee will be charged. Last minute requests of 48 hours or less will incur an additional $10 delivery charge. Disclosure packets may be obtained by contacting Sareen and Associates To read the section of the state code dealing with disclosure click here. In order to protect the integrity of the disclosure packets, they must be purchased from the LDHOA. Information in the packets changes frequently and buyers are entitled to the most recent information. By recent action of the LDHOA board, there will be no exceptions. The cost of disclosure packets is $50. If packets are delivered, a $15 delivery fee will be charged. Last minute requests of 48 hours or less will incur an additional $10 delivery charge. Disclosure packets may be obtained by contacting Sareen and Associates.
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