Who Must Submit an Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Application
All property owners must submit an application and receive written approval from the ACC before starting any construction, landscaping, or maintenance project that affects the exterior of their property.
Submission Timeline
The ACC suggests that an application for a preliminary approval be submitted to the ACC, particularly for new construction and major addition projects, at the earliest possible point in the design process. Typically this would be at the completion of a schematic design and before preparation of detailed design or construction drawings. This will make it possible to correct any compliance problems before incurring further cost.
Fees
The ACC has established a fee for applications submitted by non-members of SHHA to cover the cost of reviewing applications and monitoring construction. Members may submit an application for free.
Review Criteria
The ACC shall review all applications submitted to ensure that the proposed projects are in compliance with the applicable unit covenants and the ACC Design Guidelines, and then shall approve or disapprove them accordingly.
The ACC shall act at all times to ensure that property development does not unduly interfere with the natural landscape and homeowners’ visual access to it, and that the resulting construction is in harmony with the natural surroundings and residences in the immediate area. The ACC shall be the sole and final judge of whether submitted projects are in compliance with the specific provisions, as well as with the spirit and intent, of the covenants.
Approval Timeline
The ACC strives to render a decision on each completed project submission within 30 days. Routine and limited-scope projects (e.g., repainting using an existing color, replacing windows, and installing roof mounted solar panels) may be reviewed by a single member of the ACC committee in as little as a week, under the oversight of the committee chair. Larger projects require review by the entire committee and will take longer.
Property Owner Notification
In addition to directly notifying the homeowner of the ACC's decision by email or letter, the ACC also submits, for publication in the SHHA newsletter (The GRIT), a summary of all actions taken on applications since the previous issue of the newsletter/
Monitoring of Approved Projects
Approved projects are monitored by the ACC until construction is completed to ensure that they are built in accordance with what had been approved and are in compliance with the covenants. Approvals are good for 6 months. After six months, the property owner should apply for an extension if the project is still ongoing.
Disapproved projects
Decisions of the ACC shall be final and not subject to either further review or appeal.
Incomplete Applications
Should the ACC deem a property owner’s application incomplete, the ACC will notify the property owner that the review and approval cannot begin until the needed information has been submitted.
Enforcement
If a project was not approved (or never submitted for approval) and has moved forward, regardless, legal action may be taken against the offender. The decision to commit the resources necessary to take legal action to enforce an action of the ACC rests with the SHHA Board of Directors, or its representatives, upon advice from the ACC.
Variances
The ACC also publishes and updates, as required, guidelines for the granting of variances. Variances shall be granted only in cases where they are required for the owner to achieve parity with other owners in the immediate area. Variances shall provide relief in ways that achieve this goal but with an eye to minimal deviation from covenant requirements.
Neighborhood Review
Large/impactful projects may require a neighborhood review in which the ACC sends notification letters to the owners of nearby properties. A neighborhood meeting may also be called as part of this process. For more information, see Neighborhood Review Guidelines.