Owner-occupant amendment isn’t perfect, but don’t let real estate investors determine our neighborhood's future

By now you may have seen postings or heard discussion about the Board’s proposed updates to our 50-year-old neighborhood Declarations, the shared guidance on rentals, parking and other concerns in Eagle Nest.

In July, neighborhood volunteers distributed a packet with the information to all 419 homes in our development, and hundreds of reminder emails have gone out with the existing Declarations for comparison. (If you can’t find your packet, please contact Board President Scott Thien or Vice President John Strauss.)

The new proposals have been posted multiple times on the ENPOA Facebook page and the Eagle Nest Blog, along with a detailed account of last week's well-attended Board meeting, including resident questions and remarks.

We know these proposals aren't perfect for everybody. In a neighborhood of 419 homes there will be many opinions about how best to protect our property values. But we have to start somewhere.

With regard to the proposed ban on short-term rentals, Airbnbs and the like, you may hear from real estate investors or property managers who don't like the idea of us being a neighborhood of owner-occupied homes. But neighbors have asked for these protections, because they are concerned about what's happening nationally with the massive corporate rental industry in which large institutional investors snap up homes in desirable locations, outbidding regular buyers like families and retirees.

Nobody is saying that all rentals are bad, but research shows high rental concentrations can lead to reduced neighborhood satisfaction and increased stress among residents.

As noted previously, several residents expressed concern that the draft language felt “too restrictive,” especially regarding:

• Whether land‑contract sales would be allowed
• Whether family members (such as aging parents or adult children with special needs) could live in a home not titled in their name
• How exceptions would be handled

We hear you. The proposed Declarations were drafted by a national HOA law firm with deep experience in this area. But after hearing from neighbors we understand that some scenarios, especially family‑care situations, require clarification. In response, we're asking the lawyers for guidance on how we can protect those options, and we expect to learn more soon. But that doesn’t mean we should sit back and let big-money firms roll through our neighborhood and swallow up our homes. We can stop that now.

It’s important to remember that your elected volunteer Board members -- your neighbors -- voted unanimously to begin this process and are bound by the same declarations as everyone else. Our motivation isn't turning homes our development into a haven for investment properties, it's protecting home values and the residential quality of life that makes Eagle Nest the envy of surrounding neighborhoods.

We think that when evaluated on that basis, this proposed owner-occupant update to our 50-year-old neighborhood declarations is a smart choice. Don’t you?

At your earliest convenience, please drop your completed proxy ballot in the Clubhouse mailbox or email it to Board President Scott Thien or Vice President John Strauss.

Thank you.