GreyHawk CDD, POA seek cohesive parking policies for community

Parking overnight on the street in GreyHawk Landing is a violation of the parking policy laid out in every homeowner’s deed.

But a discrepancy between the property owners association and community development district’s policies is causing confusion according to Richard Ulrich, an attorney who represented the POA and commented at the Oct. 22 meeting. 

District counselor Andrew Cohen said the roads belong to the CDD, which has the power to tow vehicles, but not to fine anyone. That power resides in the POA.

Additionally, Ulrich said there needed to be a clarification on the timespan in which a parked car would be in violation. The CDD’s policy states a car found parked on the street at 3:30 a.m. is assumed to be in violation because it has most likely been parked all night.

“We don’t want to penalize people who are arriving home or people who stay late at a friend’s house,” Supervisor Jeffery Evans said.

However, an amendment to the covenants and restrictions made in 2011 states that a violation would occur if a car was parked on the street between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Ulrich said the POA wanted to open a conversation with the CDD to find the answers or a possible solution to the confusion.

“We need to come up with one thing for the entire community,” said Jeffery Evans, a supervisor. “We need to include GreyHawk West, too.”

GreyHawk West has a separate POA.

Cohen told the board no requirement exists for the CDD to post signage that parking on the street is a violation, because it is included in the homeowner's deed. Towing enforcement signs are required, however, and the community already has the appropriate signage.

The CDD decided to choose Evans to work with the POA and other community authorities to brainstorm over the language in the community’s documents and come up with a comprehensive policy that covers each group.

“Jeff will work with the POA reps and find a solution that’s best for the community,” Cohen said.

Evans said part of the issue was that the security company hired by the CDD wasn’t being diligent monitoring and reporting overnight parking violations. That issue was brought up during the September CDD meeting. The issue has improved in the last few weeks, he said.

“What’s left is a conversation where we reconcile the differences between the rules, then enforce whatever we agree to rigorously, make sure violators are notified and respect the community’s wishes,” Evans said.