Holiday
Spirit –
It's Just Around the Corner
It's
the end of a long hot summer season. Labor Day is over
and the fun-filled fall season is upon us. The
next 90 days promise to be another whirlwind cycle of events,
starting with Halloween and ending with New Years Day. In
between those holidays, there are Thanksgiving and December
celebrations. Increasingly, all of these events have some magnitude of holiday
outdoor decorating display that can be mind-boggling. Add the fact that this country has become a multi-cultural
society, and associations are confronted with the challenge
of how to regulate outdoor displays at this time of year.
What's
the best approach for the association to take? Should
a homeowner be required to submit a decorating plan to
be approved by the architectural committee? How
does an association go about “denying” holiday decorations? And
how do you deal with the homeowner who decides that the
biggest display, complete with all of the lighting imaginable,
must be placed on his/her property?
As
with any other architectural theme in the neighborhood,
the association should treat this in the same manner and
BE REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE.
What
are some of the typical holiday decoration rules that should
be addressed?
√ How
soon before a holiday and how long after the end of a
holiday may the decorations be placed on the property? Associations
generally have used 15-30 days before and after the holiday. Another
way is to be date specific, ie., January 20th for
removal of holiday decorations.
√ What
is the total square footage of displays? Some
members would enjoy covering each square foot of their
entire land mass if allowed to do so!
√ How
extensively can illumination be utilized in the decorating? This
is particularly important to neighboring properties.
√ What
is the approval or non-approval process for holiday decorating? Many
communities simply choose to permit these activities
without submittal, as the timing of the holidays and
the volume of submittals can become overwhelming. Since
the decorating would be temporary in nature, there would
be no need for “permanent” approval.
√ What
about condominiums? Should
the members be permitted to place holiday decorations
on the outdoor walls, windows, patios, etc? If
the association is responsible for the maintenance of
these areas, the board should consider guidelines for
how the decorations may be attached or used on these
surfaces.
√ How
can an association deny a holiday decoration? A
rule can be established that the decoration must be generally
accepted standard decoration for that holiday. For
instance, some associations might deem Halloween “fear
fest” type displays inappropriate for the more serene,
festive holiday season.
What
about holiday decorating for association common areas,
entrance features, and recreational centers? These
can be great areas to create that sense of holiday spirit. If
an association decides to go all out on decorating the
association owned property, consider a reasonable approach. The
amount of money spent on such an activity needs to be balanced
with the required needs of running the association. One
idea is the placement of holiday lighting. This type of decorating is politically correct and generally
acceptable.
Adopting
rules and regulations in advance of any holiday will make
it easier to handle the issue before the holiday decorating
begins in earnest. Establish
a positive tone that facilitates creativity, yet is respectful
of neighboring property and differing views of the holiday
season. Provide
safety pointers that will assist members in reducing unnecessary
risk with lighting and electrical installation. Above
all, try not to overreact to new decorating concepts during
the holiday season; this is truly a wonderful, festive
time of the year that is brightened and enhanced by the
allure of decorating displays. Make
it fun and enjoyable for the members and their families!
Mark Lewis, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
President / CEO
Community Archives
Tucson, AZ
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