UNIT IMPROVEMENT
We all want a tasteful and well-maintained neighborhood with high property values, and the Mill Corner Master Deed holds the Board of Governors responsible for ensuring that any unit improvements maintain the "colonial and antique character of the neighborhood". If you are considering an improvement to your unit, please consult the below guidelines before proceeding.
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Unit improvement request process
Items that will not be approved
Maintenance does not require approval
ITEMS AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED
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Any change to the interior or your house not visible to the outside
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Any change to grass, shrubs, gardens, flowers, or other plantings that are not and will not likely grow to be over 4-feet tall
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Tree removal
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Installation of gutters matching the trim color of the house
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Installation of window boxes matching the color scheme of the house
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Installation of a storm or screen door matching the color scheme of the house with a single full-height pane of continuous glass/screening, no bevels, no colored glass, and no other decorations are approved for any door
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Installation of a storm or screen door matching the trim color of the house with a half-height pane of continuous glass/screening, no bevels, no colored glass, and no other decorations are approved for rear and side doors
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Wooden lampposts may be replaced with black metal lampposts like those on Abel Jones Place
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Timers, light sensors or motion sensors may be added to exterior lights
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Improvement of existing walkways in their current locations with brick or stone of any kind​​
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ITEMS REQUIRING APPROVAL
Any change to the exterior of your house or the landscaping of your yard not mentioned above as automatically approved requires you to go through the Unit Improvement Request process:
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Exterior lights
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Exterior doors (including screen doors not complying with the pre-approved guidelines above)
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Exterior windows
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Exterior house or trim color
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Roof color or design
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Siding material, type or pattern
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Gutters in a contrasting color
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Shrubs or trees that are or may grow to be over 4 feet high
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Fences
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Retaining walls
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Sheds
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Arbors
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Garages
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Decks
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Patios
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Changing the location or path of walkways, eliminating existing walkways, new walkways
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Driveways/parking spaces
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Porches
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Gazebos
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Satellite dishes or large television antennas (The Board may not disallow such installations but would prefer they be placed in the least visible location possible. We therefore ask that the UIR process be followed for them.)
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Permanently installed air conditioner compressors (Since the appearance and sound of air conditioner compressors may affect your neighbors, the Board must approve their location before they can be installed.)
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Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations
UNIT IMPROVEMENT REQUEST PROCESS
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Download the Unit Improvement Request form.
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Complete the form providing details of your proposed improvement, including if appropriate sketches, color swatches, photos or any other information that will allow your neighbors to visualize the proposed change
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Indicate on the form if a building permit is required and if you will be obtaining one. (See below for more details)
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Indicate on the form your estimated start and completion dates for the project. (The Board does not expect you to have perfect knowledge of these dates, but it does provide your neighbors with an idea of what to expect.)
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Consult with each neighbor who may be affected by your proposed change. This is usually those neighbors located closest to your house, but may include others who can see your change directly from their house. Obtain the initials of each neighbor on the form indicating that you have informed them of the proposed change. The Board makes the final decision on all improvement requests, but consulting with your neighbors ensures there are no surprises between neighbors and gives everyone affected a chance to comment. The Board may choose not to approve requests without neighbor initials.
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Submit your form to a Board member and indicate when you need to receive approval. The Board will usually approve Unit Improvement Requests at its monthly meeting, but quicker turnaround can be arranged if necessary. Please try to be considerate and give the Board as much notice as you can.
ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE APPROVED
Neighbors have asked about some items that the Board does not believe are consistent with the "colonial and antique character of the neighborhood." These include:
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Vinyl or aluminum siding
Highly decorative, ornamental glass front doors or storm/screen doors
Victorian or other non-colonial exterior decoration
MAINTENANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE APPROVAL
Maintenance or replacement of existing parts of your house or landscape are your responsibility and do not require any sort of approval. For example:
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Tree and shrub pruning in your exclusive use area (yard) does not require approval
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Removal of a dead tree, shrub or other planting or replacement with a similar planting does not require approval
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Painting of your house with the same colors as before does not require approval
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Re-paving, re-coating or other maintenance of your driveway or walkways does not require approval
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Replacement of doors, windows, siding, lights, gutters, mailboxes, fences, etc., with identical or nearly identical items does not require approval
IF THE PROCESS IS NOT FOLLOWED
The approval process is necessary to ensure that the neighborhood retains the neat and well-kept appearance we all enjoy and to maintain the antique and colonial character of the neighborhood required by the condo docs. Neighbors who make changes to their unit without following this process create bad feelings among those neighbors who do follow the process, and also undermine the ability of the Board to enforce the condo rules in general.
If the Board discovers that changes requiring approval have been made to a unit without approval, the Board has a responsibility to act made clear in the condo docs. The Board has in the past contacted unit owners when this situation has arisen and asked them to follow the process after the changes have been completed or during the project. On occasion the Board has also required that work be re-done at the unit owners expense because the change was not colonial and antique in character.
In the most extreme case, the condo docs give the Board the authority to do work necessary to correct the situation and bill the unit owner for the costs. The Board is also empowered to levy fines. While a unit has an outstanding balance, the Board will not issue a 6-D certificate, which is necessary for the sale or refinancing of the unit. These actions have never been taken, and the Board is committed to working with neighbors to ensure such steps need not be taken.
A NOTE ON BUILDING PERMITS
The Condo Docs require each of us to comply with Acton regulations regarding building permits. If you are conducting or planning improvements to your home – inside or outside – please contact the Acton Building Inspector’s office (978.264.9632) to find out if your project requires a building permit. The process is not difficult or expensive. If you are using a contractor for the work, they will usually get the permit for you as part of the project. Building permits protect you and the neighborhood as a whole. They protect you by ensuring your contractor is licensed and insured (they cannot request a permit if they are not), by ensuring your project meets local construction, safety, and fire codes, and by providing a review of your plans by the professionals in the Building Department. Building permits also protect the resale value of your home and the others in the neighborhood by ensuring your home can pass a real estate home inspection.