ROSS BRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS Revised & Approved July 25, 2006
Table of Contents I. BASKETBALL GOAL POSTS AND BACKBOARDS 3 II. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 3 III. DOGHOUSES 3 IV. FENCING 3 V. GARBAGE AND RECYCLING RECEPTACLES 3 VI. HOSES 3 VII. LANDSCAPING 4 VIII. LIGHTING 5 IX. MAILBOX 5 X. OUTBUILDINGS 5 XI. SATELLITE DISH 5 XII. SECURITY / STORM / SCREEN DOORS 5 XIII. SIGNAGE 6 XIV. SWING SETS AND PLAY EQUIPMENT 6 XV. WOODPILES 6 XVI. YARD FIXTURES AND FURNISHINGS 6 A. BENCHES B. BIRD BATHS, STATUARY, FOUNTAINS AND YARD ART C. FLAGS D. HOLIDAY DECORATIONS E. PLANTERS AND FLOWER CONTAINERS 1
In accordance with Article 5.04 the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has adopted these Architectural Standards as a supplement to the ROSS BRIDGE RESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS. Reference to the Declaration should be made if these Architectural Standards, their revisions or amendments, do not address an issue. In most cases, a change to the original condition of your home and property requires approval of the ARC. In all cases, it is best to seek the approval of the ARC. Submittals to the Architectural Review Committee should include a description of changes (including materials, samples, size, height, etc. as applicable) and a survey of the property showing the location of the proposed changes. Submittals should be sent to: Ross Bridge Architectural Review Committee 2101 Grand Avenue Hoover, AL 35226 A complete copy of the ROSS BRIDGE RESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS is available for a small fee at McKay Management Corporation, One Riverchase Office Plaza, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35244. 2
Ross Bridge Policies I. BASKETBALL GOAL POSTS AND BACKBOARDS Basketball goalposts and backboards should generally be located at the back of the driveway or in the most inconspicuous area. Basketball goal backboards should be clear plexiglass or acrylic, and both the poles and backboards should be satisfactorily maintained in their appearance. II. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, MACHINERY, AND EQUIPMENT Section 6.23(a) of the Ross Bridge Neighborhood Association (RBNA) declaration of covenants states: Mobile homes, motor homes, trailers of any kind, campers, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, motorized carts and all-terrain vehicles, lawnmowers, tractors, tools, construction machinery and equipment of any type or nature, golf carts, boats and any other type of watercraft, including boat trailers, and any other similar types of vehicles, machinery or equipment shall not be permitted, stored or allowed to remain on any Lot or Dwelling unless the same is placed, stored and maintained within a wholly-enclosed structure, with roofing and doors, on such Lot or Dwelling. Any such enclosed structure must be approved by the ARC. Neither the Common Areas nor the roadways within the Property shall be utilized for the parking or storage of any of the foregoing vehicles, recreational vehicles, machinery or equipment. III. DOGHOUSES Doghouses should be located in the rear yard and not visible from the street. IV. FENCING A. Fences should be constructed of unpainted/treated pine, brick, stone, wrought iron, aluminum, steel or a combination of these, not exceeding 6 feet in height. B. Privacy fences constructed of wood should be 6 feet in height and of the arched shadow-box design. C. All fences must be satisfactorily maintained in their appearance. Approval of the ARC is required for all fences. Submittals indicating the height, materials to be used, paint colors, design characteristics and the exact location of the proposed fence on a site plan showing actual dimensions of the lot, home and any easements, must be provided to the ARC. V. GARBAGE AND RECYCLING RECEPTACLES Trash, garbage and any other refuse or waste shall not be kept on any Lot or Dwelling except in sanitary containers or garbage compactor units. Trash cans and containers shall at all times be screened from view from the golf property and from all public and private streets providing access to the Property unless placed at the curb on the day of pickup by the waste pickup service for the Development. VI. HOSES Hoses should be of a subdued color and stored neatly on a hose reel or similar container when not in use. 3
VII. LANDSCAPING Approval of the ARC should be obtained prior to making landscape changes. All homeowners are responsible for properly maintaining a neat appearance of all landscaping visible to the public. Regular maintenance includes: 1) Regular mowing of grass and removal of grass clippings. 2) Treatment to control weeds. 3) Pruning of trees and shrubbery. 4) Edging grass along curb or gutter, drives, walks and natural areas. 5) Regular removal of leaves from front lawn. 6) Regular refreshing of mulch in front natural areas and/or planting beds. 7) Replacing any dead shrubs or trees, which were part of an approved landscape plan. Replacements should be of the same type as the original and of an appropriate size. A. CURB AND GUTTER Rocks and other similar items are not permitted on, in or adjacent to the curb or gutter. Painted house numbers are not permitted on the curb or gutter. B. EDGING (BORDER) Edging is permitted only if properly installed and maintained. Acceptable edgings are black plastic, steel, or aluminum. Brick, stone and concrete products are permitted if they repeat materials and colors of the house, while blending with surroundings and having a maximum height of six inches. Poured in place concrete edging is not permitted. C. FOUNDATION PLANTING All homes should have shrubs planted along the front foundation. The size, type, spacing and quantity of shrubs required will be evaluated based on the height of the foundation wall (from the ground up to the first floor). Approval of the ARC is required prior to making changes to foundation planting. D. GARDENS All gardens designed for the production of vegetables and flowers for cutting should be located in the rear yard. These gardens are not permissible in front yards. Approval of the ARC is required if a garden will be visible from any street or golf property. E. LANDSCAPE TIMBERS Landscape timbers and railroad ties should not be used in the front yard, including construction of planters or around trees. Planters should be constructed of masonry to match the house. Neither railroad ties nor landscape timbers should be used for construction of retaining walls in highly visible areas. F. NATURAL AREAS AND PLANTING BEDS A fresh layer of pine straw or naturally colored pine bark should be maintained weed free in areas not covered with sod, Mondo, Pachysandra, Ivy, or another approved ground cover in the front and side yards of all homes. White rock or other light colored materials are not permitted. A distinction should be maintained between sod or ground cover and natural area by regularly edging along the boundary. The size and location of planting 4
beds should be maintained according to their original condition or subsequently approved landscape plan approved by the ARC. Approval of the ARC is required prior to making changes to the type of mulch used or size and location of planting beds. G. LANDSCAPING AND TREES No Owner shall cut, remove or mutilate any tree, shrub, bush or other vegetation having a trunk diameter of four (4) inches or more at a point of three (3) feet above ground level, without first obtaining the approval of the ARC. The ARC may, in its sole and absolute discretion, require trees removed to be replaced with a tree of size and type as determined by the ARC. VIII. LIGHTING A. Exterior landscape lighting along the driveway, walkway, and landscaping beds adjacent to the Dwelling is permitted. B. Fixtures should be low voltage and no taller than 18 inches in height. The color of fixtures should blend with the surrounding area, i.e. black, bronze, copper or green. The ARC reserves the right to determine appropriate number and spacing of lights. C. Lighting should not produce glare onto adjoining properties or right of ways. IX. MAILBOX Each property with a home constructed should maintain in good repair the designated standard mailbox for the area in which it is located. X. OUTBUILDINGS No tool shed, dollhouse, tree house, storage facility or outbuilding of any kind is permitted without the written approval of the ARC. XI. SATELLITE DISH Satellite dishes that are 18 in diameter or smaller are permitted on Dwellings in Ross Bridge provided they meet all of the following criteria: A. Dish is installed such that its view is minimized as much as possible. B. If mounted on the rear or side roof, the dish and its supports should blend with the color of the roof. C. Installation does not violate any other RBNA restrictions including, but not limited to, the removal of trees. D. Additional antennas that are required in order to receive local stations should be installed internally (in an attic space) or approval of the ARC should be obtained. If the above conditions cannot be met, contact the ARC for an acceptable location. XII. SECURITY / STORM / SCREEN DOORS A. All storm doors should be full glass with a metal frame painted to match the door color. B. Charcoal tinted glass is permitted provided the door is painted black. C. No screen doors, ornamental storm doors or security doors are permitted when visible from the street or golf property. D. All storm doors should be satisfactorily maintained. Approval of the ARC is required prior to installing an external door. 5
XIII. SIGNAGE Section 6.24 of the RBNA declaration of covenants states: No signs or advertising posters of any kind (other than one (1) for sale or for rent sign in size and color approved by the ARC) shall be maintained or permitted within any windows or on the exterior of any Lot or Dwelling or elsewhere on any portion of the Property without the express written permission of the ARC. The approval of any signs and posters, including, without limitation, political campaign signs and name and address signs, shall be upon such conditions as may from time to time be determined by the ARC, in its sole and absolute discretion. Further, one small security sign no larger than one square foot (1 ft 2 ) mounted on a stake no higher than thirty-six inches (36 ) and located adjacent to the front of the home in the foundation bed is allowed. Use of bright or garish colors is not allowed. Political signs not larger than four square feet are allowed 30 days prior to election and must be removed within 7 days of the election. XIV. SWING SETS AND PLAY EQUIPMENT A. Swing sets and play equipment should be located in the rear yard and not visible from the street or golf property (or enclosed by an approved fence). In highly visible areas, the ARC will generally require subdued colors and landscape screening as necessary. B. All swing sets and play equipment should be satisfactorily maintained in their appearance. Approval of the ARC is required prior to the installation of a swing set or play equipment. XV. XVI. WOODPILES Woodpiles should be located in the rear yard and not visible from any street or golf property. YARD FIXTURES AND FURNISHINGS A. BENCHES One bench per dwelling is allowed in the front of a dwelling as long as it is located on the front porch or along the walkway to the front door. Benches should be constructed of wood, wood and wrought iron, or concrete and have a color in keeping with the dwelling. Plastic is not acceptable. All benches should be satisfactorily maintained. B. BIRD BATHS, STATUARY, FOUNTAINS AND YARD ART Three items are permitted to be visible from the street or golf property according to the following criteria. Statues should not be taller than eighteen inches. Birdbaths should be located in the back yard and not visible from the street. Statues and yard art should be of a subdued color. Fountains must be submitted to and approved by the ARC. C. FLAGS One sixteen square foot or smaller flag may be displayed at the house. Flags may include one national flag, service flag, university flag or seasonal flag. Seasonal flags may be displayed at the house in the appropriate season. All flags should be maintained in good repair. Freestanding flagpoles should be less than 16 feet in height and not be visible from any street or the golf property, unless approved by the ARC. 6
D. HOLIDAY DECORATIONS Tasteful and appropriate holiday decorations displayed for a short period of time before a holiday are permitted. Any such decorations should be removed promptly following the holiday, but in all cases not later than 15 days following the holiday. E. PLANTERS AND FLOWER CONTAINERS Decorative flower containers of subtle and subdued colors are permitted. Flower containers should contain healthy flowers (no artificial flowers or plants are permitted) and be free of weeds or other plant material. Containers should generally be located on front porches, steps, columns or retaining walls. The ARC may in its sole discretion limit the quantity of planters and containers permitted on a property. 7