DECLARATION
OF PROTECTIVE COVENANTS
CONDITIONS
AND RESTRICTIONS AND EASEMENTS
ROYAL
OAKS OF EAGAN
THIS DECLARATION, made this
23rd day of February,
1999, by Royal Oaks Holding Company, a Minnesota corporation, as owner
and developer.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Declarant is the
owner of the real property described in Article II of this Declaration;
and
WHEREAS, Declarant desires
to provide for the preservation of the values and amenities in the community
and for the maintenance of the Association's common space and monument
and to this end desires to subject the real property described in Article
II, hereof to the easements, restrictions, covenants, conditions, charges
and liens set forth in this Declaration, each and all of which is and
are for the benefit of the property and each owner thereof; and
WHEREAS, Declarant has deemed
it desirable for the efficient preservation of the values and amenities
in the community to create an agency to which should be delegated and
assigned the power maintaining Association open spaces administering and
enforcing the covenants and restrictions contained in this Declaration
and collecting and disbursing the assessments and charges created by this
Declaration; and
WHEREAS, has incorporated,
under the laws of the State of Minnesota, as a nonprofit corporation,
Royal Oaks of Eagan Homeowners Association, Inc., for the purpose of exercising
these functions;
NOW, THEREFORE, Declarant
declares that the real property described in Article II, hereof is, and
shall be, held, transferred, sold, conveyed and occupied subject to the
following covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, charges and
liens (sometimes referred to as "covenants and restrictions"), which covenants
and restrictions shall run with the real property and be binding on all
parties having any right, title or interest in the hereinafter described
properties or any part thereof, their heirs, successors and assigns, and
shall insure to the benefit of each owner thereof.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
The following words, when
used in this Declaration (unless the context shall prohibit) shall have
the following meanings:
(a) Association:
Royal Oaks of Eagan Homeowners Association, Inc., a Minnesota nonprofit
corporation, its successors and assigns.
(b) Declarant:
Royal Oaks Holding Company, a Minnesota Corporation, its successors and
assigns. if such successor or assign shall acquire more than one Lot from
the Declarant for the purpose of development. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no individual or entity acquiring a Lot from the Declarant shall become
the Declarant solely by such acquisition, but only as a result of a specific
assignment of Declarant rights, which assignment shall not be effective
unless incorporated in the instrument of conveyance.
(c) Mortgagee:
any entity or person named as mortgagee in any mortgage deed granting
a lien ("Mortgage") on any Lot.
(4) Monument:
A wood and brick sign identifying the subdivision as "Royal Oaks" located
on the Northwest corner of Lot 2, Block 3, Royal Oaks.
(e) Royal
Oaks: the project subject to this Declaration, and any additions
subject to this Declaration.
(f) Living
Unit: a residential housing unit consisting of a group of rooms
and hallways and attached garage which are designed and intended for use
as living quarters for one family and located on a Lot.
(g) Lot:
the following lots as indicated on recorded plat of Royal Oaks and legally
described in Article II, below.
(h) Member:
each Owner entitled to membership in the Association pursuant to the provisions
of Article III.
(i) Owner:
the record Owner or contract vendee of the fee simple title to any Lot,
but excluding contract vendors, mortgagees or any others having such interest
merely as security for the performance of an obligation.
ARTICLE
II
PROPERTY
SUBJECT TO THIS DECLARATION
Existing Property. The real
estate subject to this Declaration is located in Dakota County, Minnesota
and is described as follows, to wit:
Lots 3 23, inclusive, Block
1; .
Lots 1 3, inclusive, Block
2; and
Lots 2 4, inclusive, Block
3, all in Royal Oaks (hereinafter "Existing Property")
ARTICLE
III
MEMBERSHIP
AND VOTING RIGHTS IN THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1. Membership. Each Owner of a Lot is a Member of the
Association. Membership shall be appurtenant to and may not be separated
from ownership.
Section 2. Voting Rights. The Association shall have two (2)
classes of voting membership:
Class
A. Class A Members shall be all Owners of one or more Lots, except
Declarant. When more than one person or entity shares ownership of a
Lot, the vote shall be exercised as they determine among themselves.
Class
B. Class B Members shall be the Declarant. The Class B Member
shall be entitled to five (5) votes for each Lot owned by it.
The Class B membership shall
cease and be converted to Class A membership on the earlier of (1) December
31, 2000, or (2) when the total votes outstanding in the Class A membership
equals the total votes outstanding in the Class B membership.
Section 3. Suspension of Voting Rights. The right of any Member
to vote shall be suspended during any period in which such Member shall
be delinquent in the payment of any assessment levied by the Association.
Such rights may also be suspended, after notice and hearing, for a period
not to exceed sixty (60) days for any infraction of any rules or regulations
published by the Association.
ARTICLE
IV
DUTIES
OF ASSOCIATION
Section 1. Landscaping Public Area. The Declarant shall initially
install landscaping and the Association shall thereafter maintain such
landscaping on public areas consisting of a street island on Rose Court
and entrance monument located on Lot 2, Block 3, Royal Oaks.
Section 2. Enforcement of Covenants and Restrictions & Architectural
Control. The Association shall be responsible for the enforcement
of the covenants and restrictions contained in this Declaration, and of
the architectural controls imposed by Article VI.
ARTICLE
V
ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. Creation of Assessments. The Declarant, for each .Lot
owned by it hereby covenants, and each Owner of any Lot, by acceptance
of a deed for a Lot, whether or not it shall be so expressed in the deed
or any conveyance, is deemed to agree to pay to the Association: (a) annual
assessments, and (b) any Individual Lot Maintenance Assessments levied
against the Owner's Lot pursuant to the provisions of this Declaration.
Section 2. Purpose of Annual Assessments. The annual assessments
shall be levied for the purpose of paying the costs associated with the
duties of the Association as set forth in Article N hereof, together with
the incidental costs of operating the Association.
Section 3. Levy of Annual Assessments. The annual assessment
must be fixed at a uniform rate for each Lot; provided, however, that
until a building permit is issued, a Lot shall be assessed at an amount
equal to onefourth (I /4) of the annual rate of assessment. The annual
assessment shall be due and payable each May 1, beginning May 1, 2000.
The annual assessment due May 1, 2000, shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
For the following years, the annual assessment shall be levied prospectively
by the Association, based upon a proposed budget. The annual assessment
may be increased, without a vote of Membership, by the greater of (a)
$10.00 per Lot; or (b) the percentage increase, if any, over the twelve
month period preceding the year for which such annual assessment is levied,
in the Consumer Price Index, all items, published by the United States
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the region including
Eagan, Minnesota. In order to increase the annual assessment more than
the maximum amount established in this section, a vote of 67% of the votes
of each class of membership cast by the members present, in person or
by proxy at a meeting of the Association called for that purpose shall
be necessary. The Board of Directors of the Association shall fix the
amount of the annual assessment in an amount not in excess of the maximum.
The annual assessment for each year shall be fixed, and written notice
provided to each Owner at least thirty (30) days prior to May 1 of the
year in which the assessment is due. Failure to provide such notice, however,
shall not render the assessment invalid.
Section 4. Individual Lot Maintenance Assessment. In the event
that any Owner violates any covenant or fails to perform any condition
contained in this Declaration, the Association may perform the act, remove
the defect or correct the violation upon thirty (30) days written notice
to the Owner, and, as appropriate, pursuant to the procedures contained
in Article VI. If the Association so acts on behalf of an Owner, the Association
may levy an assessment (hereinafter, "Individual Lot Maintenance Assessment")
against the Lot for the cost of the performance or correction.
Section 5. Effect of Nonpayment of Assessment; Remedies of Association.
The annual assessments and Individual Lot Maintenance Assessments
shall be fixed as provided in this Declaration. If any such assessment
is not paid when due, it shall become delinquent and shall, together with
interest at a rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, any cost of collection
and any attorney's fees, becoming a continuing lien on the Lot and shall
also be the personal obligation of the Owner of the Lot at the time of
the assessment is made. The lien may be enforced and foreclosed by action
in the same manner in which mortgages may be foreclosed in Minnesota.
Each Owner, by acceptance of a deed for any Lot, shall be deemed to give
full and complete power of sale to the Association and to consent to a
foreclosure of the lien by advertisement. The Association may elect to
bring an action at law against the Owner personally obligated to pay the
assessment.
Section 6. Subordination of Lien to First Mortgages. The lien
of assessments provided for herein shall be subordinate to the lien of
any first Mortgage, and the sale or transfer of any Lot shall not affect
the assessment lien. However, the sale or transfer of any Lot pursuant
to the foreclosure of a First Mortgage, or pursuant to any other proceeding
or arrangement in lieu of such foreclosure, shall extinguish the lien
of such assessments as to installments which become due prior to the effective
date of such sale, transfer or acquisition by the Mortgagee to the end
that no assessment liability shall accrue to an acquiring Mortgagee except
with respect to installments of assessments becoming due after possession
has passed to such acquiring Mortgagee, whether such possession has passed
at the termination of any period of redemption or otherwise. In the event
of the extinguishment of such assessment lien as aforesaid, the entire
amount of such unpaid assessment shall be reallocated and assessed against,
and payable by the Owners of all other Lots exclusive of such mortgaged
Lot. No such sale, transfer or acquisition of possession shall relieve
an Owner or a Lot from liability for any assessments thereafter becoming
due or from the lien thereof, or shall relieve the person personally obligated
to pay the assessments which were levied prior to the transfer or such
property from the personal obligation to pay the same.
Section 7. Exempt Property. The following property subject to
this Declaration shall be exempted from the assessments, charges and liens
created herein; All properties to the extent of any easement or other
interest therein dedicated to and accepted by the local public authority
and devoted to public use.
Notwithstanding
any provisions herein, no land or improvements devoted to dwelling use
shall be exempt from said assessments, charges or liens.
ARTICLE
VI
ARCHITECTURAL
CONTROL
Section 1. Architectural Control Committee. There shall be established
an architectural Control Committee (ACC) consisting of four persons. The
members of the ACC shall be appointed by Declarant so long as the Class
B Membership exists. After termination of Declarant's right to appoint
the ACC members, members shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure
of the Board of Directors of the Association.
Section 2. Original Construction. A site plan and plans and specifications
for the construction of a Living Unit on any Lot shall be submitted to
the ACC for its written approval before any construction activity is begun.
Landscaping plans shall be submitted for written approval before any landscaping
is begun.
Section 3. Review of Modifications. After the completion of an
original Living Unit on a Lot, the construction or modification of any
building or structure, including front yard fences and mailboxes or the
retaining walls or monuments, if any, constructed by the Declarant, shall
require prior written approval by the ACC of the plans and specifications
for the construction, in accordance with the standards set forth in Section
4 hereof
Section 4. Standard of Review. The ACC may promulgate detailed
standards and procedures governing its areas of responsibility and practice.
In addition, the following shall apply: The plans and specifications shall
be reviewed as to quality of workmanship, design and harmony of external
design with existing structures, topography, and finish grade elevation.
No permission or approval shall be required to repaint in accordance with
originally approved plans and specifications. Nothing contained herein
shall be construed to limit the right of an Owner to remodel the interior
of his or her residence or to paint the interior of his or her residence
any color desired.
Section 5. Procedure. If the ACC fails to approve or disapprove
plans and specifications within fourteen (14) days after submission of
the same to it, approval with be deemed to have been granted. In the event
of disapproval by the ACC, the requesting Owner may give written notice
that the Owner wishes to appeal the ACC decision and request a hearing
by the Association's Board of Directors. Such notice must be furnished
to the ACC within ten (10) days of its decision. The hearing shall be
at a special meeting of the Board of Directors to be held within thirty
(30) days of the receipt of the Owner's notice to appeal.
Section 6. Removal and Abatement. The ACC or the Association
shall have the right to order an Owner to remove or alter any structure
on any Lot erected in violation of the terms of this Declaration, and
to employ appropriate judicial proceedings to compel the alteration or
demolition of any nonconforming construction or other violation. Any cost
incurred by the ACC shall be levied as an Individual Lot Maintenance Assessment
as provided in Article V.
Section 7. Variances. Reasonable variances to the covenants,
conditions and restrictions may be granted by the ACC after review, in
order to overcome practical difficulties or to prevent unnecessary hardship.
A variance may only be granted if it is not detrimental to other property
and shall not defeat the purpose of this Declaration.
ARTICLE
VII
PROHIBITED
USES
Section 1. Use. No Lot shall be used except for residential purposes:
No Living Unit shall be erected, altered, placed or permitted to remain
on any Lot other than one single family dwelling, and an attached garage
containing at least 600 square feet, for at least two (2) cars. No garages
shall be erected on any site except attached garages and no attached garage
for more than 1,200 square feet shall be permitted without the express
written approval of the ACC. The size of any building or structure, exclusive
of onestory open porches, basements and garages, shall be:
-
In the case of a single
floor structure, not less than 2,000 square feet of finishable living
space on the main level (above grade).
-
In the case of a multilevel
structure, plans must be approved on an individual basis.
-
In the case of a one and
onehalf story structure, not less than a combined total of2,400 square
feet of finishable living space for both floors (above grade).
-
In the case of a twostory
structure, not less than a combined total of finishable living space
for both the ground and second floors of 2,500 square feet.
Section
2. Building Design. All plans for any dwelling unit, garage or
other structure or fence, including exterior building materials and exterior
colors, must be approved by the ACC. The ACC may withhold its approval
for any dwelling not complying with the terms set forth herein.
Structures erected or placed
on any Lot or Plot must be in harmony with the residence in respect to
workmanship, materials and external design. Exteriors must have accents
of stucco, brick, stone or wood. All siding must be of natural materials.
With the exception of aluminum sots and facia, maintenance free siding
is prohibited.
Roof lines shall be approved
by ACC on an individual basis. Additionally, each roof shall have a minimum
shingle weight of 250 pounds per square.
Section 3. Subdivision. No Lot shall be subdivided or split by
any means whatsoever into any greater number of residential Lots, nor
into any residential plots of smaller size without the express written
approval of the City of Eagan.
Section 4. Standards. All uses of the Lots shall, as a minimum,
comply with the zoning and other applicable ordinances and regulations
of the City of Eagan. The Standards herein contained shall be considered
as requirements in addition to said zoning and other applicable ordinances
and regulations.
Section 5. Plans. All plans must be approved by the ACC. No plan
shall be submitted to the city prior the approval of the ACC.
Section 6. Signage. No sign shall be placed on any Lot or within
the Property without the express written consent of the ACC, except that
one "for sale" sign may be placed on a Lot by an Owner of the Developer
without Committee Approval.
Section 7. No Pets and Animals. No birds, animals or insects
shall be kept on any Lot except dogs, cats and other common household
pets, provided that they are not kept, bred or maintained for any commercial
purposes.
Section 8. Home Occupation. No profession or home industry shall
be conducted in any Living Unit or on any Lot without the specific written
approval of the Developer as long as it has Class "B" votes as hereinbefore
defined or by the ACC thereafter. The Developer or the Committee, whichever
has authority at the time in question, in its discretion, upon consideration
of the circumstances in each case, and in particularly the effect on surrounding
property, may permit a Lot to be used in whole or in part for the conduct
of a profession or home industry. No such profession or home industry
shall be permitted, however, unless it is considered by the Developer
or by the Architectural Control Committee, whichever then has authority,
to be compatible with the residential neighborhood.
Section 9. Nuisances. No weeds, or other unsightly growths shall
be permitted to grow or remain upon the premises. No refuse pile or unsightly
objects shall be allowed to be placed or suffered to remain any where
thereon. Firewood shall be stored only to the rear of the residence and
shall be concealed by screening acceptable to the Committee. In the event
that any Owner of any Lot shall fail or refuse to keep such premises free
from weeds, or refuse piles or other unsightly growths or objects, then
the Developer or the Committee may enter upon such lands and remove the
same at the expense of the Owner and such entry shall not be deemed as
trespass and in the event of such a removal, a lien shall arise and be
created in favor of the Association and against such Lot for the full
amount chargeable to such Lot and such amount shall be due and payable
within thirty days after the Owner is billed there for. No Lot shall be
used in whole or in part for the storage of rubbish of any character whatsoever.
nor for the storage of any property or thing that will cause such Lot
to appear in an unclean or untidy condition or that will be obnoxious
to the eye; nor shall any substance, thing, or material be kept upon any
Lot that will emit foul or obnoxious odors, or that will cause any noise
that will or might disturb the peace, quiet, comfort, or serenity of the
occupants of surrounding property. The outside storage of an unlicenced
motor vehicle upon the premises shall also be considered a nuisance.
Section 10. Storage. Outside storage of any items, including
but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, sporting equipment,
toys, outdoor cooking equipment, yard and Garden tools and equipment and
trash and garbage containers shall not be allowed unless effectively screened
from view outside the Lot. The design of any screening enclosures must
be approved by the Committee. Household trash and garbage shall be regularly
collected and may be kept outside only if in tightly covered containers.
No boats, inoperable automobiles, snow mobiles, trailers, camping vehicles,
tractors/trailers, or trucks in excess of 9,000 pounds gross weight shall
at any time be stored or parked on any Lot outside of a garage or on public
streets within Royal Oaks for more than two (2) consecutive days without
the express written approval of the Architectural Control Committee, which
approval may be withheld without stated reason. In no event shall any
above described vehicle be stored outside more than four (4) days total
in one month.
Section 11. Leasing. Any lease between an Owner and a nonOwner
occupant shall be in writing and shall provide that the terms of the lease
shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Declaration,
the Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws of the Association, and shall
provide that any failure by the NonOwner occupant to comply with the terms
of such documents, shall be a default under the lease. Other than the
foregoing, there shall be no restrictions on the use of a Living Unit
by a nonOwner occupant.
Section 12. Fences, Walls and Hedges. No wall or fence shall
be constructed or hedge planted on any Lot until the height. type, design,
and location have been approved in writing by the Committee. Under no
circumstances shall a boundary wall, fence or hedge be permitted with
a height more than six (6) feet. The height or elevation of any wall,
fence or hedge shall be measured from the existing elevations on the property
at or along the applicable point or lines. Any question as to such heights
may be completely determined by the Committee. The height limitations
as set forth in this paragraph shall not be applicable to tennis court
enclosures, provided such enclosures have been approved by the Committee.
A refusal by the Committee to allow or permit a fence, wall or hedge (including
tennis court enclosures and swimming pool fences) on any particular Lot
or in any particular location shall not be construed to be an abuse of
discretion.
Section 13. Storage Tanks. No permanent storage tanks of any
kind shall be erected, placed or permitted on any Lot unless buried or
effectively screened from view outside the Lot.
Section 14. Temporary Structures. No structure of temporary character,
trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, barn or other building shall be
used on any Lot at any time as a residence, either temporarily or pennanently.
Section 15. Auxiliary Structures. No detached dog kennels, runs
or enclosures shall be permitted unless design and location of same shall
be approved by the ACC. No detached metal storage buildings shall be permitted
and other detached storage buildings must be approved by the ACC as conforming
in design, building materials and appearance to the dwelling and which
are located in the proximity of the dwelling or garage.
Section 16. Driveways. Driveways must be constructed of concrete,
bituminous or other hard surface material. Material and installation shall
be subject to approval of the ACC. Driveways must be installed within
one year of the date a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for any dwelling
constructed upon a Lot.
Section 17. Exterior Lighting. All exterior lighting fixtures
and standards shall be shown on submitted plans and shall comply with
the overall lighting plan of the Declarant. All forms of exterior lighting
shall be subject to approval of the Committee.
Section 18. Antennas. Except with the prior written approval
authorization of the Committee, no exterior television or radio antenna
larger than 18 inches in length or width of any sort shall be placed,
allowed or maintained upon any portion of a Lot or the improvements or
structures located thereon.
Section 19. Completion of Construction of Improvements. All construction
work shall, upon approval of plans by the Committee, be carried on with
dispatch; all improvements shall be constructed in conformity with the
then existing building codes of the City of Eagan, Minnesota; and all
building plans shall be prepared by or under the supervision of a registered
architect, a builder or qualified design professional. If any structure
is begun after approval of the plans as provided in Article VI and is
not completed within one year after the commencement of said construction,
and in the judgement of the Developer or the ACC, it is offensive or unsightly
in appearance, the Developer or the Committee, may take such steps as
may be necessary to make the Property harmonious with other properties,
such steps including completion of the exterior of the structure, screening
or covering, the structure or any combination thereof, or sinular operations.
The amount of any expenditure made in so doing, shall be the personal,
joint and several obligation of the Owner or Owners and shall be a lien
on the Lot and may be foreclosed in the same manner as provided in Article
V. The lien herein shall not be valid as against a subsequent bona fide
purchaser of the Lot in question unless a statement setting forth the
claim had been filed for record in the office of the County Recorder of
Dakota County, or unless a suit and appropriate Lis Pendens to foreclose
the lien shall have been filed of record in the office of the County Recorder
of Dakota County prior to the recordation of the Deed conveying the Lot
in question to said purchaser.
ARTICLE
VIII
OWNER'S
DUTIES
Section 1. Minimum Landscape Plan. Owners shall be charged with
the responsibility for the installation and maintenance of minimum landscaping
which has been approved by the Architectural Control Committee. The landscape
plan to be submitted and approved by the ACC no less than 30 days prior
to the Certificate of Occupancy. Such plantings and other landscape work
must be completed within one year after the issuance of a building permit
for construction of a Living Unit. It shall be the responsibility of the
Owner to maintain such plantings and landscaping. Should an Owner fail
to plant and install or maintain such landscaping, the Association reserves
the right to complete such work and levy an Individual Lot Maintenance
Assessment against such Lot for the costs incurred by the Association
therein pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, Article V hereof. All
Lots shall be subject to easements over and across such premises to permit
the Association to carry out the work described in Sections 1 and 2 of
Article VII.
Section 2. Mailboxes. Each Owner shall maintain a mailbox of
the design and type initially installed by the Declarant or as on file
with the Association. The mailboxes shall be on the public rightofway.
The Association reserves the right to levy an Individual Lot Maintenance
Assessment against a Lot, pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, Article
V hereof, should an Owner fail to maintain their mailbox.
Section 3. Maintenance and Repair. In order to preserve the uniform
and highstandard appearance of the Property, each Owner undertakes responsibility
for maintenance and repair of the exterior of his Living Unit, private
yard area and private driveway on the Lot. Such responsibility for maintaining
the Lot and improvements thereon shall include, but not be limited to
the following: the maintenance and repair of exterior surfaces of all
buildings on the Lot, including without lunitation, the painting, of the
same as often as necessary, the replacement of trim and caulking, the
maintenance and repair of exterior windows and doors, necessary painting,
staining and repair of patio structures; in maintaining Private Yard Areas
and private driveways an Owner shall be required to mow, trim, water or
otherwise care for grass, trees or other plants located on a Lot and shall
be required to remove snow from the private driveways. parking areas and
walkways to the Living Unit. Maintenance. painting and construction shall
be in the original colors and materials. or according to approved color
boards on file with the Association. Other colors and materials may be
approved by the ACC.
ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section 1. Association Easement. The Association shall have a
right of access to enter upon any Lot in order to perform any obligations
or duties of the Association hereunder, or to exercise any right or remedy
of the Association hereunder.
Section 2. Duration of Declaration of Protective Covenants. Restrictions
and Easements. The protective covenants, restrictions and easements
of this Declaration shall run with and bind the land and shall inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the Association or the Owner of any
Lot subject to this Declaration, or their respective legal representatives,
heirs, successors and assigns. The easements set forth herein shall be
perpetual. The protective covenants and restrictions herein set forth
shall have a term of twenty (20) years from the date this Declaration
is recorded, after which time, said covenants and restrictions shall be
automatically renewed for successive periods often (10) years. The covenants
and restrictions of the Declaration maybe amended during the first twenty
(20) year period by an instrument signed by not less than seventyfive
percent (75%) of the Owners and thereafter by an instrument signed by
not less than sixtyseven percent (67%) of the Owners. Any amendment must
be properly recorded.
Section 3. Enforcement. In the event any Owner fails to comply
with the provisions of this Declaration, or the Bylaws or Articles of
Incorporation of the Association or with decisions of the Association
which are made pursuant thereto, such failure will give rise to a cause
of action on the part of the Association, or any aggrieved Owner for the
recovery of damages or for injunctive relief, or both. Owners shall have
a similar right of action against the Association. Enforcement of these
covenants and restrictions may be by any proceeding at law in equity.
Section 4. Severability. Invalidation of any one of these covenants
or restrictions by judgement or court order shall in no ways affect any
other provisions by judgement or court order shall in no way affect any
other revision which shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 5. Rules and Regulations. The Board of Directors of the
Association may, from time to time, adopt such rules and regulations
as the Board, in its sole discretion. deems appropriate or necessary,
including, without limiting, the generality of the foregoing, additional
rules and regulations concerning the use of parking areas, maintenance
of the common areas and additional rules and regulations concerning the
appearance of each Lot and utilization of ponding areas.
Section 6. Rights of Declarant. Until the last Lot is sold and
conveyed to an Owner other than Declarant, the following activities by
Declarant or with the written consent of Declarant will not be deemed
violations of restrictions contained in this Declaration:
a) The
use of a Lot or Lots for model and sales office purposes;
b) The
storage of a construction trailer, equipment, materials and earth during
the construction of new Living Units;
c) The
display of signs advertising the Property, or new Living Units and the
maintenance of temporary fencing, walkways, landscaping and berming in
the vicinity of models and sales units.
ARTICLE
X
DRIVEWAY
EASEMENTS FOR ACCESS TO LOTS 13 AND 16,
BLOCK
1, ROYAL OAKS
The owners of Lots 13 and
16, Block 1, Royal Oaks and their successors and assigns shall forever
have an easement for driveway/access purposes over that certain real estate
described as follows: The west 15 (fifteen) feet of Lots 12 and 13, Block
1, Royal Oaks and the east five (5) feet of Lots 16 and 17, Block 1, Royal
Oaks. The owners of Lots 13 and 16, Block 1, Royal Oaks will be singularly
responsible for the maintenance and repair of their respective easements
and said easements shall be constructed with asphalt or concrete.
ARTICLE
XI
RIGHTS
OF MORTGAGEES
Section 1. Mortgagee's Rights. Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this Declaration, the Articles of Incorporation or the ByLaws of the
Association, the provisions of this Article shall control, and in the
event of a conflict between the provisions of this article and the provisions
of such Declaration, Articles or ByLaws, the provisions of this article
shall control.
Section 2. Notice of Default. Any Mortgagee holding a first Mortgage
on a Lot and who shall have previously filed a written request with the
Association, shall be entitled to written notification of any default
by the mortgagor or Owner of such Lot or their heirs, successors or assigns
in the payment of any assessments or the performance of any other duties
or obligations herein set forth which shall have remained in default for
a period of thirty (30) days or more. The neglect or failure of the Association
to tender such notice to the Mortgagee shall toll the running of any time
limits applicable to the procedure for the collection of such assessment
or remedies available to the Association on account of such default.
Section 3. Consent Required. Without the prior written approval
of sixtysix and two thirds percent (66 2/3 %) of the holders of mortgage
liens against all Lots, the Association shall not be entitled to: