Architectural Criteria
ARCHITECHURAL REVIEW CRITERIA CREATED NOVEMBER 17, 2023 / APPROVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP AS OF MARCH 21, 2024
NOTE: ARC APPROVAL MUST BE RECEIVED 'PRIOR TO' THE START OF ALL WORK NOTED HEREIN UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED BELOW
1. Any request submitted to and approved by the ARC must commence within a period of six (6) months from the date of approval and must be completed within six (6) months from project commencement. If a request has not commenced within six (6) months from the approval date, the ARC approval shall be considered null and void unless otherwise approved by ARC.
2. Options for Driveways:
a. Driveway colors may be chosen from the ARC approved color chart that will be kept by ARC.
b. Textured, smooth or stamped concrete driveways are permitted unfinished, coated, or stained with a color listed in the ARC approved color chart.
c. Pavers are permitted in hues, tints and shades which complement the member’s home.
Definitions for paver colors: Hues - The property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green, or yellow in reference to the spectrum. Tint - A hue that is diluted with white. A hue of less than maximum purity or saturation. A delicate or pale hue. Shade - To introduce degrees of darkness into a hue in order to render hues more contrasting.
3. Hurricane Storm Panels:
a. Removable or Temporary Hurricane Panels: All removable or temporary types of storm panels such as corrugated metal panels, Kevlar panels, synthetic panels, plywood or any other installations used to protect members dwelling may be installed without ARC approval when a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued by the Tropical Storm Prediction Center (National Hurricane Center) anywhere within a 500-mile radius of Saint Johns County, Florida, including adjacent coastal waters. These panels must be removed within seven (7) days after the storm watch has been discontinued for Saint Johns County by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
b. Permanently Attached Hurricane Panels: All permanently attached hurricane panels must be White.
All hurricane storm panels permanently attached to the FRONT of the home, must be fully open unless a tropical storm watch has been issued as noted above and they must be returned to the fully open position within seven (7) days after the storm watch has been discontinued as noted above. All permanently attached hurricane panels attached to the home, other than on the front of the house, may be in any position, fully or partially open/closed throughout the year provided they are clean and free of rust, corrosion, dirt and mildew.
4. Exterior Finish of Homes and General Maintenance:
a. The exterior finish of all member homes must be shell dashed or textured stucco. A sample of the replacement exterior finish and/or paint color must be included in the ARC request. Coastal Highway homes only may use Hardie board/cement board siding if determined to provide increased protection from wind driven water intrusion due to their proximity to the oceanfront.
b. The Members may choose colors from the ARC approved color chart, which will be kept by the ARC. The approved colors include, pink, gray, yellow, green, blue and brown of many shades, hues and tints of these colors. A homeowner may choose any of these colors or lighter (but not darker) shades of these colors. They do not have to be BEHR paints, from which the approved colors were derived, as any paint supplier will have colors that fall within the spectrum of the approved colors.
c. A paint sample must be applied to a 2 foot by 2-foot section of the exterior wall for inspection by ARC, if requested. d. All general exterior repairs to a home, not otherwise noted herein, may be made “in kind” without ARC approval
5. Exterior Trim:
a. All exterior trim, garage doors and gutters must be white. Downspouts may be white or painted the same color as the house.
b. Pool and back patio aluminum framed screen enclosures and screen doors may be either white or dark metallic bronze.
c. Exterior front door may be any solid color as long as the color is in harmony with the color of the house and community taken as a whole, and the door color reflects currently recognized housing design trends. Front storm doors must be white or match the approved color of the front door.
6. Landscaping - Front Yard:
a. The Association encourages all members to consider xeriscaping with regard to any changes to existing landscaping.
b. All changes made to the front beds, with regard to area/size and specific plants, trees or shrubs must be detailed in the ARC request. Drawings to scale may be requested.
1. Dead plants, trees, and shrubs in the front beds must be removed and replaced with similar trees, plants, and shrubs. ARC approval is not required as long as it is an “in kind” replacement.
2. Members may plant and remove seasonal flowers in beds at their own discretion without ARC approval.
c. Members are encouraged to tastefully create new beds around electric transformers, telephone or communication risers in their front lawn. (Call the utility company before you dig)
d. Members are permitted at their own expense to use different mulch from the HOA supplied pine bark medallions. Sample colors must be included with the ARC request. e. Landscape borders, edging and curbs around the front beds of member’s homes must be in hues, tints and shades that complement the home. All landscape borders, edging and curbs must be located on member's property.
7. Exterior Lighting:
a. Exterior lights above the front door, located within the alcove, must be mounted flush with the soffit/ceiling. These lights do not require ARC approval provided they are white, stainless steel, brushed nickel or dark metallic finish.
b. Exterior lights on the wall at the front door and near the garage door should be weather resistant and have a white, stainless steel, brushed nickel or dark metallic finish. Examples or pictures showing size, style and color must be submitted with the ARC request.
c. Fixtures for ground supported security lights or landscape lights in front yards must be placed in an inconspicuous area, no more than 24” high from the ground to the top of the fixture and must not shine on adjacent properties. All fixtures must be located in the bed area so as not to interfere with regular mowing and edging.
8. Lamp Posts: Lamp Posts installed in the front yard must be white or dark metallic bronze finish in color and will have a height requirement of 71” to 74”, not including the light fixture that must be affixed to the top of the post. No more than one (1) lamp post will be acceptable for any one front yard. Examples or pictures of the lamp post and light fixture must be included in the ARC request. Submissions must also include a drawing showing the location of the lamp post and set backs from curbs, walkways and driveways. The location of the lamp post should not interfere with the ability to open car doors or with the operation of lawn maintenance equipment.
9. For Sale or Rent Signs: For Sale or Rent signs in front of all residences must be a uniform size of 8"x10", professionally lettered and painted the following approved color scheme: colors are Benjamin Moore Gloss Base Enamel, Marsh Creek Green, with white lettering. All such signs must be removed within one (1) week of settlement/closing.
10. Open House Signs:
a. Open house signs no larger than 2’x3’ shall be allowed. They cannot be in-place for more than an 8-hour period per day and 4 for no longer than 2 consecutive 8-hour days.
b. Balloons are permitted at the neighborhood’s front entrance and at the member’s house during open house hours only.
11. Decorative Items:
a. Lawn ornaments such as birdbaths, pots, statues, figurines, etc. are not permitted on any grassed front, back or side areas.
b. Lawn ornaments consistent with the beach/nature theme of the neighborhood, are permitted in beds. Pictures, quantities and size of the ornaments must be included in the ARC request.
c. Decorative items such as statues, figurines, chairs, benches and live potted plants are allowed on front porches and alcove area provided they do not exceed 48 inches in height.
d. Decorative pots and/or live potted plants are permitted on either side of garage door.
12. Modifications to the Irrigation System: Modification to the irrigation system (i.e. new lines, relocations, capping/removal, etc.) as a result of any proposed improvement such as the building or removal of decks, room additions, patios, pools, landscaping, etc. is not permitted unless approved by the Board or Board Committee. All costs associated with such modifications to the irrigation system shall be at the owner’s expense. Members may themselves raise or lower any sprinkler head located above the ground in a bed area, but not any underground lines or heads in grassed areas unless specific approval is given.
13. Roofs: a. All roofs must be architectural asphalt shingles and may be of any style. The color must be “GAF Weathered Wood“ or approved equal. Basic three-tab asphalt shingles are prohibited.
b. Flat roof designs, metal roofs, and tile roofs are prohibited. The only exception is the tile roof on the Clubhouse and Beach Cabana.
c. Drip edge must be white, black or brown.
14. Windows: All new or replacement windows must be white.
15. Fences:
NO FENCE SHALL BE INSTALLED PARALLEL TO THE FOOTPRINT OF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE.
The following fencing Zones A, B, and C, apply to homes on the outer ring of the development. Zone D applies to the inner circle and Zone E applies
to beachfront homes and homes at the entrance that back up to A1A.
Zone A (Seaside Vista Side) 280 Brighton Court to 224 Kingston Drive.
Zone B (Marsh Side) 220 Kingston Dr to 172 Kingston Drive including all of Somerset Court.
Zone C (Ocean Grand Side) 168 Kingston Drive to 104 Kingston Drive
Zone D (On the Retention Pond) all odd numbered addresses on Kingston Drive.
Zone E (Beachfront & A1A Entrance) 4600 Coastal Hwy to 4570 Coastal Hwy. including 100 Kingston Drive, 288 and 292 Brighton Court.
to beachfront homes and homes at the entrance that back up to A1A.
Zone A (Seaside Vista Side) 280 Brighton Court to 224 Kingston Drive.
Zone B (Marsh Side) 220 Kingston Dr to 172 Kingston Drive including all of Somerset Court.
Zone C (Ocean Grand Side) 168 Kingston Drive to 104 Kingston Drive
Zone D (On the Retention Pond) all odd numbered addresses on Kingston Drive.
Zone E (Beachfront & A1A Entrance) 4600 Coastal Hwy to 4570 Coastal Hwy. including 100 Kingston Drive, 288 and 292 Brighton Court.
a. No Fence or privacy wall may exceed a height of 7 feet and must be structurally sound so not to create a wind hazard.
b. No Fence or privacy wall shall come any closer to the street than the rear corners of the house. Any rear fence that is between houses must have
an unlocked gate of at least 48 inches in width to accommodate regular lawn maintenance.
c. Fences located in Zone D and Zone E may be white open picket, cable or similar open unobstructive type and not exceed a maximum height
of 4 feet so as not to interfere with a neighbor’s view of the pond or beach or exceed the height of the entrance wall.
d. Fences in Zone C may be green or black vinyl coated chain linked fencing or natural wood picket or black aluminum fencing and not exceed a
height of 7 feet. Fence design can be privacy or open style.
b. No Fence or privacy wall shall come any closer to the street than the rear corners of the house. Any rear fence that is between houses must have
an unlocked gate of at least 48 inches in width to accommodate regular lawn maintenance.
c. Fences located in Zone D and Zone E may be white open picket, cable or similar open unobstructive type and not exceed a maximum height
of 4 feet so as not to interfere with a neighbor’s view of the pond or beach or exceed the height of the entrance wall.
d. Fences in Zone C may be green or black vinyl coated chain linked fencing or natural wood picket or black aluminum fencing and not exceed a
height of 7 feet. Fence design can be privacy or open style.
e. Fences in Zone B may be green or black vinyl coated chain link, natural wood picket or black aluminum fences not to exceed 4 feet in
height.
height.
f. Fences in Zone A may not exceed 7 feet and can be open type or privacy in design.
16. The ARC requires that any member requesting a proposed improvement ensure that the Designer(s) and/or Contractor(s) performing the work be available, if requested, to answer questions concerning conformance to the ARC Criteria
17. The home owner must be present or available by phone at the ARC meeting when the request is being considered for approval.
18. House number plaques needing replacement must be replaced in kind.