A Community Perspective

By Will Bullington, CC&R Compliance Officer

May 2010

Proposed Architectural Rules

In May of 2009 I wrote in this same paper about the ballot proposal to amend the CC&Rs. The total votes needed to vote yes to amend, or 51% of the owners of lots were 1,613. We were about 300 votes short of that number after numerous mailings and extensions by the Board. Of those that did vote, surveys, and town hall meetings showed approximately 80% wanted to see changes to three areas of the minimum construction standards: fences (to be more private), outbuildings or sheds and eaves.

Our CC&Rs spell out that the Environmental Control Committee (ECC) may with the Board’s approval create architectural rules that will define, clarify, “guidelines for architectural design, placement of any work of Improvement….” (Article V, Section 5.4).

Based on this the ECC has proposed architectural rules in these three areas. These are areas that have seen the most variance requests and are the most challenged by owners that live here. They are also for some reason an area that out of area owners don’t seem to care about, hence the reason that we were short on getting the vote to amend those CC&Rs. The perspective is that once you build a home on your property your develop a need for a fence to keep in your kids and dogs, you outgrow your garage and need an outbuilding to store your property, and the overhang/eave requirement needed clarification as to what part of the roof counts for “overall overhang.” This same rule needed more definition as to how the eighteen inches was measured: from outside of finished siding to where? At what angle?

You will see in this paper the proposed architectural rules, the hearing dates by the Board and the proposed effective dates. This is your opportunity to still express your opinion to the Board as a property owner.

One of the downsides to living in Lake Shastina is our distance from many of the businesses and services offered by cities. Living in Mt.Shasta and Yreka I remember how easy it was for my kids to take fiddle lessons, take martial arts and to participate in school sports. Living here, our kids have to travel to Mt.Shasta or Yreka, and in the winter time that is really a nightmare. Just turn right onto highway 97 and the snow switch is on clear into Weed. We have found that our younger kids are being deprived somewhat of those extra- curricular activities of our older kids.






Lake Shastina Barter Guild


I remember taking my older son up to Ashland when I lived in Yreka for fiddle lessons and the teacher was part of a local guild that traded or bartered for services. She would teach a dentists’ child music lessons and the dentist would fix her child’s teeth in exchange. (I’m sure there is a proper way to report this stuff to the IRS so please doesn’t bombard me with the tax code).

What if we developed a similar guild in Lake Shastina? What if a 15 year old mowed a retired person’s lawn in exchange for music or art lessons? Even in the worst of our winter storms this year Lake Shastina just got the old “banana belt” skiff of snow. Many parents that have kids in our local schools: Big Springs and Butteville have the same issues with transporting youth up to Yreka or down to Mt.Shasta for some type of culture, art or sport. Many local parents have some type of professional skills to offer that maybe could help fellow Lake Shastina residents in exchange for music or art lessons, tutor a student that needs help in math, etc. Maybe the student could do yard work or help with other chores.

If these ideas interest you and you would like to help form our own Lake Shastina Barter Guild then give me a call at 938-3281 ext. 101 or e-mail me at will@lakeshastina.com. Check out the internet on “barter guilds” and you will see them out there. Portland Barter Guild is on Facebook, amazing.