Terry,

Where J.K. lives, they have VERY explicit laws in Bellaire (or was it one of
the other tiny towns next to there?) that describe in exact detail not only
what tree species you may plant in your yard, but if they are OVER a certain
dbh (Diameter at Breast Height) which trees you may cut down! Can you
imagine being fined for cutting down one of your own trees?!?!?! And that's
City law, not HOA regs.

I remember in high school near Houston, my girlfriend's parents were
threatened by their HOA to cut their yard or have it cut and be billed. At
least one yard in 7 isn't mowed more than once a month in even the new parts
of Leander.

Honestly, some of the neighborhoods I've lived in in Austin, I wish they had
had an HOA! Hard to believe having grown up with (and hating!) them, but at
least everyone on the block mowed their yard!

Although you and I might trade front yards with her in a heart beat, even a
local suburb town to Houston (Sugarland) informed me when I asked that a
fence greater than three feet high could not be built in front of the front
face of the house. So, you could have a picket fence around your yard, but
not a privacy fence OR hedge. She DEFINATELY blocks the front view of her
house...

Last neighborhood I lived in here had a house with a 6' rock fence all the
way to the street :/

But, like at my parents that still live near Houston on a corner lot,
bringing the fence out and extending the backyard into unusable front yard
would be great! Even if only 6 or 8 feet on the back 50 feet...

Oh well, HOAs...plus-points, out-points, and lots of opinions. Between
Dallas, Houston and Austin, I've seen it all and still can't decide if their
plus points outweigh the out-points. Both ways seem to have LOTS of vocal
out-points.

Personally, I hope she wins...tho if I was her neighbor I'd probably want
her to at least trim the trees and bushes up so it looked less like a vacant
lot...

--

John T. Jarrett
http://logontexas.com
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"Terry Horton" wrote in message
...
Jay, is there somewhere we can see what this Houston judge considers
to be the relevant restrictions in her HOA covenants?

For those who don't have a HOA, here's what our HOA covenants say
about landscaping:

"Landscaping work and planting in general do not require the approval
of the AC (Architectural Committee). However, the committee should be
able to provide advice on good landscaping. Trees, hedges and shrubs
which restrict sight lines for vehicular traffic shall be cut back or
removed.. Landscaping and planting should not unduly restrict the view
from other property."

...but then goes on to say approval must be sought for...

"unusual vegetation coverings or dense shelter belts".


We ignore it.