Town helps Kings Estate residents dissolve defunct homeowners association

Warwick — The long battle that pitted neighbor against neighbor, and even drove a group of homeowners to sue their homeowners’ association, finally came to an end last week when the homeowners’ association for 40 homeowners in Kings Estates was dissolved. These were the original 40 homes in the 375-unit townhouse community on Kings Highway. After this section was built, no other section had a homeowners’ association. Those in section one, who shovel their own snow and mow their own yards, started wondering why they were paying monthly dues to a homeowners’ association that did little more than dictate aesthetics. Henry Kuipers, the president of the Kings Estates Homeowners’ Association, had said at the time that he agreed with the residents who wanted to turn over the property to the town. However, he did not want to dissolve the association because no town ordinances were in place to outline what could and could not be done with the properties in the neighborhood, such as exterior colors and doors. A group of 10 sued the homeowners’ association in 2006, many of whom withheld their dues, demanding that the association be dissolved and what little common property there was be turned over to the town. The town had already formed a special district in the remaining sections of Kings Estates, at the request of those residents, helping raise money from the residents to improve recreation facilities and maintain common areas. Last winter, county Legislator Noel Spencer became involved to help mediate the situation. Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, R-C-Greenwood Lake, secured a $10,000 grant to help offset legal fees and property transfer fees. A vote in the association, which needed approval from a majority of the homeowners, gave the go ahead to the dissolution. On June 8, the papers were signed and the homeowners’ association was disbanded. Now, this section will join the rest of the Kings Estates Park District, which is maintained by the town but funded solely by the residents of Kings Estates. “This has resulted in many improvements to facilities and regular maintenance of the common grounds in Kings Estates,” said Supervisor Michael Sweeton. “Working together, all parties resolved an unfair situation for the 40 homeowners of the original Kings Estates development.”