Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Covenant Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pueblo West committee outlines proposed covenant‑enforcement fines under Colorado bill; board seeks input
Summary
Staff and the Committee of Architecture discussed implementing fines and enforcement procedures under legislation cited in the meeting; the committee recommended a $500 fine with most of it held in abeyance if corrected within 30 days.
Staff and the Pueblo West Committee of Architecture presented a discussion of a resolution to implement enforcement procedures following a Colorado bill cited in the meeting materials.
Sean Winters, presenting for community development, told the board the Committee of Architecture recommended imposing fines for covenant and unsightly‑property violations following a public hearing. The committee’s draft approach would impose a $500 fine after a determination of violation, with $400 held in abeyance if the property is corrected and verified by staff within 30 calendar days of the hearing. Winters said staff typically issues a letter of violation, works with the property owner to allow time to correct the issue before scheduling a hearing, and sends certified notice of hearing so the owner receives the paperwork.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how the process would work for properties in foreclosure and how fines would be collected. Director Mahaney asked how the committee treats owners who receive a letter and then appear at a hearing; Winters said owners have the opportunity to present evidence at the hearing and staff provides its recommendation.
General counsel and other board members noted the statute passed last year includes collection mechanisms: the covenant‑enforcement fines can be documented by the Committee of Architecture and, in some circumstances, added to the property tax bill. Counsel recommended sending notice also to mortgagees when a property is known to be in foreclosure, so interested parties can appear at hearings and request forbearance or other accommodations. Carleton (board member) also noted the homeowner retains certain rights during foreclosure processes and said notifying the mortgagee and homeowner is prudent.
City staff emphasized that the committee sometimes grants brief postponements for owners demonstrating hardship and that fines and enforcement for vegetation overgrowth operate alongside a separate vegetative‑fuels/Fire Department program; the two enforcement legs (Committee of Architecture for covenants/unsightly matters, and Fire Department for vegetative fuels) are independent but coordinated through community development intake.
