Latest news with #CanyonTrailsHOA
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arizona man's HOA keeps fining him $100 for giving out water in heat — lawyer for HOA explains. Do you agree?
David Martin of Goodyear, Arizona, says he just wanted to help his neighbors stay hydrated during triple-digit temperatures — but now he's being fined for it by his homeowners association. Martin has been placing a cooler filled with free bottled water near the sidewalk outside his home since May of 2020. 'It's for the kids, the delivery drivers, the couple holding hands walking down the street,' Martin told local outlet KPHO. 'It's for the little kid who has to walk his dog in the heat.' In 2022, the Canyon Trails HOA and its management company FirstService Residential, gave him a warning for his cooler, but then followed up with an apology letter. "At that point, I thought it was over and done, and we wouldn't have any problems ever again until May of this year," Martin shared with local outlet KYMA in 2024. Then in May of 2024 he received his first fine for $50, eventually escalating to multiple citations for $100. Ever since then Martins has been receiving fines of $100 whenever he puts out his cooler when it gets hot out. He claims the fines are unfair — and dangerous — in a state where heat has already killed dozens this year. 'Here we are in July, the hottest day of the year, and we are still talking about a water cooler with free cold water,' Martin said. 'It's ridiculous that they are adding violations to a total that's not going to get paid, because I'm giving out free water.' An attorney for the Canyon Trails HOA released a statement to KPHO last year saying: "The association does not object to a resident providing free water bottles to the community; however, the community's rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest, located next to their garage that is visible from neighboring property." After months of mounting fines, Martin launched a petition to recall three HOA board members. He claims it received over 100 signatures. According to 12News, a special meeting was held on Thursday Jul. 10 where 190 out of 210 votes cast supported removing the board members. But the fight wasn't over. The HOA's board held an emergency meeting Friday Jul. 11, voiding the results — claiming the petition didn't meet signature requirements and questioning whether the 210 votes reflected a quorum for a community of more than 1,000 homes. Martin provided documentation to 12News showing FirstService Residential's own legal counsel had allegedly verified that the petition met the requirements under state law. He says he's preparing for a legal battle. 'I am hoping with three new board members that get elected, they'll see that wasting time and money on a water cooler that's helping the community is just that: a waste,' Martin told KPHO. While Martin's gesture is generous, it highlights a bigger issue: HOAs typically enforce community rules strictly — even when they clash with common sense. If you're part of an HOA community: Check your CCRs (covenants, conditions and restrictions) before placing anything in shared spaces. Document your intent if you're doing something for health or safety reasons. Reach out to your board for clarification or exceptions — especially in emergencies. If you receive a violation notice, address it immediately and document everything in writing. If mediation fails, seek legal advice to understand your rights and options. On Reddit, where the story has gone viral, many sided with Martin. One user wrote "HOAs really deserve every ounce of disdain they receive. The gall to punish someone for having compassion, and providing water in an organized manner on their personal property." This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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The Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
An Arizona man is handing out bottled water to neighbors in extreme heat. His HOA is fining him $100 every time
An Arizona man says his homeowners association is punishing him for a simple act of kindness: handing out free water to people during an extreme heatwave. 'It's for the kids, the delivery drivers, the couple holding hands walking down the street,' David Martin, who lives in Goodyear, Arizona, near Phoenix, told KPHO. 'It's for the little kid who has to walk his dog in the heat.' Martin said he's received multiple $100 fines from the Canyon Trails Homeowners Association and its management company, FirstService Residential, for placing a cooler full of bottled water on the sidewalk near his home. Martin did this last summer, too, but said the violation letters stopped arriving after local media covered his story. But a few months ago, they returned. An attorney for the HOA told the outlet in a statement last year, 'The Association does not object to a resident providing water bottles within the community; however, the community's rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest, located next to their garage that is visible from neighboring property.' Despite the rule, Martin continues his efforts. Video shows him handing out bottles from his coolers in his driveway with a sign that reads 'free cold water.' 'Here we are in July, the hottest day of the year, and we are still talking about a water cooler with free cold water,' Martin said Thursday. 'It's ridiculous that they are adding violations to a total that's not going to get paid, because I'm giving out free water.' Martin is now fighting back against the HOA by launching a petition to remove three board members. He has gathered over 100 signatures in support of the effort. Even his neighbors are baffled by the fines. 'I have no idea why they are coming down on him,' Rich Koustas told the outlet. 'I don't know. It doesn't make any sense.' A special HOA meeting was set for Thursday night, where residents voted on whether to oust the board members. The results were unknown at the time of publication. 'I am hoping with three new board members that get elected, they'll see that wasting time and money on a water cooler that's helping the community is just that: a waste,' Martin told the outlet.
