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Covenants
& Restrictions
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Definitions. The following words when used in this
Declaration shall have
the following meanings:
(a) "Association" shall mean and refer to The New Mark Commons Homes
Association, Inc., and its successors or assigns.
(b) "The Property" shall mean and refer to all real property described
in Article II hereof and such additions thereto as may hereafter be
made pursuant to the provisions of said Article II.
(c) "Common Areas" or "Community Facilities" shall mean and refer to
all real property owned by the Association for the benefit, use and
enjoyment of its members.
(d) "Living Unit" shall mean and refer to any building or portion of a
building situated upon The Property and designed and intended for use
and occupancy as a residence by a single family.
(e) "Town House" shall mean and refer to any Living Unit which is
jointed by at least one party wall with any other Living Unit, whether
or not either of such units is situated upon an individual lot shown on
any recorded subdivision plat of The Property.
(f) "Town House Block" shall mean and refer to any attached block or
group of Town Houses situate upon The Property.
"Owner" shall mean and refer to the record owner, whether one or more
persons or entities, of the fee simple title to any Living Units
situated on The Property, including contract sellers, but excluding
those having such interest solely as security for the performance of an
obligation.
"Member" shall mean and refer to every person, group of persons or
entity who holds membership in the Association.
"Developer" shall mean and refer to the Declarant, Edmund J. Bennett
Associates, Inc., and its successors.
"Total Assessment" shall mean and refer to the total assessment for
land and improvements for any Living Unit (pro rata by the amount of
monthly rental in the case of Town House units within a Town House
Block held by the Developer for rental purposes) as the same is shown
on the assessment dockets maintained by the Division of Assessments of
Montgomery County, Maryland.
ARTICLE II
Section 1. Property Subject to Declaration. The real property, which is
and shall be held, conveyed, hypothecated or encumbered, sold, leased,
rented, used, occupied, and improved subject to this Declaration, is
located in the City of Rockville, County of Montgomery, State of
Maryland, and is more particularly described on "Exhibit Aî
attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof.
Section 2. Additions. So long as there are Class B members of the
Association, additional property may be annexed to the above-described
property with out the assent of the Class A members of the Association,
if any. Any additional property so annexed, however, must be adjacent
to or in the immediate vicinity of the above-described property. Any
annexations made pursuant to this Article shall be made by recording a
Supplementary Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions among the Land
Records for Montgomery County, Maryland, which Supplementary
Declaration shall extend the scheme of the within Covenants and
Restrictions to such annexed property.
ARTICLE III
Section 1. Membership. The Association shall have two classes of voting
membership:
Every person, group of persons or entity who is a record owner of a fee
interest in any Living Unit which is or becomes subject by covenants of
record to assessment by the Association shall be a Class A member of
the Association, provided, however, that any such person, group of
persons or entity who holds such interest solely as security for the
performance of an obligation shall not be a member. Class A members
shall be entitled to one vote for each Living Unit in which they hold
the interest required for membership.
(b) There shall be 540 Class B memberships, all of which shall be
issued to Edmund J. Bennett Associates, Inc. The Class B members shall
be entitled to one vote for each membership so held, provided, however,
that each Class B membership shall lapse and become a nullity on the
first to happen of the following events:
when the total authorized, issued and out standing
Class A memberships equal 384; or
(ii) on January 1, 1977; or
upon surrender of said Class B member ships, by the then
holders thereof for cancellation on the books of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
Section 1. Members' Right of Enjoyment. Every member shall have a right
and easement of enjoyment in and to the Common Areas and Community
Facilities and such easement shall be appurtenant to and shall pass
with the title to every Living Unit, subject to the following:
(a) The right of the Association, in accordance with its Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws, to borrow money for the purpose of improving
the Common Areas and Community Facilities and in aid thereof to
mortgage said property. In the event of a default and foreclosure upon
any such mortgage, the lender shall have the right, after taking
possession of such property, to charge admission and other fees as a
condition to continued enjoyment by the members, and, if necessary, for
the protection of its security or the payment of the Association's
obligations, to open the enjoyment of such property to a wider public
until such times as the mortgage debt is satisfied, whereupon the
possession of such property shall be returned to the Association and
all rights of its members hereunder shall be fully restored; and
(b) The right of the Association to levy reasonable admission and other
fees for the use of any recreational facility situated upon the Common
Areas; and
The right of the Association to take such steps as are reasonably
necessary to protect the above-described property against mortgage
default and/ or foreclosures; and
The right of the Association to limit the number of guests of members;
and
The right of the Association to suspend the voting rights and the
rights to
use of the Common Area and Community Facilities for any period during
which any assessment remains unpaid and for any period not to exceed
thirty (30) days for any infraction of its published rules and
regulations; and
(f) The right of the Association to dedicate or transfer all or any
part of the Common Areas or Community Facilities to any public or
municipal agency, authority or utility for such purposes and subject to
such conditions as may be agreed to by the members, provided, however,
that no such dedication or transfer or determination as to the purposes
or as to the conditions thereof, shall be effective unless an
instrument signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the then members of the
Association has been recorded, agreeing to such dedication, transfer,
purpose or conditions, and unless written notice of the proposed
agreement and action thereunder is sent to each member at least ninety
(90) days prior to the taking of any action; and
(g) The rights of the fee owners of Living Units to a perpetual
easement over any Common Area or Community Facility for such portions
of their Living Units that may overhang said Common Areas or Community
Facilities, and for pedestrian and vehicular ingress and egress to and
from any Living Unit over said Common Areas and Community Facilities.
(h) The right of the fee owners of the Town Houses, their successors,
tenants and assigns, to the use of parking spaces as provided in
Section 3 of this Article.
(i) The rights of employees of tenants in any commercial area
maintained adjacent to the Property to the use of designated parking
spaces in parking areas maintained by the Association.
Section 2. Rights Not Subject to Suspension. Notwithstanding anything
herein contained to the contrary, no admission or other fee shall be
charged for the use of such parking areas as may be maintained upon the
Common Areas or Community Facilities, nor shall the rights and
easements created in paragraphs (g) and (h) of Section I of this
Article IV be suspended by the Association for any reason.
Section 3. Parking Rights. The Association shall maintain upon the
Common Areas at least one parking space for each Town House located
upon the Property.
ARTICLE V
Section 1. Easement for Installation of Post Lamps. There shall be and
is hereby reserved to the Developer a perpetual and nonexclusive
easement to install a post lamp on any lot at any time, such easement
to include, but not be limited to, the right to install, relocate and
maintain all necessary underground wire and/or leads into any Living
Unit situate upon The Property.
Section 2. Easement for Landscaping and Related Purposes. There shall
be and is hereby reserved to the Developer a perpetual and nonexclusive
easement over all lots, or any Common Area or Community Facility, for a
distance of ten (10) feet behind a lot line which parallels a street
(whether public or private) for the purpose of erecting and maintaining
street intersection signs, directional signs, temporary promotional
signs, entrance features and/or, theme areas, lights, stone, wood or
masonry wall features and/or related landscaping.
Section 3. Context. As used in this Article, the term "lot" shall be
deemed to include all parcels or property which are part of The
Property.
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- ARTICLE VI
Section 1. Covenant for Maintenance Assessments. Each person, group of
persons or entity who becomes an Owner of a living Unit by acceptance
of a deed therefor, whether or not it shall be so expressed in any such
deed or other conveyance, shall be deemed to covenant and agree to pay
to the Association:
(1.) initial membership assessments; (2.) annual assessments or charges;
(3.) special assessments for capital improvements or maintenance
provided by the Association, such assessments to be fixed, established
and collected from time to time as hereinafter provided. The annual and
special assess ments, together with such interest thereon and costs of
collection thereof as hereinafter provided, shall be a charge on the
land and shall be a continuing lien upon the property and Living Unit
against which such assessment is made. Each such assessment, together
with such interest thereon and cost of collec tion thereof as
hereinafter provided, shall also be the personal Obligation of the
person, group of persons or entity who was the Owner of such property
and Living Unit at the time when the assessment fell due.
Section 2. Purpose of Assessment. The assessments levied by the Associa
tion shall be used exclusively for the purpose of promoting the
recreation, health, safety and welfare of the residents on the Property
and in particular for the improvement and maintenance of the
properties, services and facilities devoted to this purpose and related
to the use and enjoyment of the Common Areas and Community Facilities
and of the Living Units situated upon the Property, including, but not
limited to, the payment of taxes and insurance thereof and, repair,
replacement, and additions thereto, and for the cost of labor,
equipment, and materials, management and supervision thereof.
Section 3. Initial Membership Assessments. The initial assessment for
the various series of Class A Memberships shall not exceed the amounts
set out on the following schedule:
Maximum
Membership Series Initial Assessment
A-1 $170.00
A-2 $180.00
A-3 $190.00
A-4 $200.00
A-5 $210.00
The initial assessment for each membership shall be paid on the date a
deed for a Living Unit is delivered by the Developer to the member. No
Living Unit held by the Developer for rental purposes shall be subject
to the initial assessment provided for in this Section.
Section 4. Annual Assessments. From and after January 1, 1967, the
maximum annual assessment for any Class A Membership (including, as
herein after provided, those held by the Developer for rental purposes,
if any) shall be the same as the maximum initial membership assessment
for such member ship as provided in Section 3 of this Article.
Section 5. Increase in Maximum Assessment.
From and after January 1,1968, the maximum annual assessment
for any Class A Membership may be increased by the Board of Directors
of the Association, without a vote of the membership, by the percentage
of increase, if any, of the Total Assessment for land and improvements
for any Living Unit to which such membership is appurtenant.
From and after January 1, 1968, in any event, the maximum
annual assessment and the maximum initial assessment for all Class A
Memberships shall be increased by the Board of Directors of the
Association, without a vote of the membership by the percentage of
increase, if any, of the United States Department of Labor Cost of
Living Index for the Washington, D. C., Metropolitan Area during the
preceding year, provided, however, that the maximum assessments shall
not be decreased by any decrease in the aforementioned Index. The
increases provided for in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Article
are intended to be cumulative.
(c) From and after January 1, 1968, the maximum annual assessment and
the maximum initial assessment for all Class A Memberships may be
increased above that established by the two preceding paragraphs by a
vote of members, as hereinafter provided, for the next succeeding year
and at the end of such year for each succeeding year. Any change made
pursuant to this paragraph shall have the assent of two-thirds (2/3) of
the then members of the Association. A meeting of the members shall be
duly called for this purpose, written notice of which shall be sent to
all members at least thirty (30) days in advance of such meeting, which
notice shall set forth the purpose of such meeting.
Section 6. Special Assessments. In addition to the annual assessments
authorized by this Article, the Association may levy in any assessment
year a special assessment, applicable to that year only, for the
purpose of defraying in whole or in part, the cost of any construction
or reconstruction, unexpected repair or replacement of a described
capital improvement located upon the Common Areas, including the
necessary fixtures and personal property related thereto, provided that
any such assessment shall have the assent of two-thirds (2/3) of the
then members of the Association. A meeting of the members shall be duly
called for this purpose, written notice of which shall be sent to all
members at least thirty (30) days in advance of such meeting, which
notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting.
Section 7. Proportion of Increase. Except as provided in paragraph (a)
of Section 5 of this Article, any increase in the maximum annual
assessment and/or any special assessment must be fixed in accordance
with the proportion established for initial assessments in Section 3 of
this Article and, in the event the Board of Directors of the
Association shall fix the actual amount of the assessment at a figure
less than the maximum provided for in this Article, the actual
assessments shall also be fixed in accordance with the proportion
established for initial assessments in Section 3 of this Article.
Section 8. Commencement of Annual Assessments. The annual assessment
for each Class A Membership shall commence on the date a Deed for the
Living Unit to which such membership is appurtenant is delivered by the
Developer to the Member. The first annual assessment for any such
membership shall be made for the balance of the calendar year and shall
become due and payable and a lien on the date a deed for the Living
Unit is delivered to the Member. Except as hereinafter provided, the
assessment for any Living Unit for any year, after the first year,
shall become due and payable and a lien on the first day of said year.
Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the annual
assessment for any Living Unit held by the Developer for rental
purposes shall be payable quarterly in arrears on or before the last
day of each quarter in any calendar year and shall be equal to the
number of months of that quarter during which the Living Unit has been
rented multiplied by one-twelfth (1/12) of the annual assessment for
that Living Unit.
The Board of Directors of the Association shall make reasonable efforts
to fix the amount of the assessment against each Living Unit for each
assessment period at least thirty (30) days in advance of such date or
period and shall, at that time, prepare a roster of the Living Units
and assessments applicable thereto which shall be kept in the office of
the Association and shall be open to inspection by any owner upon
reasonable notice to the Board. Written notice of the assessment shall
thereupon be sent to the Owner of any Living Unit subject thereto.
Section 9. Assessment Certificates. The Association shall upon demand
at any time furnish to any Owner liable for such assessment a
certificate in writing signed by an officer of the Association, setting
forth the status of said assessment, i.e. , whether the same is paid or
unpaid. Such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the payment of
any assessment therein stated to have been paid. A charge not to exceed
One Dollar ($1.00) may be levied in advance by the Association for each
certificate so delivered.
ARTICLE VII
Section 1. Non-Payment of Assessment. Any assessment levied pursuant to
these covenants which is not paid on the date when due shall be
delinquent and shall, together with such interest thereon and cost of
collection thereof, as hereinafter provided, thereupon become a
continuing lien upon the property which shall bind such Living Unit in
the hands of the then Owner, his heirs, devisees, personal
representatives and assigns. The personal obligation of the then owner
to pay such assessment, however, shall remain his personal obligation
for the statutory period and shall not pass to his successors in title
unless expressly assumed by them.
If the assessment is not paid within thirty (30) days after the
delinquency date, the assessment shall bear interest at the rate of six
percent (6%) per annum, and the Association may bring an action at law
against the Owner personally obligated to pay the same, or foreclose
the lien against the property, in either of which events interest,
costs and reasonable attorney's fees shall be added to the amount of
each assessment. No Owner may waive or otherwise escape liability for
the assessments herein provided for by non use of the Common Areas or
Community Facilities or abandonment of his Living Unit.
Section 2. Subordination Provision. The lien of the assessments
provided for in this Declaration shall be subordinate to the lien of
any mortgage or mortgages now or hereafter placed upon the Living Units
subject to assessment, provided, however, that such subordination shall
apply only to the assessments which have become due and payable prior
to a sale or transfer of such Living Unit pursuant to a decree of
foreclosure, or any other proceeding in lieu of foreclosure. Such sale
or transfer shall not relieve such property from liability for any
assessments thereafter becoming due, nor from the lien of any such
subsequent assessment.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1. Party Walls. Each wall which is built as part of the
original construction of the Living Units upon The Property and placed
on the dividing line between lots or Living Units shall constitute a
party wall, and to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Article, the general rules of law regarding party walls and of
liability for property damage due to negligent or willful acts or
omissions shall apply thereto.
Section 2. Repair and Maintenance. The cost of reasonable repair and
maintenance of a party wall shall be shared by the Owners who make use
of the wall in proportion to such use.
Section 3. Destruction by Fire or Other Casualty. If a party wall is
destroyed or
damaged by fire or other casualty, any Owner who has used the wall may
restore it, and if the other Owners thereafter make use of the wall,
they shall contribute to the cost of restoration thereof in proportion
to such use without prejudice, however, to the right of any such Owners
to call for a larger contribution from the others under any rule of law
regarding liability for negligent or willful acts or omissions.
Section 4. Weatherproofing. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article, an Owner who by his negligent or willful act causes the party
wall to be exposed to the elements shall bear the whole cost of
furnishing the necessary protection against such elements.
Section 5. Right to Contribution Runs with Land. The right of any Owner
to
contribution from any other Owner under this Article shall be
appurtenant to the land
and shall pass to such Owner's successors in title.
Section 6. Easement for Utilities and Sidewalks. There shall be and is
hereby
reserved to the Developer a perpetual and nonexclusive easement over
any lot upon
which a Town House or Town House Block is situate for the purpose of
installing,
repairing and/or maintaining sidewalks and utility lines of any sort
including, but not
limited to, storm drains, sanitary sewers, freon gas lines, condensate
lines, electric lines
and/or cables, water lines, natural gas lines, telephone lines and the
like.
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- ARTICLE IX
Section 1. Exterior Maintenance. In addition to maintenance upon the
Common Areas and Community Facilities, the Association may provide
exterior maintenance for each Town House located upon The Property
(including those held by the Developer for rental purposes) which is
subject to annual assessment as provided herein, as follows: periodic
painting of exterior building surfaces and trim, and reasonable and
ordinary maintenance and repair of gutters, downspouts and roofs.
Section 2. Exterior Maintenance of Other Living Units. In addition to
maintenance upon the Common Areas and Community Facilities and upon the
Town Houses, as aforesaid, the Association may, in the interest of the
general welfare of all the Owners of The Property, provide periodic
exterior maintenance upon other lots or Living Units subject to annual
assessment as provided herein, as follows (but in no way limited to the
following): periodic painting of exterior building surfaces and trim,
repair and maintenance of gutters, downspouts, roofs, shrubs, lawns,
walks, driveways and other exterior improvements, all as and when it
deems necessary for the purposes aforesaid but not without resolution
by the Board of Directors of the Association or by an architectural
control committee composed of three (3) or more members appointed by
the Board, and not without reasonable notice to the Owner of any Living
Unit proposed to be so maintained. The failure of any Owner to repaint
the exterior building surface and trim of his Living Unit within four
(4) years of its original painting or most recent repainting shall
create the conclusive and irrefutable presumption that such repainting
is in the interest of the general welfare of all the Owners of The
Property.
Section 3. Assessment of Cost. The cost of any exterior maintenance
performed pursuant to Section 1, and/or Section 2, of this Article
shall be assessed against the Living Unit upon which such maintenance
is done and, when so assessed, a statement for the amount thereof shall
be rendered to the Owner of said Living Unit at which time the
assessment shall become due and payable and a continuing lien and
obligation of the Owner in all respects as provided in Article VI of
this Declaration.
Section 4. Access at Reasonable Times. For the purpose solely of
performing the exterior maintenance required or authorized by this
Article, the Association, through its duly authorized agents or
employees shall have the right, after reason able notice to the Owner,
to enter upon any lot or the exterior of any Living Unit at reasonable
hours on any day except Sunday.
ARTICLE X
Section 1. Architectural Control Committee. Except for original
construction or as otherwise in these covenants provided, no building,
fence, wall or other structure shall be commenced, erected, or
maintained upon The Property, nor shall any exterior addition to or
change (including any change in color) or alteration therein be made
until the plans and specifications showing the nature, kind, shape,
height, materials, color and location of the same shall have been
submitted to and approved in writing as to harmony of external design,
color and location in relation to surrounding structures and topography
by the Board of Directors of the Association, or by an architectural
control committee composed of three (3) members appointed by the Board
of Directors. In the event the Board of Directors, or its designated
committee, fails to approve or disapprove such design and location
within thirty (30) days after said plans and specifications have been
submitted to it, approval will not be required and this Article will be
deemed to have been fully complied with.
Section 2. Fences. Except for original construction, any fence
constructed upon The Property shall be either horizontal rustic,
unfinished split rail or vertical split sapling and shall not extend
beyond the front of any Living Unit or within thirty (30) feet of any
street, whether public or private. The erection of such fences shall
not be subject to the provisions of Section 1 of this Article. The
erection of any other fences shall be subject to the provisions of
Section 1 of this Article.
Section 3. Prohibited Uses and Nuisances. Except for the activities of
the Developer
during original construction:
(a) No noxious or offensive trade or activity shall be carried on upon
any lot or within any Living Unit situate upon The Property, nor shall
anything be done therein or thereon which may be or become an annoyance
or nuisance to the neighborhood or the other Owners of The Property.
The maintenance, keeping, boarding and/or raising of animals, livestock
or poultry of any kind, regardless of number shall be and is hereby
prohibited on any lot or within any Living Unit situate upon The
Property, except that this shall not prohibit the keeping of dogs, cats
and/or caged birds as domes tic pets provided they are not kept, bred
or maintained for commercial purposes.
(c) No burning of any trash and no accumulation or storage of litter,
new or used building materials, or trash or any other kind shall be
permitted on any lot.
(d) Except as herein elsewhere provided, no junk vehicle or other
vehicle on which current registration plates are not displayed,
trailer, truck, camper, camp truck, house trailer, boat or the like
(other than boats less than fourteen feet In length), shall be kept
upon The Property nor shall the repair or extraordinary maintenance of
automobiles or other vehicles be carried out thereon. The Association
may, in the discretion of its Board of Directors, provide and maintain
a suitable area designated for the parking of such vehicles or the like.
(e) Trash and garbage containers shall not be permitted to remain in
public view except on days of trash collection.
(f) Outdoor clothes dryers or clothes lines shall be placed within a
screened enclosure of any approved design of attractive rustic wood not
over eight (8) feet square and not over six (6) feet in height.
(g) In order to facilitate the free movement of passing vehicles, no
automobiles belonging to residents shall be parked on the paved portion
of any joint driveway or streets, except during temporary emergencies.
(h) No outside television aerial or radio antenna for reception or
transmission shall be visible from the street or adjoining Living Units.
(i) No sound hardwood trees shall be removed from any lot without
written approval of the Association acting through its Board of
Directors or duly appointed committee.
No structure of a temporary character, trailer, tent, shack, barn or
other
outbuilding shall be used on any lot at any time. Temporary playhouses
or the like may be so maintained provided that their primary purpose is
the promotion of juvenile recreation.
No signs of any character shall be erected, posted or displayed upon,
in or about any lot or Living Unit situate upon the Property, provided,
however, that one sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in area and
not illuminated may be attached to a Living Unit where a professional
office (as herein defined) is maintained, and provided further that one
temporary real estate sign not exceeding six (6) square feet in area
may be erected upon any lot or attached to any Living Unit placed upon
the market for sale or rent.
(l) No structure, planting or other material other than driveways or
sidewalks shall be placed or permitted to remain upon any lot which may
damage or interfere with any easement for the installation or
maintenance of utilities, or which may change, obstruct or retard
direction or flow of any drainage channels.
Section 4. Post Lamps. In the event a post lamp or the like is
installed on any lot or attached to any Living Unit, the Owner of such
lot or Living Unit shall maintain it and light it from dusk to dawn and
bear all costs incident thereto.
Section 5. Right of Association to Remove or Correct Violations of this
Article. The Association may, in the interest of the general welfare of
all the Owners of the Property and after reasonable notice to the
Owner, enter upon any lot or the exterior of any Living Unit at
reasonable hours on any day, except Sunday for the purpose of removing
or correcting any violation or breach or any attempted violation of any
of the covenants and restrictions contained in this Article, or for the
purpose of abating anything herein defined as a prohibited use or
nuisance, provided, however, that no such action shall be taken without
a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Association or by an
architectural control committee composed of three (3) or more members
appointed by the Board.
Section 6. Context. As used herein, the term "lot" shall be deemed to
include all parcels or property which are part of The Property.
ARTICLE XI
Section 1. Residential Use. All Living Units shall be used for private
residential purposes exclusively, except that a professional office may
be maintained in a Living Unit, provided that such maintenance and use
is limited to the person actually residing in the dwelling and one
other professional associate, and, provided further, that such
maintenance and use is in strict conformity with the provisions of any
relevant zoning law or ordinance.
Section 2. Context. As used herein, the term "professional office"
shall mean rooms used for office purposes but not by more than two
members of any recognized profession, including doctors, dentists,
lawyers, accountants, engineers, architects, but not including medical
or dental clinics.
ARTICLE XII
Section 1. Resale. In the event any Owner proposes to sell any portion
of the real property referred to in Article II hereof, he shall first
give the exclusive right to sell said property, for a period of sixty
(60) days, to Edmund J. Bennett Associates, Inc., or assigns thereof,
as agents: provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to a
mortgagee acquiring ownership of any Living Unit at foreclosure.
Section 2. Alcoholic Beverage License. In the event the Developer, its
successors, tenants or assigns, shall make application to the Board of
License Commissioners for Montgomery County, Maryland, or its
successor, for an Alcoholic Beverage License, or the periodic renewal
of same, no owner or group of Owners shall in any way oppose the
granting of same for any reason whatsoever or in any way otherwise
interfere with such application.
Section 3. Incorporation by Reference on Resale. In the event any Owner
sells or otherwise transfers his Living Unit, any deed purporting to
effect such transfer shall contain a provision incorporating by
reference the covenants, restrictions, easements, charges and liens set
forth in this Declaration.
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- ARTICLE XIII
Section 1. Duration. Except where permanent easements or other
permanent rights or interests are herein created, the covenants and
restrictions of this Declaration shall run with and bind the land, and
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Association, or
the Owner of any land or Living Unit subject to this Declaration, their
respective legal representatives, heirs, successors, and assigns, for a
term of thirty (30) years from the date of recordation of this
Declaration, after which the said covenants shall be automatically
extended for successive periods of ten (10) years each, unless an
instrument signed by the then Owners of two-thirds of the Living Units
has been recorded, agreeing to change said covenants and restrictions
in whole or in part. No such agreement to change shall be effective
unless written notice of the proposed agreement is sent to every Owner
at least ninety (90) days in advance of any action taken.
Section 2. Notices. Any notice required to be sent to any member or
Owner under the provisions of this Declaration shall be deemed to have
been properly sent when mailed, postpaid, to the last known address of
the person who appears as member or Owner on the records of the
Association at the time of such mailing.
Section 3. Enforcement. Enforcement of these covenants and restrictions
shall be by any proceeding at law or in equity against any person or
persons violating or attempting to violate any covenant or restriction,
either to restrain or enjoin violation or to recover damages, and
against the land to enforce any lien created by these covenants; and
the failure or forbearance by the Association or any Owner to enforce
any covenant or restriction herein contained shall in no event be
deemed a waiver of the right to do so thereafter. There shall be and
there is hereby created and declared to be a conclusive presumption
that any violation or breach or any attempted violation or breach of
any of the within covenants or restrictions cannot be adequately
remedied by action at law or by recovery of damages. If the Association
or any Owner successfully brings an action to
correct a violation or otherwise enforce the provisions of
these
covenants, the Bylaws or any other rules or regulations lawfully
approved by the
Association, the cost of such action, including legal fees, shall
becoming a binding, personal obligation of the Owner of the Lot
committing or responsible for such
violation, and such cost shall also be a lien
upon the Lot of such Owner, as
provided by the Maryland Contract Lien Act.
Section 4. Severability. Invalidation of any one of these covenants or
restrictions by judgment, decree or order shall in no way affect any
other provision hereof, each of which shall remain in full force and
effect.
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