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Westchase: Basketball goals throw association for a loop
By LOGAN D. MABE, Times Staff Writer WESTCHASE -- Month after month, Warren Kent gets the same letter in the mail. "Every month after the covenants committee meeting I get the same letter saying they've tabled the issue and they'll get back to me next month," said Kent, a champion of portable basketball hoops who has sparked debate over their use in Westchase. "That's been going on for over a year." Since the spring of 2000, Westchase residents have wrestled with issue of whether portable basketball goals should be allowed in the community. The development's deed restrictions forbid the erection of permanent goals, but neighborhood guidelines appear to condone portable goals. The covenant committee says Westchase deed restrictions require residents to move their basketball goals when not in use. Kent contends the rule is poorly worded and written as a guideline for builders, rather than addressing the actual use of the goals. He researched the deed restrictions and guidelines that govern homeowners and says the rules do not apply in his case. Kent was initially fined $1,000 in April 2000 for leaving the goal out, and fined another $1,000 when he refused to heed the committee's warnings. Since then, though, the fines have been put on hold while Westchase leaders try to figure out what's best for the community. A questionnaire sent to all 3,000 homeowners asks residents what they want, and results were expected by year end. Once the results are in, Westchase voting members will decide the next step. If portable goals are allowed, rules governing their use are likely to be adopted. Already, the Westchase Community Association has implemented rules concerning hours of use and hoop storage during dangerous weather. Kent's youngest son continues to shoot hoops in the driveway, and more hoops are popping up at other homes. "They may not be aware of the simmering issue waiting to rear its ugly head," Kent said.
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From the Times |
