Below you will find additional questions most often asked by property owners, residents and potential property owners. Use our contact email form to request additional information or get answers to other questions you might have regarding the community, restrictive covenants or architectural rules and regulations.
Question: I've heard the community referred to as "Arrowhead"; when did it become Fairview Forest?
Answer: Biltmore Land Development registered its first plat map under the name "Arrowhead" in August of 1972. Over the past 30 years the community has had a series of different developers, different covenants and different names. Names for all or part of the community include Arrowhead, Arrowhead Hideaways, Arrowhead Farms, Fairview Hideaways and Fairview Forest. The Fairview Forest name was initiated in the Covenants registered in September 1988.
Question: What happens during the winter with regard to snow plowing and getting out during winter storms?
Answer: Newcomers are often used to county services that we do not receive in a private mountain community. Always be prepared during the winter by having ample supplies in case of storms or power outages. Many residents move their vehicles to the entrances of the lower roads or near the entrance to the community when winter storms are forecast.
The logistics and expense of snow removal make it nearly impossible for the community to plow its roads. Each winter season is different and each winter storm event really has to be judged and decisions made at that time. The Winter Roads Plan, as revised 2/8/2010 now reads as follows:
• The Association will clear all of the its roads after more than six inches (6") of snow has accumulated.
• The measurement will be taken generally at mid-elevations (tops of Maple Forest Road/Chestnut Forest Road and at the junctions of Poplar Forest Road and at higher elevations on White Oak Forest Road at Fairview Forest Drive.
• Other important factors include the pending weather forecast and the proximity of warmer weather.
• The decision to clear the roads of accumulated snow will be made by the Fairview Forest Association Roads Committee Chair with consensus of the President and at least one other Fairview Forest Homeowners' Association Board member.
• No clearing will take place until the snow storm is over.
• The Association will not de-ice or sand the roads. Homeowners are requested to not use rock salt (sodium chloride) on surfaces to melt ice. We need to protect our wells and our ground water source. A good substitute for salt is potassium chloride and/or ammonium nitrate. Both compounds are used in fertilizers and have a below freezing characteristic that is useful to melt ice.
Question: What is the community's policy regarding barking dogs or property owners who allow their dogs to run loose?
Answer: This is the most often asked-about topic. The answer is that we do not have a policy since Buncombe County regulations prevail in this situation. We suggest that property owners first contact the pet guardian and explain the problem. If necessary beyond that, Animal Services should be contacted and an officer will pay a visit and explain the rules and fines to the offending party.
All Fairview Forest property owners should be responsible regarding their pets and not allow them to bark incessantly or to roam freely outside property boundaries. Sadly, we receive numerous calls about lost pets each year.
Question: I've seen real estate "arrow" signs on the main road; I thought such real estate signs were not allowed.
Answer: Property owners may post two "for sale" signs on their property. So-called pointer signs are only allowed under two circumstances: (1) Pointer signs for the annual event called "Parade of Homes" may be posted during the event. (2) Pointer signs for an open house event may be posted for the weekend of the open house. Such signs must be removed by the end of business on the day after the open house. Additional information about real estate signage can be found in Section 8.3 of the Restrictive Covenants.
Question: Why do we need Covenants?
Answer: "Covenants" (sometimes called "restrictions") are an agreement by property owners in a private community to abide by a set of policies and rules.
The reasons for covenants include:
Property owners agree to share the cost to maintain the established roads throughout the community. (North Carolina does not generally maintain the roads in private communities.)
Owners are assured that a gift shop or a dog kennel will not locate on their road nor will trailer homes be brought into the community.)
Answer: About three-quarters of the assessments goes to maintaining the more than eight miles of roads in Fairview Forest. The remainder pays for general expenses such as lighting, both at the entrance and on the main road, insurance, and maintenance of our community clubhouse. For a complete breakdown, look at the annual budget presented at the Annual Meeting each year.
Question: Is the architectural application the same as the building permit from the county?
Answer: No, the architectural application is to ensure that construction in Fairview Forest is in compliance with the Restrictive Covenants. Architectural approval is granted when the property owner has submitted all requested information. A Buncombe County building permit has other specific requirements and is monitored by the county.
Question: I'm considering purchasing property in Fairview Forest and building a home. Where can I find information and materials that might be most important to someone considering building and to a new property owner?
Answer: Below are links to various sections of the web site with information especially important to anyone considering purchasing property or building a home in the community:
