Downing Creek Community Association Inc

What Downing Creek Community Association Inc's governing documents say

Downing Creek is a large master-planned community in Durham/Chapel Hill, NC, with single-family homes, patio homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments. This document — the Declaration of Rights, Restrictions, Affirmative Obligations and Conditions — is the primary rulebook for the whole community, binding all property owners, including those in later phases and sub-associations. It is run initially by the developer (Downing Creek Associates) and later by the Downing Creek Community Association.

• Type of community: This is a master-planned community that includes single-family lots, patio home sites, multiple-family tracts (townhouses, condos, apartments), and open space. All properties are subject to this declaration and also to a separate set of covenants for the Downing Creek Community Association.
• Architectural & design review: Before you build, alter, or paint any structure, you must get written approval from the Company (developer) or its assignee. Denial can be based on any ground, including purely aesthetic reasons, in the Company's sole discretion. Plans and specifications (including color, finish, location, and landscape plan) must be submitted. If no decision is made within 30 days of a written demand, approval is deemed waived.
• Landscaping & tree removal: You cannot grade, clear, cut, or alter vegetation without prior written approval. Trees 6 inches or more in diameter (measured 2 feet above ground) may not be removed without approval. Trees within 10 feet of a main building may be removed unless it substantially decreases beauty. The Company can enter your property to control erosion, insects, or fire, and bill you for it.
• Parking & vehicles: You must provide off-street parking for cars before occupying any building. Boats, utility trailers, campers, RVs, and oversized vehicles must be kept in an enclosed or screened area not visible from adjacent properties or roads. No mobile homes, trailers, tents, or barns are allowed as residences.
• Leasing & rentals: For multiple-family tracts (apartment buildings), leases for less than 6 months require the Company's written approval. Condominium or cooperative conversions also need approval. Single-family and patio homes have no stated lease minimum in this document, but guest suites without kitchens cannot be rented separately.
• Signs & mailboxes: No sign (real estate, contractor, etc.) may be erected without written approval of size, color, content, and location — approval can be denied for any aesthetic reason. Mailbox design, color, and location also need approval. The Company can remove violating signs immediately at the owner's expense.
• Open space & amenities: Open Space and Private Open Space areas are set aside for recreation and conservation. All property owners and their tenants/guests may enjoy Open Space areas subject to rules. Private Open Space is limited to adjacent property owners. The Company may build amenities like pools, tennis courts, golf courses, trails, etc., but is not obligated to do so.
• Duration & amendments: These covenants run for 30 years from 1987 and automatically renew for successive 10-year periods unless 51% of owners vote to terminate. Amendments require a 2/3 vote of affected owners at a meeting, with a 60% quorum. The developer has the right to add, modify, or assign these rules.

Plain-language summary generated from the governing documents on file for this community. It may be incomplete and is not legal advice — read the full documents below or consult the official recorded versions.