What’s Up with the Architecture Committee?

Steve Sainton, Architecture Committee Chair

Hello, neighbors! I joined the Architecture Committee in 2023 and was designated Chairperson. I continue to serve in that volunteer role and want to share some of the knowledge and experience I’ve gained from 35 years of building high-end custom homes. Most of my projects have been in subdivisions with strict CC&Rs and active Homeowners Associations.

When Diane & I purchased our home in Woodgate back in 2008, we were not told of any deed restrictions or even the about the Woodgate Neighborhood Association (WNA). The invoice we received in January of 2009 was our first clue. We could see the benefit of supporting WNA and have paid our dues ever since. I imagine a lot of you have had a very similar experience...

History of Woodgate’s CC&Rs

When Spring Creek Development built Woodgate in 1983, they wrote the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). These CC&Rs are valid and enforceable on every property in Woodgate regardless of your membership in WNA. The CC&Rs primarily addressed the new home construction that was occurring at that time: things like minimum square footage, roof pitch, etc. An Architecture Committee was designated to review and approve plans for new homes. Spring Creek Development failed to create any meaningful method to fund or manage CC&R enforcement going forward. They simply said enforcement would be by the Architecture Committee, any property owner or the City of Plano (an obvious error since they also built homes like ours over in Plano). Spring Creek Development also neglected to include any standards for maintenance of our properties.

History of the WNA

The Woodgate Neighborhood Association (WNA) was formed in 1984 thanks to some of our insightful neighbors for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and welfare of Woodgate. The original Bylaws charge the WNA to uphold and enforce the CC&Rs. The Architecture Committee exists separately from WNA but works hand in hand as it is beneficial to both.

Enforcement of the Rules

How and why do we encourage property owners to follow the rules? That’s a tough one. We work with poorly written CC&Rs that are subject to interpretation in many ways. We have very limited funding to mount any meaningful legal action in the face of resistance.

Both the original and current Bylaws that were enacted in January 2025, outline a procedure of enforcement that requires notification by mail detailing the violation and giving a deadline to comply. We’ve followed that procedure during the entire time I’ve served. It has been suggested we address violations more amicably.  

The Architecture Committee and WNA Board recently discussed this, and I agree it has real merit. Our first letter will be courteous, include an offer to meet and will not have a deadline. Going forward, we intend to use this approach even though it is not prescribed in our governing documents. We’ll offer to use the most comfortable approach for resolution, whether it be in person, by phone or email. Depending on the results, the Architecture Committee will determine the next step. We (as good neighbors) need to abide by these CC&Rs to preserve property standards and lifestyle.

Moving Forward

The Architecture Committee is prepared to advise neighbors and even to begin enforcement actions for any violations that are determined to be valid. Many of the complaints we receive must be deferred to the City of Carrollton (such as high weeds, early trash placement, out-of-season holiday decorations, and failing fences). These are NOT violations of our CC&Rs and must be handled by the city. We attempt to resolve these type of issues through the City of Carrollton code complaint portal and encourage you to use it as well!  

Questions

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at review@woodgateneighbors.com or to anyone on the WNA Board.

And remember…everyone serving on the Architecture Committee, WNA Board, Block Captains and committees are all volunteers doing their best to keep Woodgate one of the best neighborhoods in Carrollton.