Covenants

The spoken and unspoken rules we live by are simple and grounded in common sense. Written out as a registered legal document — the Protective and Design Covenants: Master Declaration for Glacier View Meadows — they can seem daunting.

In fifty years they have been changed only once, in response to an observed need, and we work to keep them to a minimum. Our goal is just enough order to preserve our natural world, sustain our way of life, and protect the value of our homes and properties — always staying in the background of our daily mountain lives.

A promise, not just a rule

We think of a covenant as a promise — as much moral and social as legal. The community agrees to provide a safe, healthy, unobtrusive place to live; residents agree in return to accept the boundaries the community has decided together.

From our earliest days we’ve assumed the best of our residents and trusted them to honor the Covenants on their own terms. Many have waited a lifetime to build exactly the home they’ve longed for, and we want Glacier View Meadows to be where they can do that.

It isn’t in our nature to go looking for neighbors who stretch our limits. Our management team has never been charged with enforcing 100% compliance to the letter, and we have no intention of doing so. Covenant enforcement begins when a member of the community raises a concern.

Raising a concern

In the give and take of daily life, boundaries sometimes get bumped. If you have a concern, report it to the GVM office. A phone call is enough, though a personal visit is more helpful. Common concerns include weeds, domestic animals, fishing abuse, excess noise, careless driving, the state of a property, and lighting.

First response. The GVM Manager personally investigates the concern on site. If a visit with the neighbor is called for, it may happen then — an opportunity to share information about the Covenant in question.

What happens next. The person who reported the concern isn’t told the details of that conversation; from this point the respondent’s privacy comes first. In our experience, that visit is often enough to resolve the concern.

Requesting formal enforcement

Any member may request formal action on any matter of the Covenants at any time. The same privacy rules apply, and the Manager begins the same way, assuming that a personal conversation will be enough.

• Documentation. Formal requests are carefully recorded in case a matter escalates to a legal proceeding.
• Equal standing. The Association takes no position on either party. Everyone is treated with equal respect and credibility; the focus is on the Covenant issue alone.
• Starting the process. File a written complaint with the GVM office — see Covenant Enforcement Requests.
• Decision. The Manager evaluates the complaint, consulting Board members and committees (such as the ARC) as needed. After review in Executive Session, the Board decides on a course of action.
• Follow-through. The Manager carries out the decision. If a violation isn’t remedied, action continues under the Consolidated Policy for Enforcement of Covenants and Rules.

Because of privacy law and our commitment to confidentiality, the Association can’t share further information with the person who filed a formal complaint.

Appealing a decision

If you believe an enforcement decision or process was incorrect or unfair, you may ask the Board of Directors to review it. See the Appeal Process.