My reply
I too have been browsing through this site to get a feel of what is going on. I agree with you, there are a number of disgruntled folks here. But, you know what? You could have chosen to live in an area that doesn't have CC&R's, or has an Association that lets you pick and choose which rules to abide by. It seems that people are missing the point of what CC&R's are. They are a set of rules that are read by, and agreed to, by prospective homeowners BEFORE they buy in the neighborhood. These rules are set in place to protect the buyer and the community. The buyer is assured that their investment will be protected from deterioration in an unregulated neighborhood, and the community as a whole is protected in appearance and safety. Why, all of a sudden, are the CC&R's that you agreed to before buying your house, now unacceptable?
Our CC&R's protect our monetary investment (including yours) by not allowing the neighborhood to depreciate. If CC&R's are anti-family development, then do you believe that all of the communities that are being developed along Dysart and Litchfield roads are also anti-family? Get a copy of their CC&R's and see how they compare to ours.
Another point is that Sun City and retired isn't all bad in regards to CC&R's. Perhaps if our community had all front yards maintained professionally there would be a different look here. Perhaps the garage doors not being permitted to be open unless someone is in the garage isn't a bad idea, since this is the highest crime rate area in the City of Surprise for thefts (as stated by Surprise police officers two homeowner meetings ago). Perhaps Sun City's strong community awareness can be something we adopt and incorporate into block watches here. The theft and vandalism here, in this community, far outpaces that in the Sun City's. So strong enforcement of the CC&R's that exist here is to OUR advantage.