Estates at Great Bear review: Lawsuits

You must read this page to the bottom! This is incredible harassment and discrimination by this community: ESTATES at GREAT BEAR golf community filed a lawsuit against me for cleaning up my backyard. I followed their bylaws (submit landscape plan to committee for approval) and my plan was approved. Then they told me that I need permission to cut trees for any trees 4 inches or more in diameter. I asked for a permit to cut the trees so I can execute my landscape plan which was approved. HOA said I have to go to DEP to get an approval since HOA does not have authority over my wetland easement. DEP says I can cut the trees as long as I do not violate their rules and regulation. I told them that DEP says I am not violating their regulation and read them on the website. The board did not call to get the approval for me which they should since they are the landscape approval committee. Since I had a feeling that HOA board members refused to give me a permit to cut the trees because they were harassing me and not because DEP rules, therefore I told the president of the board to release me a permit if my land was normal land. I want to see if they are treating fair. Sure enough he refused to give a permit for that too. I called a board member but he was not available so I left a message to his wife that I am requesting the permit for a last time before I cut. I wanted a letter stating that HOA permit to cut the trees if my property is not a wetland or wetland easement. He failed to give me a permit. Then when I finished cutting, he showed up to take a look what I did. He did not even warn me in writing that he will issue me a fine if I cut the trees. He just said HOA has no authority over my wetland easement to give me permit and DEP has the authority. HOA issue me a fine for 2400 for 8 trees. I questioned what the fine was for. HOA board members said I violated their bylaw which cut the trees without permit! I confronted them that my neighbors did not submit the plan and they cleaned up their wetland and wetland easement located in their backyard and you did not issue any violation summons. The president of the board said when DEP give them summons then the board will go after them. No government agencies gave them fines. The Board has not taking them to court either. Our Township cherished what I did. They were proud that I cleaned up my backyard and increase value of my property and this community! I was kind enough and I did not battle over this issue in court, therefore I said I did not cut 8 trees. I cut three trees (rest was bushes and less than 4 inches in diameter) so I will pay $900 for the fine or $500 and plant 5 Bruce spruces. HOA refused all offers and file a court case against me for $10, 855 including late fees and legal fees. Look up the court Case-#8267-CV2009 in Stroudsburg, PA Civil court (Estates at Great Bear community Association, Plaintiffs). Final negotiation in December 28, 2009, The board tried to settle with me for $7, 593 plus “a tree replanting plan to replace the visual barrier that was removed by the cutting of the trees would be submitted by me to the Architectural Review Committee(“ARC”) for its review and consideration. Defendant would agree to abide by comply with the ARC’s recommendation, which will likely include the replanting of trees on or before June1, 2010”. HOA board members decided to spend community money on lawyer's fees which many home owners do not wish to precede the lawsuits which is coming out of their pocket. HOA board member said that lawyer’s fees is not coming out of their pocket so it does not matter to fighting in court. Now I am filing discrimination case against Estates of Great Bear golf community association. This neighborhood is in such a mess. No one is daring to fight HOA board members since they are in power to approve anything or they can pick any member who lives here and harass him or her. Many residents in this community are violating the bylaws so they are afraid the Board will come after them. This is one of the Toll Brothers built golf community and I think Toll brothers could have worked on complete bylaws with Great Bear Golf course owner, developer Keystone Hollow Corp. before they sold these homes then we will not have such a mess. When I signed a contract with Toll Brothers for my house to build in here, there were limited bylaws until currant president (See all board members’ names on the lawsuit petition mentioned above) elected who plays golf in this golf course, creating so many bylaws that are favoring this golf course and he is choking most of members to live comfortably and taking freedom away from most of the residents. This community pays very high real-estate and school taxes and can not even enjoy their properties! Before you buy any property here in this community or play golf in this golf course, you should search all info on lawsuits and crimes which I believe there is (are) crime case(s) and also there maybe some police reports as well. These issues will concern your real-estate investment, for your and your children’s security, and playing golf safely. If you need more info or further details of this harassment, look up www.shameon-estatesofgreatbear.com and www.lawsuits-estatesofgreatbear.com, which will be searchable in all search engines soon. If you want to know more about this neighborhood and any further news, look up these sites or contact me from these websites.