Board committees are standing committees that focus on specific areas. In Verandah the Board of Directors has established several such committees that focus on areas including finance, governance, property and infrastructure, design review, covenants, landscape, and communications. These committees consist of a Board member and homeowners who provide in-depth work, analysis and make recommendations for the full board to review. This makes board oversight more efficient and effective while ensuring significant resident input into problem solving and decision making.
Going forward, our goal is to feature a committee every month to update you on the work that is being done and to increase transparency. We begin with the Design Review Committee.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS BUSY OVER THE SUMMER
Verandah’s Design Review Committee (DRC) is comprised of five homeowners appointed by the Board of Directors. Mary Basile is the Board liaison to the committee and Mary Cinelli in the VCA office provides administrative support. The DRC is responsible for reviewing and approving or denying proposed exterior modifications to homes to ensure they comply with our governing documents, architectural guidelines, and overall aesthetic standards. Its role includes evaluating plans for additions, landscaping, paint colors, roofs, and other visible changes in order to maintain property values, protect visual harmony, and uphold the community’s design vision. The committee also provides guidance to homeowners on application requirements, conducts site inspections, and works in coordination with the VCA Board to ensure consistent, fair, and transparent enforcement of architectural standards.
Although many of Verandah’s homeowners leave for the summer, the DRC remained busy. Between June and November, the committee received hundreds of Design Modification request forms from homeowners seeking approval for external improvements to their homes. The most common requests included exterior painting, roof replacement, and landscaping.
The committee also works proactively with homeowners on other outside work to ensure the guidelines are followed. The most frequent issues the committee works with homeowners on are exterior paint colors, driveways, pool cage modifications, dirty roofs and exterior lighting.
In closing, if you are considering making changes to the outside of your home, including landscaping, please call the office (239-694-6358). VCA staff are ready to answer any questions you may have and assist with your Design Modification request form.
