Already, the fight between the
homeowners and their neighborhood association in this south St. Louis County
suburb has been simmering for months. Trustees say the family can mount the
panels in the back of the house, but the owner days that will only expose them
to two or three hours of sunlight a day.
The Oakville fight is one of several
playing out in several regional court cases pitting homeowners against their
property associations, exposing nasty rifts among neighbors over a technology
expected to become more common in years to come.
At least 12 homeowners association
disputes have scuttled a property owner’s plans for solar panels or wound up in
court, according to solar advocate Frances Babb.
Babb faced her own fight with the city
of Clarkson Valley, in west St. Louis County, after she installed solar panels
two years ago. But after winning that round last year, she was sued by her
neighborhood association.
Homeowners associations say it’s a simple matter of following the property indenture rules residents buy into. Babb’s association, the Kehrs Mill Estates Resident Association, is seeking damages even though at this point they may not be able to force her to remove the panels.
Homeowners associations say it’s a simple matter of following the property indenture rules residents buy into. Babb’s association, the Kehrs Mill Estates Resident Association, is seeking damages even though at this point they may not be able to force her to remove the panels.
But unlike fence height and paint
color, the national interest in renewable energy has gathered enough momentum
to prompt state laws that overrule homeowners associations’ aesthetic
sensibilities.
In Missouri, bills have been filed for
the last several years to give homeowners the right to install solar panels.
Several states have already enacted similar laws. In Illinois, state law has
required homeowners associations to approve solar panel installations since
2011.
For more information and the rest of the story, visit:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/solar-panels-spur-fights-between-homeowners-property-associations/article_dc0d927c-d178-5dae-81b9-3b65f1b42705.html
For more information and the rest of the story, visit:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/solar-panels-spur-fights-between-homeowners-property-associations/article_dc0d927c-d178-5dae-81b9-3b65f1b42705.html
No comments:
Post a Comment