Bayou Estates Newsletter

 BAYOU ESTATES JUNE 2024 – DECEMBER 2024

Our homeowner’s association is a corporation chartered in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.   Current Board of Directors are: 

President (website maintainer) – Bart Huitema ;
Vice President – Owen Keesey; 
Secretary/Treasurer John Karnitz;
Member-at-Large and Architectural  Chairman – Daniel Gaughan

UPCOMING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

19 June – Daniel Gaughan 3623 6th Ave W

17 July – Owen Keesey – 3415 6th Ave W

21 August – John Karnitz – 3215 6th Ave W

18 September – Bart Huitema – 506 36th St W

16 October  – Annette Kneeland – 3515 5th Dr W

20 November – Daniel Gaughan 3623 6th Ave W

There will be no Board meeting December 2024

HURRICANE SEASON

1. Now is the time to take a look around your home for any hazards.  You should check for trees that may have limbs/palm fronds that could break off, and along with other items around the outside of your home, become flying missiles during a strong storm.  Flying debris is a major factor in personal injuries and also can cause penetration of buildings by breaking windows and putting holes in roofs.

Take a few minutes to walk around your property to pick up any loose items such as lawn chairs, toys, trash receptacles, etc.  Another benefit is that your property will project a more attractive appearance.  The ultimate benefit is that both you and your neighbors will feel better about living next to each other and that the neighborhood will be safer and more attractive as everyone drives through it.

2. In Manatee County there are 5 levels of evacuation A through E.

The Northern and Southern portions of Bayou Estates fall in the Level B evacuation area, requiring evacuation in the event of a Category 2 Hurricane with a potential surge inundation of at least 14 feet.

  • The closest Evacuation Shelters to Bayou Estates are:

BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, 7320 69th St. East, Palmetto

MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 7200 69th St. East, Palmetto

TILLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1415 29th St. East, Palmetto.

  •  Three pet friendly shelters are available and more may be designated in the near future.  The pet friendly shelters are:

MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 7200 69th St. East, Palmetto

BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, 6545 S.R. 70 E, Bradenton

MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL, 1000 32nd  St. West, Bradenton.

5.  Be sure and monitor all the television and radio stations for all the latest information available.  For those of you with internet service, here are a few sites that may prove useful.

weather.com/storms/hurricane-central (The Weather Channel)

nhc.noaa.gov (National Hurricane Center site)

wunderground.com (WX Underground site, look for the tropical tab)

nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html (Navy Research Laboratory, Monterey’s Marine Meteorology Division Tropical Cyclone site)

mymanatee.org/Departments/Public_Safety (Manatee County Emergency Services)

RETENTION PONDS

   Due to the sensitive nature of Florida’s environment and the need to control localized flooding in urbanized areas, storm water retention ponds are frequently

 used.  This is extremely important during the Hurricane season when rainfall may become very heavy at times.  A storm water retention pond is generally used to temporarily store and subsequently discharge collected storm water runoff from a developed site at a rate less than or equal to the predevelopment discharge rate.

   Simply put, the main purpose of a storm water retention pond is to collect and treat “the first flush” of pollutants in the storm water runoff from lawns and roadways.

   All of our storm water retention ponds are of the wet retention type, meaning that during the year they will have water in them. 

   In recent years, storm water runoff has been recognized as a source of ground water pollution.  Our retention ponds are designed to collect such runoff.  Then the water, held by a retention pond, is disposed of by evaporation and infiltration into the shallow ground water aquifer.

  As you can see from the information our retention ponds are NOT a source of clean water.  While local wildlife may be seen in and around the retention ponds these ponds are not a playground.  It is important to speak to your children and explain to them that the water may be harmful, as the runoff can contain oil/gas/fertilizer/lead and numerous other harmful substances.

   Also we all must cut down on the pollution in the ponds by not disposing of anything that may be flushed through the storm drains. We need to be more vigilant in ensuring trash and yard waste does not reach the retention ponds.  When cutting your lawns DO NOT flush clippings into the street, sweep or blow them back onto the lawn.  These clippings contribute to algae growth in the ponds.  Let us all help to keep the retention ponds clean and uncluttered so that they can function as they are designed to.

Our community is a DEED RESTRICTED community.

The Board of the HOA is here to ensure the neighborhood stays in good shape, which helps keep home values where they should be.

Bayou Estates RULES AND REGULATIONS are in place to address key areas of concern in easy to understand terms.

Bayou Estates Homeowners Association

Rules and Regulations

We, the Board of Directors, urge all homeowners to be good neighbors and at a minimum adhere to following excerpt from the Article VI section of the Bayou Estates Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements for Bayou Estates. 

  1. Lots are to be solely used for single-family residential homes. Under no circumstances can garages be converted to living quarters, as Manatee County ordinances govern this prohibition. No business or commercial activity may be conducted on any lot.
  2. No disturbance, illegal activity, unreasonable noises, odors or anything which may be considered and annoyance or offensive activity to the neighborhood shall come from any lot.  A report of a “nuisance” by two or more Bayou Estates owners will enable the board to take appropriate actions as outlined in the article 6.21 if the Association’s Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements for Bayou Estates.
  3. As a Homeowner your home and yard reflect upon the neighborhood as a whole. Each owner shall maintain the exteriors of all structures and any fixtures attached thereto in a well-kept manner, including fences, sidewalks, landscaping and lawn. Each owner must contact the Association Architectural Control Committee, before making any changes to the exterior of your home or major landscaping changes.  It is also our wish that you keep your yard appearing as uncluttered as possible, by limiting yard ornaments to a select few. Many changes or improvements may require you to obtain building permit issued by the county.
  4. On waterfront lots, no fences, hedges, walls or any other structures may be erected beyond the rear setback line of your lot with out the prior written approval of the Board of Directors. As a reminder, the retention ponds serve a valuable function in removal of excess water in the case of a tropical storm, hurricane or other rain producing events. As such the retention ponds are to be viewed as areas that are off limits to any and all persons other than maintenance personnel. Recreational use of the retention ponds and surrounding wetland areas is not permitted.
  5. Garbage, trash, refuse or rubbish shall be kept in closed containers. Yard waste must be dealt with in accordance with Manatee County Regulations and is prohibited from remaining on a lot for more than three days. In keeping with the desire to maintain a well kept neighborhood every attempt to keep containers in the garage or an area adjacent to the garage in an uncluttered manner should be made.
  6. For safety, all above ground swimming pools and trampolines shall be caged or fenced in such a manner to prevent unauthorized access from any street or adjacent lot.
  7. No storage buildings shall be erected, places or constructed upon a lot, unless walled or fenced in so that it is not exposed to public view from any street or adjacent lot. Owners are solely responsible for maintenance for storage buildings and if the storage buildings and if the storage unit fall into despair they must be repaired or destroyed.
  8. All vehicles shall be parked in the street, in the garage, driveway or behind a fence on the lot.  Parking any vehicle, boat or trailer on front lawn, at any time, is strictly prohibited. Parking any vehicle, boat or trailer on Bayou Estates Association property, known as common open spaces, is prohibited. 
  9. No Vehicle, boat or trailer shall be permitted to remain adjacent to any structure unless completely walled or fenced in such a manner as not to be exposed to public view from the street or adjoining lot.  No inoperative cars, trucks or trailers or other type of vehicle will be allowed to remain on or adjacent to any lot for a period in excess of forty eight (48) hours, however this provision shall not apply to such vehicles which are kept within an enclosed garage.  Maintenance or repair of any car, truck, boat or other vehicle, shall be permitted upon any lot for a period not exceeding 24 hours. The only exception to this time limit is if the maintenance or repair takes place within an enclosed garage.
  1. There shall be a maximum number of three (3) domestic household pets per lot.  Manatee County, under ordinance Chapter 2-4 – Animals, addresses applicable rules to follow.  Section 2-4-13 covers actions dealing with Nuisance Dogs and Cats.
  2. In the event an owner, hear after referred to as the landlord, desires to offer his home as a rental property the following items are to be complied with.
  3.  No daily, nightly, weekly or month to month rentals will be allowed.  All leases must restrict occupancy to no more that 3 unrelated adult individuals.  Additionally, since homes are constructed with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, the maximum occupancy of each home should not exceed 4, 6, or 8 persons respectfully.
  4. The landlord will provide 30 days of rental, the Association Board of Directors with a signed copy of the lease agreement.  At a minimum the lease should include; Identification of the rental property; Move-in dates; Contact information for all adult occupants; number of occupants covered in the lease; a statement that a copy of Bayou Estates Homeowners Association By-Laws and Rules and Regulations have been made available to the renters and that they understand the restrictions imposed.
  5. The landlord is responsible for the conduct of their tenants.  As such any fines assessed during the rental period are the sole responsibility of the landlord.  Landlords will be asked to appear before the Board of Directors if conduct of tenants is not corrected.  The Board of Directors may at this time compel the landlord to terminate the rental agreement.
  6. The landlord will notify in writing, within (10) days, the Board of Directors of any renewal or termination action taken by the landlord and or renter.

These prohibitions subject owners violating these rules to assess fines, as allowed by Article 6.21 of Bayou Estates governing documents.

Newly adopted vehicle towing policy now in effect.

Effective 1 June 2024 a towing company has been retained to assist the Board of Directors in maintain access and safety of our neighborhood. 

Vehicles that are not properly registered, licensed, inoperative or have been deemed a hazard on our roadways will be towed.