Editorial: Homeowners: Keep out

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 | 8:20 a.m.

The Summerlin North Homeowners Association made news in April when it prohibited its member residents from installing artificial grass on any area of their properties that could be seen from the street. We said then that its ruling was senseless because Southern Nevada, in the grips of severe drought, should be open to attractive alternatives to water-guzzling natural grass. Now the association -- one of three in the Summerlin master-planned community -- has made another senseless decision.

Each of the 81 neighborhoods within Summerlin North is represented by a delegate, and the delegates meet each month to discuss lifestyle issues affecting the thousands of neighborhood residents. In the past, the meetings have been open to any of the Summerlin North homeowners. A week ago, however, the association's executive board voted to ban regular homeowners from the delegates' meetings. Its president said the vote was to prevent "zealots" from dominating the meetings. No past zealotry was given as an example, but the ruling was wrong even if such behavior had been exhibited.

Homeowners have as much at stake in their association as taxpayers do in their city, county and state governments. They pay hefty dues to the association, whose rule-making and enforcement authority exerts heavy influence over their residential lives. The association has the right to craft reasonable rules for the homeowners, such as limiting the time they have to speak, but has no right, in our view, to ban their attendance.

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