Backyard pizza oven cooks up trouble with community ban

[The Problem Is]

Certainly not a COMMUNITY??? I'd like to live in.
What a bunch of jerks!

[Southwest Orange]

HOA's need to be reigned in by the state legislature.

My HOA is threatening to foreclose on my home that I have had for 22 years because they say I did not paid my homeowners dues last year. Now they KNOW that I have financial issues due to a major surgery and couldn't give a crap.

One year I sent in my dues via a registered letter that they 'refused' to sign for and then they turned arownd and had their attorney send me a threatening letter.

It's harrassment pure and simple.

I have half a mind to sue them.

Lowlife power hungry jerks.

[Tony Caparelli]

Too much government interference. Leave him alone and let him cook. Probably tastes alot better than Dominos or Pizza Hut garbage.

[Silverwolf 104]

HOA's are way beyond their level of competence when they start in on a man who is simply trying to save the environment. I agree with the writer who called them little Napoleons, that's exactly what they are. HOA officers are generally people who do not have a life, so they want to run yours. Get over it, Waterford HOA and start doing something productive with your apparent free time.

[Shock]

The good thing is the HOA can't put a lean on his house like years ago. So their only option is to sue, and that will be tuff to win. I bet they threaten the law suit hoping he'll give in but back down should he choose to fight.

Hang tuff pizza guy, maybe you can take donations for pies to pay for your lawyer...fight the good fight!

[Make My Dusk]

Common Sense wrote:

...but arguing over the wood used to cook his food is "environmentally sound" ?!?! It's WOOD !!!

Depends on the source of the wood. Railroad ties are treated with creosote and contaminated with PCBs. Wood from construction and demolition operations -- especially from old buildings -- can be contaminated with asbestos or lead paint. Does this guy's kid's lawn business check wood for pesticides and herbicides?

Burning all these things can raise hell with your neighbors, especially if they're old or their kids have asthma.

There's a tendency in the south for some people to say "Aw, sh--, Ah ain't hurtin' nobody." But it's not true, especially at short range, like downwind of this guy's soot source. Up north, this wouldn't be treated like government oppression of the common man. It would be seen as the authorities stopping damage to the neighborhood.

And for anybody trying to sell the house next door, how much will it bring down property values when "Mr. Smokehouse" is out there burning yard trash when the realtor comes through?

Some wood should not be incinerated, period.

[bousozoku]

Little, impotent (not important!) people seek power on their HOA and try to hurt as many of their neighbours as possible. What's not obvious about how most HOAs are run?

If it's not causing *real* problems for the neighbours, why shouldn't he be able to cook in his backyard? It's not like those charcoal and gas grilles are doing anyone any favours, right?

Maybe, it's time for a backlash against HOAs and the management companies and lawyers who want to support themselves while not really doing anything to promote a better neighbourhood.

[Gloom And Doom]

If this pizza oven is in his back yard the home owners association should go fornicate themselves. I'll bet more than one have the big delux outdoor kitchens on their patios. What a bunch of weiners.

[rrlarry]

Should have known when he bought there that was a HOA which is a clone dictatorship where everyone must adhere to rules and be the same. Property values being there only concern. At my home there is a direct tv dish, an american flag flying proudly and a brick barbecue in the back yard. I didn't fight for my country to have someone tell me i dont have the right to fly the American flag. Glad im not stuck in that community.

[sandegold]

The HOA are nothing but a bunch of tyrants...if other people can put in sheds and hot tubs,this man should be allowed to leave his oven...put a fence around it and tell them it's a damn shed...My uncle is President of a HOA up in New Jersey,and I know how he is,a tyrant...the end of this story should be...If you don't want to answer to a HOA,then,buy a home where there isn't one...I can do whatever I want because I don't live in a HOA run subdivision...and I am very thankful for that...

[hoo boy]

Everyone sides with the pizza man, however the purpose of the HOA is to maintain property values, not infringe on your lifestyle. When you move to a HOA community you agree, in writing to abide by rules put in place by the asssociation. The association is made up of ALL the homeowners. The six foot structure is NOT allowed. He was denied permmision to build it, and built it anyway. End result is money out of ALL homeowners pocket, and decreased property values. He should move if he wants something like this.

[hoo boy]

You have the right in every community in the country to fly the American Flag, It is a law. Even in a HOA. It is also a law that you must be able to have a sattelite dish. The HOA can recomend placemnet etc. but have no right to refuse. We are not talking about flags and dishes, The article is about a giant pizza oven.

[enough already]

The enviromental argument is BS. This is a simple case of being denied a permit and building anyway. It is the folks on this board that are nuts, not the HOA.

Silverwolf 104 wrote:

HOA's are way beyond their level of

competence when they start in on a man who is simply trying to save the environment. I agree with the writer who called them little Napoleons, that's exactly what they are. HOA officers are generally people who do not have a life, so they want to run yours. Get over it, Waterford HOA and start doing something productive with your apparent free time.

[watcher]

linger47 wrote:

what is it with these HOA idiots? Are they all retired grocery store baggers with some authority for the first time in their lives, and don't know how to handle it?

Nope! there are all people who wanted to be class president in high school. there are all nazis!!!!

[GEF]

This idea that this structure is saving the environment is bull. Think of the energy required to make the cement and other materials to build this structure and the energy saved by using it is insignificant.

I assume this HOA has written regulations that the homeowners were aware of when they purchased their homes. If they did not want to follow those regulations then they had the option to not buy a house there or they could legally try to get the regulations changed. One option not available to them is to install it and cry about it later when they are told to remove it! Go to Pizza Hut if you want a pizza.

[ms porky pig]

I love pizza yum!!!!

[wgatorfan1]

Sounds like the HOA pres needs to go back to basket weaving and bingo. Or, better, patrol the Parramore area where there is some real crime he/she can report! HOA's should be banned, not pizza ovens, for cryin' out loud!

[OCPS]

Go Figure wrote:

He should move to Puerto Rico where this crappy disrespect for his neighbors is common.

LOL! That is funny and true.

[mikie]

keep the oven please send me a pie , well down with sausage, peperoni

[tony soprano]

As ridiculous as this all amy be, he did agree to the home owners association rules when he bought the house.