Letter: Carlton Square HOA seeks to increase fees $300-$400 per UNIT!

Hello 2 Urban Girls,

I want to thank you for bringing to our attention the outrageous increase in our HOA fees being proposed by Keystone, the management company hired to manage our complex by our Homeowners Association board.

I saw your social media post on Instagram and found a Google review about the same thing. Commenters claimed your source “lied,” but here is another homeowner saying the SAME THING!

I’m reaching out to you because a few years ago, you wrote about the zoning issues we face, noting that we are listed as Commercial Entertainment, similar to the Kia Forum. The fastest way to get people to sell and leave is to increase our HOA fees to nearly $1000 per month. Mayor Butts said they wouldn’t EVER rezone a residential neighborhood and unfortunately, we are not zoned as residential.

Please share with your readers so those of us who do NOT attend the board meetings are aware.

Recently there was an association meeting on 5-29-2025 to decide the upcoming budget and additionally, what the updated HOA fee would be for homeowners monthly in 2025 once the budget is approved, Also, most likely there will be a special assessment for patio homeowners regarding the fences and gates for the patio homes. We were told there is no longer any money that was allocated for that project in the current budget so now an special assessment fee is being considered.

Regarding our monthly HOA fees, per Keystone and the analyst recommended by Keystone and per the CC&R’s and per the various budgets and exhibits in the CC & R’s, etc., Carlton Square is way behind in the monthly HOA fees that homeowners pay out monthly. Due to this, the analyst recommended that currently management fee go up at least between $300 to $400 monthly, per household in addition to what each homeowner is paying now. The board was not happy with recommendation and stated that they will consult an attorney and also come up with a plan that is hopefully practical and realistic.

Last night’s meeting was extremely intense and the level of professionalism and respect for the community was not shown in Ms. King’s reactions and responses toward the homeowners Keystone uses Ms. King and she blamed past boards for there mismanagement and this is the reason why now there is an increase in our fees. Ms. King’s tone and responses on last night was extremely unprofessional. Her behavior reflected she has no respect for the community of Carlton Square and may be a defensive mechanism, to discourage homeowners from asking questions. The homeowners are paying a monthly management fee to Keystone which may include her salary. Homeowners have a right to ask questions. Keystone was hired by the association to interpret and explain the CC& R’s to the homeowners and be of service to the residents of Carlton Square. It appears Keystone is using the CC&R’s to go up on fees drastically and continue yearly to constantly go up on fees and also have various special assessments. There agenda is to control the community through extremely high fees It kind of reminds me of 45/47 and using policies to create anger, tension and confusion within a country. Management companies find ways to push their agenda.

Hiring Keystone involves paying them a monthly fee which is now having an impact on the association’s budget. These fees that Keystone is receiving add up over time and is very very expensive to the community. In my opinion, there is poor communication between the management which has lead to misunderstandings and issues within the community and it appears to be getting worse. Since Keystone has come into our community, conflict and issues has increased between management and homeowners and this may be intentional.

An analyst recommended by Keystone that recommends an high increase like that to a community, is very unthoughtful, uncaring of people’s monthly income. Keystone does not care. Its a business and this is how it is. If you care about a community and want it to thrive and be successfully, a management company will suggest a plan that is practical and fair to the community. Ms. King salary nor her personal monthly budget will be affected. Keystone will continue to get paid regardless of what the monthly association fees are.

One last thing, when you hire a manager, they should own and or live within a gated community (not the same community they manage). If a manager of a gated community is renting and then enforcing guidelines to homeowners in a gated community, that can cause jealously, tension and power playing with homeowners. If a person is renting, how can they understand the needs of a gated community where the majority is homeowners.

Thank you for your attention,

Concerned homeowner