By Rusty Bradshaw
By
Rusty Bradshaw
Independent Newsmedia
Going into the summer months, the Sun City Home Owners Association Compliance Department was making headway on CC&R violations.
Through the year so far, SCHOA compliance inspectors opened 2,406 cases and closed 2,458. The higher number of closed cases include some carried over from the previous year. In May alone, 278 cases were opened and 567 closed, again including carryover.
“We are gaining ground quickly,” said Tom Wilson, SCHOA compliance manager.
SCHOA is charged by Maricopa County with enforcing the covenants, conditions and restrictions for the Sun City community. While SCHOA is a voluntary membership HOA, all single-family home properties in the community are subject to the CC&Rs. Sun City has 386 condominium associations and they each have their own set of CC&Rs enforced by the individual associations. However, if requested by an association board, SCHOA officials can assist in enforcing condo association rules.
The largest category of SCHOA CC&R violation is condition of property. So far this year, 1,495 cases were opened and 1,405 were resolved.
“We have some work to do in this category,” Mr. Wilson said.
SCHOA officials operate two programs that help defray the problems of property conditions. The Community Intervention Program cleans properties that are vacant or abandoned, charging the owners for the expenses. The Residents Assistance Maintenance Program also cleans properties of homeowners unable either financially or physically to do the work themselves. Both programs rely on volunteer manpower and donated materials and equipment.
Tom Wilson
The CIP cleaned 41 properties so far this year, eight in May. The RAMP cleaned 17 properties so far this year, nine in May.
Condition of property is the only category with a higher number of opened cases than closed for the year to date. However, in May the trend was just the opposite, with 184 cases opened but 432 resolved.
Animal restrictions are the next highest category of violation, with 13 cases opened in May and 22 closed. For the year, there have been 110 animal restriction cases opened and 127 resolved.
SCHOA officials are staying ahead of what is considered the most important CC&R for Sun City — age restriction. Only those 55 and older, with exceptions for younger spouses and in some cases caregivers, are allowed to live in the community. If the percentage of residents living in Sun City drops below 80, the community is in danger of losing its age overlay and will become open to residents of all ages.
So far this year, 64 age restriction cases were opened, with 77 closed. In May seven were opened and seven closed.
