Mister Madore’s Neighborhood

Today’s story about what signs can be allowed in the Mt. Vista neighborhood prompted talk about rules governing homeowner associations.

David Madore, a candidate for Clark County Commissioner who frequently decries regulations, once had the opportunity to write such a set of rules.

In August 1997, the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) for Valleyview was filed with the county and signed by the developer, Madore.

Madore — who does not live in Valleyview — described the 24-parcel Hockinson subdivision in the CC&Rs as a “premier rural residential community.” The parcels range in size from 2.5 acres to 5 acres.

Among the rules:

“Street parking: No vehicle parking shall be allowed on any road, shoulder or within the private road right of ways. No parking shall be allowed in any cul-de-sac, turnaround or their respective right of ways. (This is not applicable to short term bonafide guest parking.)”

“Firearms: No firearms (i.e. rifles, handguns) shall be used or discharged within the plat except by on-duty authorized government officials.”

In the comments section of today’s story, Madore posted this: “Banning such freedom of speech is as blatant as censorship gets. I do not use negative labels or words unless there is no more fitting word. In this case, the most fitting word is Bigot.

But in Madore’s Valleyview, the controversial sign in the story would not have been allowed. Here’s his rule:

“Signs: No sign shall be erected, maintained or displayed on any lot, except signs advertising property for sale or rent (not exceeding 6 square feet or 2 feet by 3 feet). This does not apply to any signs used by the developer, Realtors or contractors to advertise during the initial sales phase of the property. This restriction shall not prohibit the placement of ornamental name plates. Nor does this prohibit an ornamental portal structure designating the name of the plat.”

There are plenty of rules about how the three-car garage (minimum), moderately hued homes have to appear. (No antennas that are visible from another property, please.) A complete list can be found here.

And if you don’t comply? If two-thirds of the Homeowners Association Board agree, they can hire people to fix your property and send you the bill.

From the “enforcement” section:

“Failure on the part of any Owner to comply with the aforementioned CC&Rs, and after notice from the HOA of such Owner’s failure, and after a two-thirds majority vote by the HOA Board or other HOA committee to which such oversight responsibility shall have been delegated, the HOA shall have the right, through its agents and employees, to enter upon any lot which has been found to violate the aforementioned standards in order to repair, maintain, and/or restore the lot to such standards. The cost of such work shall be a special assessment on such Owner and his lot only, and the provisions of this Declaration regarding collection of assessments shall apply thereto.”