PRESTON HOLLOW HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

 What is ARC?

The Architectural Review Committee is established by the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions document (often referred to as CC&R’s) for our subdivision that you received as a part of your closing documents.  The CC&R’s establish the general guidelines for the assessing of homeowners dues, the duties of the Board of Directors, and the duties of ARC.  Most importantly, the CC&R’s outline our responsibilities as homeowners for the maintenance of our property, the payment of our dues, and the basic “do’s and don’ts” of our subdivision.  Some helpful hints for compliance with the CC&R’s are included later in this document. The CC&R’s are a legal document that each of us agreed to by buying a home in Preston Hollow.  Specifically, the CC&R’s charge the ARC with maintaining the “harmony and conformity” of the neighborhood as homeowners begin to make additions and changes to their property.

 How Does ARC Work?

ARC is an approval process that begins when a homeowner desires to make a structural or building alteration or addition to their property.  The steps to submit a request for approval to ARC are as follows: 

1)      Complete the “Request for Design Approval” form either online, fax or mail to the address shown on the bottom of the form.  A blank form may also be found here to print and complete.

2)      The form indicates what type of information will need to accompany the form itself.  Basically, we need to know exactly what you want to do, where it will be on your property, what it is constructed of, what color it will be and what it will look like.  The more information you can provide upfront, the quicker we will be able to respond to your request.  If your information is incomplete or unclear, we will have to request additional information from you, which will delay the overall process.  Pictures are extremely helpful in describing color and material type.

3)      Once we have all the necessary information, we will respond to you in writing within thirty (30) days.  If you do not hear from us within 30 days, you may assume that the request is granted.  Under normal conditions, our goal is to respond in two weeks or less.  When you receive our written approval, you may proceed with construction.  You will be given a detailed explanation if we are unable to approve your request.  Please understand that you are legally prohibited from constructing anything that you have been advised has been disapproved.

4)      Many of you have already completed additions to your property prior to now.  To complete the required process, ARC may require the completion of the Request for Design Approval form and the submission of the necessary information described above.  You will aid this process by submitting the form in advance of it being requested by ARC.

 When Do I Need to Use ARC?

The simplest answer is anytime you build or modify a structure on your property.  The following list is some of the more common items done by homeowners that would require ARC approval: 

• Building a new fence or extending an existing fence
• Staining/painting a fence
• Changing the exterior siding/trim color of your house
• Adding a covered porch/patio
• Building a pool
• Adding/extending a room
• Adding a retaining wall
• Adding landscape borders & planters that are of a permanent nature
• Widening a driveway
• Building a gazebo

 This is not a complete list but a list of more common items.  It is safest to assume approval is needed.  Please submit the requested information to ARC.  If approval is not necessary, we will notify you immediately so you may proceed.

 Common Items Prohibited by the CC&R’s

 Here are some of the more common items that our CC&R’s prohibit.  This is not a complete list; please consult the CC&R document in your closing papers for further information. 

• No Offensive activity that is an annoyance to your neighbors by way of noise, odor or fumes or that is hazardous in any way.
• No open or exterior storage of goods or materials.  Such items must be stored in the garage, residence or within the fence area out of open sight.
• No overnight parking of large trucks and no parking at any time of vehicles that are in obvious disrepair.
• All trash must be kept in designated city containers.
• No temporary or portable buildings or sheds are permitted.  This includes storage shed type buildings even in the back yard of the residence within the fence.
• Television antennas may not rise above 5 feet above the highest point of the house.
• Any satellite dishes in excess of 2 feet in diameter must be no higher than the rear yard fence.
• No boats, personal watercraft or campers may be stored on your property.
• Lawns and landscape beds must be maintained at regular intervals.  Mowing during summer months at least weekly is necessary to maintain proper height of grass.  Sidewalks and landscape borders must be edged and trimmed to prevent over-growth of grass onto sidewalks and into landscape beds.
• Landscape beds must be free of grass and weeds.  Wood mulches or lava rocks are highly effective at preventing weed and grass growth in landscape beds.  Landscape borders that are plastic, metal or stone are also effective at keeping grass from growing into landscape beds and also add to a neat appearance.
• Excess brick from the residence construction may be used for landscape borders as long as the bricks are aligned neatly and secured with mortar or otherwise prevented from settling in an unsightly fashion.
• Bushes and shrubs must be trimmed to maintain acceptable height and appearance.
• All aspects of the residence including lawn and landscaping, fencing and the exterior of the home must be well maintained and in an attractive condition at all times.

We all want to be proud of our homes and of Preston Hollow.  ARC is designed to help that happen.  We are here to help you!  Please contact us if you have any questions.  Oliver Dubester, ARC Chairman, may be reached by phone at 972-712-7714 or by email at Oliver1021@tx.rr.com.  Request for Design Approval Forms may be faxed to ARC at 972-712-7714.

What are driveway extensions?

We have no doubt been frustrated by the lack of space for us to park an extra vehicle, store our trash and recycling containers or otherwise have use in the back of our homes.  A potential solution is to widen your driveway width-wise to provide some extra room.  If you are interested in widening your driveway, please submit a request to ARC as described above.

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