NLYH Rules, Section 8, found on page 12 of the NYLH directory , mentions an Oversight Committee (OC) and its involvement in the “ the Alterations, enlargements, major repairs or replacements of homes.”. The OC is involved in much more than that and in many cases its involvement comes down to a matter of inches.

First, the OC is not an enforcement committee. Its an advisory committee, and its responsibility is to advise the Board of Directors if a specific project is within the requirements of the Rules. Over time that has been expanded to include, among others,  marking of lot lines to determine who is responsible for a palm tree and to review residents applications to add walkways and patios to the lot their residence is on.

Who is responsible for a palm tree if a tree has to be removed due to disease sometimes becomes an issue when the tree is near a lot line. The cost of removal of a palm tree that is not owned by the Corporation is the responsibility of the resident, even if that resident has a tree in front of their lot that they did not purchase and/or plant. If ownership is in doubt, the OC is then called upon to determine the lot boundary line.

All lots in NLYH have been laid out and the layouts of each are on file in the business office. Lots that have a replacement home on them, or homes that have additions have been surveyed by a professional surveyor as a requirement to get a building permit from Collier County and those plans are on file also. Surveyor pegs in the middle of each road are also used to verify measurements for lot lines.

So while lot measurements to place a new home are usually in feet, responsibility for a palm trees may come down to a matter of inches.

Jon Alberghini, Chairman  NLYH Oversight Committee