Gouging like the taxes we pay To the City of Havre de Grace for nothing????????

Would you care to provide the facts on the gouging of HOA fees and how much they have gone up in the past few years? Spoken as a resident or based on what someone else has told you?
It is my opinion that you get what you pay for in life and I have been on both sides of the HOA discussion.
What would you consider the most desirable place to live in Harford County and then tell me what you have to pay to get it. The two normally go hand in hand.
Nothing in life is free and quality of life and community mean a lot to many people here.

absorbently? Is there an excess of water in Bulle Rock? I think you mean exorbitantly.

spelling, my dear, spelling. you don't sound nearly as intelligent as you think you do when you mispell/misuse words.

Did you really think a community of this size didn't have rules to keep things in order and looking as good as it does. Most residents have no idea what it takes to manage a community of this size and scale to keep everyone happy. It is quite a task and no matter what you do, someone will not be happy. Just the nature of the beast as they say.
How many rules really keep you from being happy here. Think about no rules and what happens when you live next to that neighbor who does all of those things the rules help to control.
I can only say that if too many rules were critical to your decision, the information was available for you to review.

When you bought your house, you were supposed to have been given a copy of the HOA Rules and Regulations, well before you sign a Mortgage or go into settlement. This is Maryland State Real Estate Law. There is a form that you must sign, before you enter into settlement, that states that you have read and fully understand the covenants of the HOA of which you are about to become a member of. IF it did not happen this way, and you DID NOT sign this form, I would suggest contacting an attorney who could pursue this matter further. However, if you did sign this form, and you were given the opportunity to agree or disagree with these covenants, then you are the only one responsible for buying this property under these conditions. The covenants of an HOA serve a meaningful purpose. It helps to keep your property value up, it stops those who would want to make their home into a business place from happening, and services like Trash Pickup can be gotten at a lower rate due to the bulk of an entire community subscription. Landscaping crews are paid, streets are paved, street lights, parking lot striping, clean-up crews in the Spring, and many other functions of an HOA help to keep your community in top shape.

Thanks for your comments. I, for one, have spent a considerable amount of time reading the codes and subsequent amendments. When we moved here in 2007, revisions to codes were difficult to find and to track. The current management has done a far better job of organizing the documents and posting updates on the Bulle Rock web site. The original wording stated that "No tent, trailer, decorative lawn ornament, fence, shack, barn, pen, kennel, dog house, stable, storage shed or temporary structure of any kind which is visible from the street or another Living Unit may be erected . . ." That left in question the definition of a "decorative lawn ornament." The code was recently amended to further state "...exterior decorative objects are not permitted in the lawn or landscaped planting beds in front and side yards." Thus, my flower pots are now in violation. My point is not to argue that we don't need rules. My point is to raise awareness that overly restrictive rules serve no purpose and may, in fact, as some of you have indicated, deter sales. Overall, Bulle Rock is a pretty great place to live.

Very Well said Patricia. The only down fall of Bulle Rock is being part of the backwards city of Harve De Grace.

From the response it seems as though the rules were changed AFTER they moved into the neighborhood. And for those of you who scream ZOMG!!!11!!! Teh HOA's are ruining everything!1!111!!! Go ahead and move to Houston where they don't even have zoning. Your neighbor can open a strip club or convenience store next door to your house and you have zero redress. Or go to Cecil County where there are many roads with a nice, well maintained house and next door is some hillbilly with their washing machine in the front yard. Lovingly accompanied by the last three cars belonging to the family, carefully balanced on cinder blocks.

I dont care for Houston or strip clubs! lol

Also I do think its very unsanitary to have to leave your trash in a garage as was mentioned in the post. Thats gross. It may help to compost and recycle . . . if they allow you to do so. I'm guessing it would be a big NO on the compost bin?!

Steve, if you are going to insult the city you so willingly moved to, please learn to spell it correctly. Bulle Rock CHOSE to keep their gates up, so they forfeited city services. You are certainly free to leave this backwards city.

John what would even be better if Bulle Rock, unannexed its self. Leaving the city without all that tax revenue that the get for NOTHING!!!!!!!!

We all need rules to keep us from running amuck. What we don't need are overreaching regulations that squelch any expression of individuality. The rules at Bulle Rock have become more restrictive since we purchased our home. Initially, it was understood that one could put any exterior decorative objects in the rear yard as long as they were not placed on the lawn (for maintenance purposes) and were out of sight from the front of the home. Now any such objects are limited to "three (3) in number, do not exceed twenty-four (24) inches in height, have a diameter no greater than eighteen (18) inches and not in an area subject to lawn maintenance." There goes my idea of installing that 29' Roman Chariot Fountain. (kidding, of course)

Steve, notice that I said, "It was understood." You are correct that the written language prohibited ornaments, structures, etc. which are visible from the street or another Living Unit. Visible from "another Living Unit" pretty much encompasses all backyards in the whole neighborhood. However, until they put in the specific language regarding measurements, it was my understanding that this was not strictly enforced. If I am wrong, I stand corrected.

Penny,
Read it again and you will see that the quantity of 3 is "without" any special permission. If you would like anything else in the yard, you just need to submit it and have it approved. A simple and quick process.
It really isn't as much about restriction as it is management. Look closely at the house at house just outside the gate with the entire yard filled with enough things to make it look like a junkyard. I'd rather have a few restrictions than live next to that.
Enjoy the good things about being here because there are many!

Amen to that. I wholeheartedly agree. I too have kept my mouth shut until now. Being reprimanded for flower pots sent me over the edge.

Then stop crying and work to change it.

Who really cares what you think?

Should say these not this....

Thanks, Kelly. It was an attempt on my part to infuse a little humor into an expression of frustration.