Residential Improvement Guidelines

This paper is a guide for CASCADE ESTATES homeowners.  It is hoped that it will increase homeowners' awareness of their obligation to abide by the Declaration of Covenants.  Every CASCADE ESTATES homeowner should have received a copy of the covenants at closing or from our property management company.  Occasionally this information is not provided by the seller or overlooked by the home- owner during the shuffle of paperwork during closing.  Since these covenants "run with the land," they are binding to all CASCADE ESTATES homeowners and should be understood and followed.

According to Article VII and Article VIII of the Cascade Estates Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, and 7 covenants (or similar to the Articles below) an Architectural Control Committee (also referred to in the covenants as the Architecture Control Committee or ACC) has been established and is active in our community.  This committee is comprised of the Board of Directors of the Cascade Estates Homeowners Association and will be maintained (as provided by the covenants) by the current and successive Boards of Directors.  Article VII and Article VIII is reprinted for your information.

Article VII

Article VIII

The role of the Cascade Estates ACC is to:

• increase residents' awareness and understanding of the covenants
• provide uniform guidelines to be used in the review of applications to make external changes
• approve exterior alterations which are in harmony with the immediate neighborhood and the community as a whole
• ultimately maintain or improve the property values of Cascade Estates

The following guidelines are just that, a guide and do not constitute a complete list of concerns.  They do, however, seek to focus on major areas of concern.  The guidelines listed have been compiled by the ACC by the precedence's set during review or submittals.

According to the covenants, exterior changes to your property must be approved by the ACC.  It is important to understand that the requirement for committee approval is not just limited to major alterations such as constructing an addition.  Exterior changes such as those outlined below must also be approved by the ACC.  Such changes include (but are not limited to):

ROOM ADDITIONS- (including patio enclosures) Must match the lines, materials, colors and style of your home.

FENCES- Wood fences with a maximum height of 6' will be the only fences approved by the committee with the exception of the "split rail" fences required by the covenants along public "greenways".  Fences along the main access roads to Cascade Estates (Cascade Blvd and Astor Drive) are encouraged to be "Cap Rail" style fence as currently installed along most of this area.  All other fence locations are encouraged to be the standard 4" to 6" wide "dog eared" style or a 4" to 6" wide "shadow box" style. Materials are encouraged to be Cedar with clear waterproofing or waterproofing "Cedar Tone" stain and either 2-1/2" diameter galvanized steel posts or 4"x4" treated wood posts.  Landscape timbers used as fence posts are discouraged. The ACC has also approved brick posts with stockade fencing or brick posts with wrought iron fencing.

DECKS- must match the style and flow of the existing home.  Decks above the height of two (2) feet above the ground are discouraged.  To protect the value of your home please ensure the use of quality material such as treated lumber or "Tech Deck" type material specifically designed for decks.

PATIOS- must match the style and flow of the existing home.  Concrete paving, "pavers" or "pavestones" installed correctly, or decorative rock is encouraged.

STORAGE BUILDINGS- must mach the style of the home (color, trim, roof pitch, and shingles).  Barn-style with gambrel roofs will also be approved.  Veneer must be wood siding or cement board siding able to be painted or stained; no metal sided or metal roofed storage buildings will be approved.  Height, size and placement will be reviewed on a case by case basis.  Small plastic storage units of an earth tone color that cannot be seen above the fence line or by your neighbors standing at ground level will be considered on a case by case basis.

SOLAR EQUIPMENT, ANTENNAS- shall be securely mounted, and situated so as to minimize visibility from the street and neighboring homes.  Antennas shall not exceed one meter in diameter.

SWIMMING POOLS, HOT TUBS-below ground or deck level(see decks above).  Above ground pools or hot tubs (spas) with decks higher than 2 feet above ground level are HIGHLY discouraged and may not be approved by the committee.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING-Shall not be disruptive to your neighbor (i.e., floodlights that shine into their windows; strobe effect lights, etc.) EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS-colors which will most likely be approved are best described as those which do not offer harsh contrast with your neighbor.  Unusual front door colors, garage door colors, or art work is not acceptable.

TRAMPOLINES- The support rods for any nets installed around the trampoline shall be of a dark color such as black, dark blue or dark green.  The net itself shall be black. Trampolines should not be in the front yard.

PLAYHOUSES, SWINGSETS, PLAY EQUIPMENT, ETC- If visible above fence line must be of wood construction.  Any accessories visible from the main streets (Cascade Blvd and Astor Drive) such as flags, tent roofs, slides, swings, poles, etc., shall be of earth tone colors.  Height and size of such structures shall be reviewed on a case by case basis.  When looking to purchase a play structure please give thought to what your neighbors will see from their homes. Playhouses, swingsets and play equipment should not be in the front yard.

ARBORS, PATIO COVERS, TRELLIS', ETC- Will be reviewed on a case by case basis.  Materials are encouraged to be wood or wrought iron to match existing elements of your home or lot.

FOUNTAINS, FISH PONDS, WATER FEATURES, ETC- Considered part of "Landscaping" and are subject to review and approval as per Article VII.

IN GENERAL: The proposed alterations must be compatible with the characteristics of adjoining houses.  Compatible is defined as similar in color, architecture-style, material, and quality of workmanship.  The effect of your plans on the property values of neighboring properties is an important consideration.  Any plans that make your home strikingly different from other Cascade Estates homes are not acceptable; uniformity is a value which the ACC views as a means of protecting all of our property values.  The ACC also recognizes that personal concerns are also important to homeowners.  Efforts will be made to arrive at compromises that protect community values while also providing for the needs and desires of individual homeowners and their neighbors.

In addition to approving exterior change, the ACC monitors routine maintenance of CASCADE ESTATES properties.  This includes, but is not limited to, items such as lawn and landscape care, trash removal, and structural repairs.  Proper maintenance increases the visual character and property values of our community.

Additional guidelines that we should set for ourselves (or that are addressed in the covenants) include:
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS -- Do not put up more than 30 days in advance; must be taken down not later than two weeks after the holiday.
SIGNS -- must conform to city regulations; includes garage sales, political signs and real estate related signs.

VEHICLES AND PARKING- Extended parking (more than 24 hours) of inoperable vehicles in the streets are not permitted by city regulations.  This prohibition also includes campers, boats, mobile homes, "box" trucks, and landscape or other work trailers.  Parking in the street in front of your neighbors homes is discouraged.  Try to keep your vehicles parked along your property frontage.  If a large party is planned at your home, a well timed notice and "pre-apology" to your neighbors should diffuse any problems that may arise.

NOISE- Please be aware of the City of Norman Noise Ordinance.  Again, if a large party is planned at your home that will utilize outside areas, a well timed notice and "pre-apology" to your neighbors should diffuse any problems that may arise.

Homeowners should feel free to contact the ACC whenever they have questions about possible residential improvements.  Homeowners should also feel free to contact the Architectural Control Committee if they disapprove of unapproved changes that neighbors have already made.  Such contacts will be kept confidential.

When a proposed alteration has possible impact on adjacent properties, it is suggested that you discuss the alteration with those adjacent neighbors.  The committee may occasionally require additional information and reserves the right to delay your request past 30 days from initial notification until all additional information has been submitted.  Please allow 30 days for approval or denial of your plans.  Each application is reviewed on an individual basis.

The ACC may monitor the progress of work being done by an applicant to ensure that it is being performed in accordance with the request and approval.  If improvements are done without obtaining approval or were not done with substantial compliance with approved plans, the ACC will notify the owner in writing of failure to comply.  It will also request that the owner take such action as may be necessary to remedy the noncompliance.