Let’s put an end to Mrs. Kravitz

Don’t become a Mrs. Kravitz of “Bewitched”. Let’s stop policing our neighbors and hire someone else to do it.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The Woodlands ‘Architectural” committee has turned into a committee less about architecture and more about code infractions.   This is almost impossible to do with such a small committee of volunteers, many who work full-time.

Most communities in Broward County have the right idea:   Hire the management company to police your community for covenant enforcement.  This takes the responsibility off our neighbors who currently report one another with secret phone calls and emails to the Architectural Committee President or to the city’s code enforcement department.  Not to mention the frequent calls to BSO for mild infractions such as parking on the grass or watering the lawn after the designated time,  which clearly are not emergencies warranting BSO’s valuable time.   Many other communities as upscale as ours do not handle code issues internally.   It’s about time that we change with the times.

By hiring the management company to become your section’s “code compliance officer” they essentially become the bad guy and take the pressure off neighbors who are currently doing this.  We will also get more uniformity with our rules as there are no personal feelings involved.   Everyone is treated the same no matter who they are.

It’s time Mrs Kravitz stops worrying about the looks of her neighbor’s home and let’s someone else handle it.

When Ambassador becomes your code compliance officer, serious infractions that are dangerous are immediately reported to the city.  This could include an unfenced swimming pool or dangerous equipment left outside.   Less serious infractions will involve sending letters to the homeowner who will then get so many days to fix the issue or their issue will be sent to the city.

Patti Fox works hard on our Architectural Committee, which clearly should be a paid position with the time she has to put in as a volunteer with almost 900 homes and constant follow-up.  It is too much for one person who basically does all the work while holding a full-time job.  It also makes a neighbor like her into the bad guy, as she has to be the one emailing violators or sending the city out for infractions.

I believe Woodlands should follow the path of many other beautiful communities in Broward County who utilize their management company for this purpose.   Placing a call during the day to a management company for compliance questions is immediate and their feedback will be consistent.

Let’s have a third party do our dirty work and quit becoming “Condo Commandos” with our own oversight.   Consider having your section overseen by your current management company.