WATERVILLE ESTATES ASSOCIATION
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Download Building Application
The Waterville Estates Association Building Committee would like to remind
all home and lot owners that their compliance with the Waterville Estates
Revised Property Restrictions, Easements and Covenants (RECs) and By-Laws is required. When you purchased your property you should have received
copies of these documents (they are available to Property Owners at the
front desk of the Community Center). As a Property Owner, it is your responsibility to be familiar with these
documents.
The Building Committee is primarily concerned with preserving property
values through upholding uniform standards of construction and aesthetics:
Article VI of the RECs states the requirements for construction and improvements
on homesites. Especially important is Section D: “Approval of Plans. No building or other structure shall be commenced, erected, placed or maintained,
on any Homesite or Cluster Homesite, nor shall any exterior addition to
or exterior change in any building or other structure be made until adequate
plans, specifications, site plan, sewage system plan and other pertinent
data showing the nature, kind, shape height, materials, color and location
of such building or other structure, including the identity and resume
of the general or principal contractor, if any, have been approved in writing,
as to harmony of exterior architectural design and location in relation
to surrounding structures and topography, and regarding the said contractor,
as to competence and financial capability, by the Building Committee.”
The Building Committee requires adherence to the standards stated in the
RECs above but renders no professional opinion in regard to the engineering
or design of a project. The Owner is responsible for ensuring that proper design and engineering
techniques are implemented in all scopes of the work undertaken. The Owner is responsible for any incidental damage or depreciation to other
properties resulting from changes to the hydrology or aesthetics of their
property. Furthermore, the Property Owner is responsible for obtaining and abiding
by any and all approvals of the Towns of Campton and Thornton as well as
any department or agency of the State of New Hampshire and the Federal
Government.
No building or structure or change to the exterior of a building should
be started until an application for a Building Permit for such work is
submitted to and approved by the Building Committee (Building Permit application
forms are available at the Community Center Front Desk and can be downloaded
from the Waterville Estates website: waterville-estates.com under “homeowner information”).
It is important to note that by following the Building Committee application process, homeowners are reminded of the need for abiding by all Federal, State, and local codes. The process of meeting proper code requirements puts homeowners, and contractors working for homeowners, directly in contact with the experts who have the knowledge to ensure that projects are carried out in a manner that results in a safe and ecologically sound completion.
When the application process is ignored the ability of the Waterville Estates
Association Building Committee to protect and serve the community is circumvented. The RECs, the By-Laws and the Building Committee Building Permit application
are the tools by which Waterville Estates community members can conform
to the standards for the community.
The Building Committee is particularly concerned with the installation
of new heating systems by homeowners throughout the Estates. Installations should be done by competent licensed installers, who obtain
the necessary permits, and then should be inspected by David Tobine, the
Campton/Thornton Fire Chief. Un-inspected installations can result in host of catastrophes:
- Improperly ventilated heating units can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
- Improper ventilation can result in heating units shutting down, allowing water pipes to freeze and burst which can result in severe water damage.
- Improperly installed wood stoves are serious fire hazards.
- Improperly installed fuel storage tanks can result in fuel spills and subsequent ecological damage. Article VII, Section C of the RECs states: “Exterior Fuel Tank. No exterior tank for the storage of fuel may be maintained on any Living Site unless buried or housed in a structure approved by the Building Committee.” However, the WEA Board of Directors has approved the Building Committee’s recommendation that if fuel tanks (gas or oil) are not exposed to public view from the road or from neighboring properties, then enclosing them is at the discretion of the Owner.
- Wooden chimney enclosures can, over years of use, become charred internally
and become susceptible to a fire, which can then spread into the home.
Please take the time to re-familiarize yourselves with the RECs and the
By-Laws, which are available at the front desk of the Community Center.
If you have general questions about the process don't hesitate to call
at (603) 726-3082.
Let’s continue to make Waterville Estates a better place for all those
who live, recreate and work here.