General Building Requirements
General Information
- You are responsible for reading and complying with all applicable Conditions Covenants & Restrictions (CC&Rs) regarding the development of your property and the building of your home.
- The information below is intended to help you with your build but does not replace the Conditions Covenants & Restrictions (CC&Rs). The Conditions Covenants & Restrictions (CC&Rs) are the final word and ruling to all build questions.
- Please note that NO construction or exterior improvements may be made without written permission of the Architectural Control Committee (ACC).
Whitewater Springs Building Guidelines Policy
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this Policy is to provide helpful information for owners considering building in Whitewater Springs. While the CC&Rs provide broad parameters and restrictions, it also provides the Architectural Control Committee (the “ACC”) discretion to approve projects based on subjective criteria such as quality of workmanship and materials, harmony of external design with existing structures, protection of the environment, and location with respect to topography and finish grade elevation. The following guidelines have been developed so that owners can better understand what criteria will be considered when reviewing their application so that they can carefully design their project and get it approved quickly. Keep in mind, the ACC wants to approve your project; but, has the responsibility to ensure every project adds to the aesthetic beauty of our community as well as upholding property values for every owner.
In addition to building guidelines, Whitewater Springs also has general guidelines designed to preserve our roadways, common areas, and mitigate the impacts to our neighbors during the construction process.
HOMES / GARAGES / GUEST HOUSES
– Size Requirements – Any dwelling constructed must have a floor area of not less than 2,000 square feet, exclusive of open or screened porches, terraces, patios, driveways, carports and garages, and shall be constructed of at least standard frame construction.
– Garages – Any primary dwelling construction on any lot must include a minimum of a two (2) car garage, which may be either attached or detached. This two-car garage requirement is not a requirement for a guesthouse or servants’ quarters.
– Manufactured/Modular Homes – Association CC&Rs stipulate that no manufactured homes shall be used on any tract at any time, either temporarily or permanently. Owners should know that in practical application, this provision has also been applied to “barndominiums” which have not been approved for construction by the association’s ACC.
– Materials/Cladding – Whitewater Springs does not have a list of approved materials for houses, garages, or guest houses; therefore, all materials will be considered so long as they are in harmony with existing structures in the subdivision. Owners should know that the association’s ACC has not approved any homes with exterior metal cladding as it does not comport with the character of the development to this date. However, home plans will be evaluated holistically, and fair consideration given.
– Setbacks – The Association’s CC&Rs stipulate that no home or garage may be placed nearer than 100 feet from the property’s platted front property line, nor 15 feet from an adjacent owner’s property line. (Article IV Section 9). If the Architectural Control Committee determines upon the ground that the setback distance from any front, rear or side-line is impractical due to topography, grade or other conditions, the Architectural Control Committee will have the authority to change the required distances and provide for a functional building location. (Article IV, Section 12)
– Setback and placement of the home/garage on the lot will be evaluated based on the criteria above and variances may be granted; however, the request must be made at the time of application and owners should know that variances are granted sparingly.
OUTBUILDINGS / SHEDS
– General Appearance – Any outbuilding should conform to the look and feel of the main residence and enhance the appearance of the property as a whole and maintain harmony of external design with existing structures. Considerations should include the building’s materials, roofline, windows, and soffits, and finishes such color pallet, gutters, and downspouts. Buildings that depart substantially from the general quality, design, and appearance of the main house will not be approved.
– Size – The CC&Rs do not specify a size criterion for outbuildings; however, the overall scale of the building and orientation on the property should be considered so as not to “dwarf” the main house or any neighboring structures. Large or tall buildings may be subject to more stringent adherence to the community’s set-back requirements.
– Setbacks – Whitewater Springs has specific criteria for setbacks as follows:
o No barn, shed, or outbuilding shall be placed nearer to the property’s platted front property line than one hundred (100′) feet, nor nearer to the property’s side-line than twenty-five (25′) feet nor nearer to the front than the primary dwelling.” (Article IV, Section 9 Whitewater Springs CC&Rs)
o If Architectural Control Committee determines upon the ground that the setback distance from any front, rear or side-line is impractical due to topography, grade or other conditions, then the Architectural Control Committee will have the authority to change the required distances and provide for a functional building location. (Article IV, Section 12)
o Setback and placement of the building on the lot will be evaluated based on the criteria above; however, discretion will be used to assure the building enhances the appearance of the subject property in terms of topography and finish grade elevation. Consideration will also be given to sightlines of neighboring properties.
– Materials/Cladding – Whitewater Springs does not have a list of approved materials for outbuildings; therefore, all materials will be considered so long as they conform to the “look and feel” of the primary residence to ensure harmony of external design with existing structures. Owners should know that if they plan to use metal for the exterior cladding of their project, consideration will be given to the color and overall quality of the product they are proposing. In addition, buildings that can be viewed from the road or surrounding properties may be asked to clad portions of the exterior to remain “in harmony” with the surrounding structures and preserve the sightlines of surrounding properties.
CAR PORTS
– Whitewater Springs does not have a restriction on car ports; however, owners should use the same level of planning/design for a car port that they would for other structures covered under these guidelines and shall submit complete sets of plans and specifications for any proposed car ports.
– The ACC has the authority to deny application, in its sole and absolute discretion, for a car port if the proposed design departs from the general quality, design, and appearance of the main house and surrounding buildings.
DRIVEWAYS
– Concrete or chip seal driveways are not a requirement in Whitewater Springs; however, it is important to note that gravel and stone
driveways can have a deleterious effect and can cause safety hazards if excess gravel or stone migrate onto the common roadways. In addition, erosion from water run-off near driveways can also cause negative impact(s) on the community’s roads and common areas. As such, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to design their driveway to minimize these impacts or face fines for repairs to the community’s roadways and/or common areas.
– At minimum, driveways should be constructed of at least four (4) inches of compacted rock, gravel, crushed limestone, or better material. (No clay/rock mixture).
– To prevent migration of materials onto common roadways, it is recommended that a concrete apron of at least 12 feet in width and 15 feet length and 5″ thickness with #3 rebar @18″ on center each way. Class A concrete of 2500 PSI.
– If a drainage culvert is needed, the Owner shall comply with all applicable State and Local codes for construction and installation. Owners are not permitted to drain water from their Lot to any other Lot within Whitewater Springs. Maintenance of owner installed drainage culverts shall be the sole responsibility of the Owner.
– Other strategies to keep rock/gravel from migrating into the roadway include carefully planning the slope, attention to base material,
particle size, and compaction.
MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL GUIDELINES
– Construction Hours – Exterior building construction shall be permitted between sunrise and sunset. To protect tranquility in the subdivision and preserve relationships between neighbors, it is recommended that no work be performed on Sundays and/or the following National holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
– Concrete pour and finishing activities may only occur during permitted construction hours.
– Deliveries: Delivery of construction materials (e.g., on-site ready-mix concrete and building supplies) may be delivered to an active
construction site between the hours of 5:30 A. M. and sunset on the days of Monday through Saturday.
– No loud (audible beyond property lines) music allowed.
– All on-site stored construction materials must not be stored within 15 feet of any property line. In addition, all construction equipment and materials MUST be confined to the construction site.
– Any slash from clearing of the site will be removed or mulched within 30 days.
– Place a solid metal debris dumpster immediately upon beginning new home and guest house construction. Site must be policed DAILY by the property owner and/or his designee prior to workers leaving the site and all debris placed in the appropriate containers.
– Instruct all contractors/sub-contractors for the project to obey the posted 30 mph speed limit while driving inside the subdivision and to watch for pedestrians (the subdivision roadways are used by residents for walking/jogging/bike riding).
– Repair or reimburse the Whitewater Springs Property Owners Association for any damages that occur, due to his/her crew and/or any sub-contractors, to any roads or common areas during the construction/installation at the identified tract.
– Use only rubber-tired vehicles on the streets and roads of the Whitewater Springs subdivision. No tracked or lugged vehicles will be allowed.
– Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, building codes and regulations that are requirements in connection with this work, and obtain any necessary government permits and approvals.
– At the start of construction, each contractor/subcontractor may place no more than one (1) contractor sign on the property of construction. Each sign may not be any larger than 3′ x 2.5′ in size with the top of the sign being no higher than three (3) feet above the ground. The signs must be removed immediately upon the closing of the property, or completion of the project/installation.