Community Questions and Answers
Page 3
The following questions were received during or after the Aug. 21 Community Meeting.
The Minutes from the Aug. 21 meeting are now on the (pass-worded) ROPOA Minutes page on the main website: Go here*
​Q14. Should we specify a street side, like all odd-numbered homes?
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A14. New Parking Rule for Royal Oaks Streets – Park on One Side Only
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To help traffic move safely on our mostly narrow streets, we have a new rule in the 2025 Covenants, that cars can only park on one side of the street (if it is wide enough – 24 foot or more). We did not specify a side (like even or odd-numbered homes), and here’s why:
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- Fairness: It wouldn’t be fair for one side of the street to always get all the parked cars.
- Flexibility: If there’s construction, yard work, or other issues, people can switch sides as needed.
- Safety: Emergency vehicles and large trucks need space to get through, so we can’t use both sides.
- Seasonal Needs: In the winter we might need to rotate sides for ice treatment and snow removal (or prohibit parking on the street altogether).
- Good Judgment: We trust neighbors to park in a way that keeps the street clear and safe.
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By keeping the rule flexible, it promotes shared responsibility and tries to maintain harmony in the neighborhood.
Q15. What is the latest date that owners can submit an approval form?
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A15. We are shooting for a deadline of Nov. 1, 2025, so that we can collect all of the signatures and have the documents ready for filing. In the meantime, one of our resident notaries can arrange to meet with you directly, or we can email you a copy to have notarized at your convenience.*
Remember, Every Signature Counts!
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Contact Suzanne Click at srmclick@gmail.com about a visit by one of our volunteer notaries.
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*Note: The signature forms have all been preformatted with each owner's legal name as listed on their Deed, along with the property address, Lot number, and any special designations such as Trust or Life Estate. Several that were complicated were created by our covenants attorney. Also note that, although it is certainly not preferable, the deadline can be extended by the Board for a short period of time, for example, if we are just a few signature pages short of what is needed.
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Background: The section on pages 17 and 18, about #1 “Duration” and #4 “Amendments” can be confusing.
One person said:
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Q16. “We’ll never get 51% of people to sign a petition to change the covenants. We can’t even get 10% to attend meetings.” (This is the complicated process we are going through now. But the writer should be looking at the Amendments clause instead.)
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A16. We agree that getting owners and residents to ROPOA meetings can prove challenging. But please read on.
Two Clauses, Two Thresholds
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The Duration Clause (51%), sets a high bar for changing the entire declaration—in whole or in part—after the initial 20-year term or during a 10-year renewal. This section is required because of old Tennessee case law. It helps make sure our covenants stay legally valid if challenged in court. If the amended covenants pass, this section probably won’t be used to make changes — it just keeps the covenants renewing automatically to meet a legal technicality.
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The Amendments Clause allows for more flexible updates to the covenants at any time, provided (2/3s) two-thirds of members present or represented by proxy at a properly noticed meeting, vote in favor. This section would mean that the membership could more readily address issues as they arise, and not have to wait for a window every ten years in order to make changes. Modern covenants tend to allow amendments at any time deemed necessary by the membership to allow for more timely response to changing circumstances. (A recent example in other communities: the advent of short term rentals.)
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Q17. On page 13, under “Building Location,” why are corner properties allowed a shorter setback than regular properties? What does that do to sight lines?
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A17. This gives some added flexibility in planning the home’s layout because the home faces two streets, and, as such, faces more challenges than a home that does not. (It is one of those situations where a visual image is probably easier to understand.) By the way, this corner lot rule is the same as in the current 1990 Covenants.
As to sight lines and corner lots, where the two streets meet there’s a triangular ‘visibility zone’ near the intersection. Within this triangle you can’t place anything—like fences, walls, hedges, or shrubs—that blocks a driver’s view between 2 feet and 7 feet high. This rule helps ensure that drivers and pedestrians can see clearly around the corner, reducing the risk of accidents.