November 2025
Dear White Oak Bluff HOA Property Owners:
The White Oak Bluff HOA Board of Directors has been discussing the need to revise the HOA's governing documents (Covenants) for the past 5+ years and was seeking volunteers to form a committee to work on the proposed revisions. During last year's annual meeting, a member volunteered to chair the committee, which marked the beginning of the official review and proposal process. Since then, we have advertised the draft proposals on the website, our Facebook page, and via email. We've held several open meetings to gather feedback. This process is necessary due to changes in the law and to the presence of unclear, conflicting and unenforceable language in the current version.
Currently, we are governed by two sets of covenants: One for Section One, Two, Three, Four and Five property owners, and one for Section Six property owners (Red Oak Dr).
The intent of the revisions is solely to produce a product that is easy to understand (without needing an attorney's review/ruling to decipher), not overly intrusive to private property rights, in compliance with standard NC HOA rules and regulations, enforceable, and that combines the two current sets of documents into one governing document for the entire HOA.
The proposed document includes many technical language changes that comply with professional standards for a governing document, but do not change the context or intent. This makes it seem like there are a lot of changes when there really aren't.
Specific changes: increasing the size of allowed accessory structures from 800 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft; placement of accessory structures; clarifies fencing and unimproved lots regulations; allows and regulates chickens (hens), (which is not currently allowed in the current version, but has never been enforced by prior boards, so we need to incorporate specific language before the issue becomes a problem in the neighborhood and to allow us to have enforcement authority should it be needed); prohibits short-term rentals; adds goats and donkeys to allowable animals on the 5-acre properties (many single horse owners have a donkey or goat as a companion animal for their horse), but limits the overall number of total animals per lot.
The majority of the "Exemptions" are simply the integration of the current regulations for the Section Six (5-acre) property owners. If you are not familiar with the current Section Six Covenants, they are available on the website. We are changing the language from "Section Six Owners" to "original 5-acre lots" to reflect the original Section 4 covenants that allowed Section 4 owners to keep horses. This exemption was omitted in the current Section 1-5 version. The current property owners were grandfathered in, but by explicitly including them in the exemption in the new version, new owners will also be allowed to keep horses.
We recognize that we will not please everyone with every wording or rule change. Still, the board of directors hopes this final proposal is fair, easy to comprehend, and enforceable under NC HOA laws and regulations, without being overly intrusive on private property rights.
I want to express my gratitude to the original committee, who dedicated hours to researching, reviewing similar documents, and consulting with community neighbors. Their efforts resulted in the proposal of the initial draft language that integrates the two existing covenants (Sections One to Five and Section Six) into a single, inclusive document. I'd also like to thank everyone who took the time to attend the open meetings and those who submitted comments. Whether in person or in writing, your comments and concerns were duly noted and appreciated.
To implement the proposed covenants, we will need support from the owners of 67% of the properties. We have worked hard to gather feedback and find consensus before producing the final proposal.
A proxy voting form has been emailed and mailed to all HOA property owners.
You can choose to approve all the proposed changes in the document as a whole by selecting the first option, or vote section by section by choosing the second option. For those selecting the second option, we have broken the voting down by Article and Section. Please review the proposed document revisions, then, going line by line, cast your votes.
After signing the proxy, return your completed form. Results will be shared at the December 8 Membership meeting.
Deadline for submission is November 30, 2025.
Return your proxy form:
By mail:
WOB HOA Board
247 White Oak Bluff Rd.
Stella, NC 28582-9757
By email: wobhoa@gmail.com
Or drop off at 247 White Oak Bluff Rd.
Thank you for your attention to this most important matter and your prompt submission of your proxy form. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
White Oak Bluff HOA Board of Directors
wobhoa@gmail.com
View / Download the final proposed changes here:
Covenants_2025 - White Oak Bluff HOA - Propose.pdf
