An April 12 story in The Dallas Morning News on a homeowners association suing an Army captain --- recently back home after nine months in Afghanistan --- over a swing set for his four children, took almost three weeks before television news jumped on the development, notes Grumpy Editor.
But it was this week’s TV coverage, ranging from Dallas-Fort Worth WFAA to ABC News --- that stirred things up, expanding coverage and illustrating weird happenings with HOAs.
Dallas Morning News writer David Tarrant last month detailed how Candi Fry of Mineola, Texas, was being sued by Spring Lake Homeowners Association for installing a $1,200 wooden swing set while her husband, National Guard Capt. Bill Fry, was deployed in Afghanistan. He has been added as a defendant.
Candi Fry said she received verbal consent to install the swing set a year ago, Tarrant reported.
But things changed when the HOA said a neighbor complained that the swing set could be seen from the road. Take down the swing set or move it, she was told.
The HOA attorney said proper documents, including architectural drawings (remember, this was a swing set for kids) were not submitted, adding the association cannot make exceptions.
“We are in appreciation of his service,” Tarrant quoted the attorney. “But the idea that people can set up anything on their property because their husband is deployed overseas is not something that cannot be permitted.”
Probable next step: court.
