Advertising signs on cars not allowed by HOAs
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Some people who pay dues to homeowners associations in Moorpark say directors are going too far in their attempts to preserve property values.

Suzanne Sallus, a resident of the Buttercreek Estates II development, said her association is trying to unjustly forbid her from parking her car on association property.

"They are targeting privatelyowned cars and trucks with magnetic signs that promote a business or a service because they say the vehicles are commercial, but that's not the case," Sallus said.

She appealed a request by the board of directors to either park her car in a garage or remove the magnetic sign when the car is on homeowners association property.

She said her vehicle isn't designated commercial in the association's governing documents or by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

The board tried to change the rules in the association's Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, but the attempt was voted down by a majority of homeown-ers, according to Sallus, who's waiting for the issue to be resolved.

It's all in the CC&Rs

Buttercreek II isn't the only association concerned about vehicular advertising.

The matter has surfaced in the Serenata and Dauville home-owners associations as well.

"Our CC&Rs and rules forbid parking commercial vehicles on the streets and on the driveway," said Bob Peskay, a planning commissioner who was president of the Dauville association until recently.

"Magnetic signs would come into this category," he said, adding the rule is not enforced on service providers such as plumbers and gardeners who park temporarily.

Streets within the development belong to the city, but the city is about to revise its statutes to clarify parking rules for public streets. The changes will deal primarily with RVs and larger vehicles.

The Dauville homeowners association CC&Rs mention trucks, but they don't mention four-door sedans, Peskay said.

"Either way, consistency in enforcement is important and so is being reasonable," he said.

The same concerns exist in the Serenata development, said Mark Van Dam, president of that association.

"This issue has surfaced quite a few times, be it vehicles with magnetic signs or vehicles with permanently painted signs," Van Dam said. The Serenata association rules prohibit commercial vehicles and any vehicle that displays signs, he said.

Cars, trucks or vans with painted or magnetic signs are not allowed, he said. That includes taxis, limousines, commercial vans and trucks with permanent toolboxes and lumber racks.

"Several residents in the association have commercial vehicles but they park them in their garage, thus eliminating the issue," according to Van Dam. He said residents who have magnetic signs on their vehicles remove them when they park on association property.

"I support these regulations, as does the Serenata board of directors but we try to be extremely reasonable and understanding and try to find solutions to this issue when it arises," Van Dam said. How the issue is handled depends on how the CC&Rs are written and interpreted, he said.

Not the city's problem

The city has little say in the matter. "We don't regulate personal vehicles used for business purposes so long as the vehicle isn't parked in a manner to act as a sign," said Barry Hogan, community development director.

This usually happens when someone paints a vehicle from front to back with advertising signs and then parks in a well-traveled public area.

In most instances, the city doesn't get involved with homeowners association rules, said Hugh Riley, Moorpark's assistant city manager.

"We only regulate commercial vehicles parked in the wrong place, but they're usually large vehicles," he said, adding there can be a fine line between vehicles used for commercial purposes and those that are privately used.

Many people who live in the area but work elsewhere have business signs on their vehicles, and they park their cars at home when they aren't working, said Riley.

But homeowners associations may deal with the matter differently since they have a mission to preserve the value of homes and protect the value of properties.

An attempt to contact property managers Brad and Neill Winner at the management company that oversees the Buttercreek Estates II association was unsuccessful. A receptionist there indicated they would not talk with newspapers.

She also said Buttercreek II doesn't allow commercial vehicles or magnetic signs. "They should just be removed when the vehicle is parked on association property," the receptionist said.