I personally would never own a property where an HOA controlled things. I think the city ordinances should cover the important aspects like, cutting lawns, derelict vehicles, etc. If the town wont enforce the rules than there is little reason for a community to establish there own rules.
Coming from the east coast, it is only the newer master planned developments that have these (although co-op boards can be a real pain). Where there is a diversity of housing styles, and a range of ages of homes, the eccentricities of individuals tends to be muted. I think painting your house neon green, and is perfectly fine even if I live near it (but not in front of it!!!), but clearly here where almost all new developments are master planned, any individuality stands out, even if it is tasteful but different can presumably affect values. What is more distasteful is the inability to confront an HOA, and change the CCA. THe rules in the CCA are stringer than laws, and there have been way too many people that have been harrassed and sued by there HOA for some infringement like (putting basketball hoops on the garage, the size or style of tree, not-cleaning there driveways (oil spots). This is pretty petty, and really only matters where such master planned communities have sucked the soul from individuals.
As for garages, if they didnt put them facing the main street, people would not see them, and the “cheapening” of the neighborhood would not have occured.
I would love to see a developer, actually make a development with 10k lots, and with no HOA. That will never happen here though
