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Park River Oak Estates
Homeowners Association

CC&Rs

ARTICLE V

Architectural Committee

[5.1] Section 1. Improvements in General; Establishment of Architectural Committee. No “improvement” (as defined in article I, section 18) of any kind shall be commenced, erected or maintained within the properties, nor shall any exterior addition to or change or alteration be made in or to any Townhouse or to any Exclusive Use Common Area until the plans and specifications showing the nature, color, kind, shape, height (including front, side and rear elevations), materials, and location of the same shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Association’s Architectural Committee as to quality of workmanship and materials, harmony of external design and location in relation to surrounding structures, setback lines, topography and finish grade elevation.

[5.2] Section 2. Appointment of Architectural Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Architectural Committee composed of not less than three nor more than five members. Committee members appointed shall be from the membership of the Association. A majority of the Architectural Committee may designate a representative to act on its behalf. Members of the Committee shall serve for a term of one year. In the event of the death or resignation of any member of the Architectural Committee, a successor shall be appointed by the Board. Neither the members of the committee nor its designated representatives shall be entitled to any compensation for services performed pursuant hereto. The Declarant shall appoint all of the original members and all replacements until the first anniversary of the issuance of the original public report for the first phase of the Project. Further, Declarant may reserve the power to appoint a majority of the Committee until ninety percent of all Lots have been sold on all phases of the Project or until the fifth anniversary date of the original issuance of the final public report for the first phase of the Project, which ever occurs later. Thereafter, the Board shall have the right to appoint all the members of the Committee.

Members appointed to the Committee by the Board shall be Members of the Association. Members appointed to the Committee by the Declarant need not be Members of the Association.

[5.3] Section 3. Submission of Plans; Action by Board or Committee. Plans and specifications for the proposed Improvement shall be submitted to the Architectural Committee by personal delivery or certified mail to the secretary of the Association or the chairman of the Architectural Committee. In the event the Committee fails to approve or disapprove such design and location within 45 days after said plans and specifications have been submitted to it, the request shall be deemed denied. Under such circumstances, the written request may be resubmitted. Approval of the Committee can contain conditions or requests for modification of particular aspects of the Owner’s plan and specifications.

[5.4] Section 4. Architectural Rules. The Architectural Committee may, subject to review

by the Board of Directors, from time to time adopt, amend and repeal rules and regulations

to be known as “Architectural Rules.” Said rules shall interpret and implement the provisions of this Declaration by setting forth the standards and procedures for the review and approval of proposed Improvements and guidelines for architectural design, placement of any work of Improvement or color schemes, exterior finishes and materials and similar features which are recommended for use within the Properties, provided that said rules shall not be in derogation of the minimum standards required by this Declaration. In the event of any conflict between the Architectural Rules and this Declaration, the Declaration shall prevail.

[5.5] Section 5. Variances. The Architectural Committee shall be entitled to allow reasonable variances with respect to this article V or any restrictions specified in article VII in order to overcome practical difficulties, avoid unnecessary expense or prevent unnecessary hardships, provided that the following conditions are met:

(a)  If the requested variance will necessitate deviation from, or modification of, a property use restriction that would otherwise apply under this Declaration, the Committee must conduct a hearing on the proposed variance after giving at least 10 days’ prior written notice to the Board and to all Owners of Townhouses within 100 feet of the property for which the variance applies. The Owners receiving notice of the proposed variance shall have 30 days in which to submit to the Board or Committee written comments or objections with respect to the variance. No decision shall be made with respect to the proposed variance until the 30-day comment period has expired.

(b)             The Committee must make a good faith determination that (i) the requested variance does not constitute a material deviation from the overall plan and scheme of development within the Properties or from any restriction contained herein or that the proposal allows the objectives of the violated requirement(s) to be substantially achieved despite noncompliance; or (ii) the variance relates to a requirement hereunder that it is unnecessary or burdensome under the circumstances; or (iii) the variance, if granted, will not result in a material detriment, or create an unreasonable nuisance, with respect to any other Townhouse, Common Area or Owner within the Properties.

[5.6] Section 6   Estoppel Certificate. Within 30 days after written demand is delivered to the Architectural Committee by any Owner, and upon payment to the Association of a reasonable fee (as fixed from time to time by the Board), the Committee shall execute an estoppel certificate, executed by any two of its members, certifying (with respect to any Townhouse owned by the applicant Owner) that as of the date thereof, either (i) all Improvements made and other work completed by said Owner with respect to the Townhouse comply with this Declaration; or (ii) that such Improvements or work do not so comply, in which event the certificate shall also identify the non-complying Improvements or work and set forth with particularity the bases of such noncompliance. Any purchaser from the Owner, or anyone deriving any interest in said Townhouse through the Owner, shall be entitled to rely on said certificate with respect to the matters therein set forth, such matters being conclusive as between the Association, all Owners and any persons deriving any interest through them.