Rules & Regulations – Buena Vista Club

Buena Vista Park as a summer colony has succeeded chiefly because of the loyalty and cooperation of its residents. Appeal is therefore made for a continuance of that friendly spirit which places the comfort, convenience, pleasure, and best interests of the Park as a whole before any personal rights or desires. The generous attitude, one toward another, makes us good comrades while it makes rules almost unnecessary. (1912)

Part One: Rules

Applicable to Owners, their families, and guests. Owners are responsible for informing guests, renters, and others visiting their home and the community of these rules and the expectation of compliance as the Owner is responsible for these individuals.

The Rules & Regulations listed below as well as the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws are the binding documents

of Buena Vista Club.

Alcohol, Food & Beverages

Open alcohol beverages are to be avoided on paths or public areas.
Food and Beverages, other than water, are not permitted on the pier.

Building, Construction, Home Improvement & Landscaping

Submission of plans for building, remodeling, or making major repairs that would alter in any way the exterior of the home must be submitted a minimum of 45 days before construction is to be begin to the Board as described in Article XII of the bylaws
Landscaping including but not limited to driveways, patios, steps, terracing, storm water drainage, tree/bush planting or rem
oval must be reviewed and are subject to action as described in Article XII section 3.
All exterior construction or major repairs shall be prohibited between June 15th and Labor Day unless prior written approval is obtained from the Board of Directors. Prior to commencing construction, members will be required to deposit $5,000 to be held in escrow by the Board of Directors.
Any storage or staging during construction using common property must have prior approval and must be repaired if damaged.
The construction of carports and garages are prohibited except as outlined in Article VIII section D.

Common Areas

Club roads, paths, and common areas are for use only by members and guests. Speed limit on streets and roads is 15 MPH.
Parking is not permitted on Club roads or any other common property. Extra parking is available at the rear of the rental property.
The service pathway to the lakefront is intended for emergency use. Parking at the lakefront is to be avoided and is limited to individuals with restricted mobility to access the pier and homeowners transporting equipment to their pier or watercraft.
Vehicles may not operate at speeds greater than 5 miles per hour and must always yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Please do not litter or leave personal items in the common areas.
Open alcoholic beverages are to be avoided in the common areas.
Motorized vehicles are not permitted on paths or common areas with the exception of snowmobiles during winter the Buena Vista service golf cart and approved contractors servicing piers and the lakefront and providing lawn care.
Children under seven (7) must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult in the common areas.

Dogs

Village Ordinance requires that all dog owners prevent their pets from running “at large,” meaning to be off the premises of the owner and not under control of a person.

Garbage

Current pick-up service is on Monday. Please remove garbage cans from the street or make necessary arrangements for removal by Monday evening.
No dumping is allowed on the common grounds, including the woods and the Rental House property (formerly the Caretaker’s house.). In summer, personal yard waste is the responsibility of the homeowner.
The Village of Fontana provides a compost area at the Duck Pond.

Golf Carts and Motorized Vehicles.

Community members with a mobility disability may apply for a permit for use on BVC property.
Vehicles including golf carts may not operate at speeds greater than 5 miles per hour and must always yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
See Golf Cart Use by Disabled Persons in Part Two: Procedures and Regulations that follow these rules or in the Buena Vista Directory.

Piers, Boat Platforms, & Boat Lifts

All permits for existing or new piers, boat platforms, boat lifts, or buoys shall be issued in accordance with the regulations and standards hereby established. Property owners now having piers, boat platforms, boat lifts or buoys may, at the request of the Board of Directors of Buena Vista Club, be required to provide written acceptance of a permit, subject to these rules and regulations. Refusal by owners of piers, boat platforms, boat lifts or buoys now existing or hereafter built or installed to abide by these rules and regulations will give the Board of Directors, on behalf of the membership at large, the right to remove such pier, boat platform, boat lift or buoy.
Piers, boat platforms and boat lifts may not be installed, sold, transferred, or modified without prior approval from the Board of Directors.
See Piers, Boats Platforms and Boat lifts in Part Two: Procedures & Regulations that follow these rules or in the Buena Vista Directory.

Rentals-Limited Duration Rentals

Short term rentals are prohibited. Limited Duration Rentals must be 30 days or longer, up to 6 months. All homeowners renting their property as Limited Duration Rentals must register the rental with the Board as required in the Bylaws and meet all requirements.
No more than 10% of the properties may be Limited Duration Rentals at any given time.
See the BVC Bylaws Article XII for details, process, and penalties.

Swim Pier

The pier is shared by all community members and cooperation and respect for others is expected.

Use is limited to members and guests.
All owners and guests are expected to observe the posted rules.
The lifeguard has the authority to enforce all pier rules as well as safety practices when on duty.
Children under seven (7) must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.
Food and beverages, other than water, are not permitted on the pier. No glass permitted
Boats may pick-up and drop-off passengers from the south side of the pier ONLY. No parking is allowed.
Fishing is allowed from the south side of the pier before or after posted swimming hours.
The pier and common areas are closed to all activity at 11:00 PM.

Tennis Courts

The courts are for the sole use of playing tennis and pickleball.
Regulation Court Shoes are required.
To guarantee court time, sign-up on the sheets provided.
No food or drink other than water is allowed on the courts.
The gate must be locked after playing.
The courts will not be available for general use during scheduled BVC events or lessons as listed on the annual calendar of events distributed to the community and posted on this website.
Supervision of the courts is not provided. Play at your own risk.
See detailed Tennis Rules and Regulations in Part Two: Procedures & Regulations section that follows these rules or in the Buena Vista Directory.

Roads, Paths, Common Areas

Club roads, paths, and common areas are for use only by members and guests. Speed limit is 15 MPH.
Parking is not permitted on Club roads or any other common property. Extra parking is available at the rear of the Caretaker’s house.
The service pathway to the lakefront is intended for emergency use. Parking at the lakefront is to be avoided.
Please do not litter or leave personal items in the common areas.
Open alcoholic beverages are to be avoided in the common areas.
Motorized vehicles are not permitted on paths or common areas with the exception of snowmobiles during winter and the Buena Vista service cart and authorized personal golf carts for people with disabilities.
Vehicles including golf carts may not operate at speeds greater than 5 miles per hour and must always yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Children under seven must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult in the common areas.

Trees

The Village of Fontana prohibits the cutting down of any tree over 6” in diameter without a permit and also prohibits the topping of trees.
Buena Vista Club members are prohibited from removing or trimming any trees or brush on the common Buena Vista property, including the woods and lakefront.

Part Two: Procedures & Regulations

PROCEDURES and REGULATIONS for the Implementation, Application and

Clarification of Rules referenced herein.

GOLF CART USE BY DISABLED PERSONS

PERMITTING – By the Buena Vista Club Board of Directors.
1. Application – A person having a mobility disability, such as an orthopedic impairment or heart disease, who desires to use a golf cart as a disability accommodation on Buena Vista common property must first submit an application in writing to the Board for permission to do so. The application must identify the disability and state the intended use(s) of the golf cart. If the disability is not obvious, the Board may request disability-related information for verification. The applicant must also provide proof of insurance covering use of the golf cart.
2. Issuance – Upon receiving assurances that the golf cart will serve as a necessary disability accommodation and has adequate insurance

coverage, the Board shall issue a permit in the form of a tag or placard in numerical order for identification purposes.

Parking – Upon issuance of the permit, the Board shall inform the permit-holder in writing of where the golf cart may be parked while on the shore path.
Revocation – The permit shall be revoked when the golf cart is no longer necessary as a mobility accommodation, or after the Board makes a determination that revocation is necessary for the best interests of the Buena Vista Club upon a finding of serious rule violation, due process having been served and with a less severe remedy having been shown to be ineffective.

RULES & REGULATIONS – Golf Carts Permitted as Disability Accommodations:
1. May be operated on access roads, the shore path, and other common areas only when the disabled person is riding in the vehicle;
2. May not be operated on another homeowner’s private property without the homeowner’s permission;
3. When in operation, must always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists;
4. Must not be operated at a speed greater than 5 miles per hour;
5. Must not be operated in a manner that causes damage to common property or the real or personal property of another.
6. When parked on the shore path, must be parked at a location designated by the Board upon issuance of the permit (ref. I-C.), making sure that pedestrian passage is not blocked; and
7. When not being used, must be properly secured on the permit-holder’s property and ignition key removed.

ENFORCEMENT – Of the Rules & Regulations
1. Complaint – A written complaint alleging rule violation may be filed with the Secretary of the Board by any homeowner and must state the nature of the alleged violation, the identification of the golf cart, and the date and time of the occurrence. A complaint asserting damage to property under item II-E. (above) must identify the property damaged and the estimated cost of repair or replacement. A complaint may be filed anonymously; however, such a filing may hinder the Board’s ability to determine the validity of the complaint.
2. Investigation – Within five (5) days after receipt of the complaint the Board president shall ensure that an investigation is initiated to ascertain the factual basis in support of the complaint. Absent
3. Board Findings – After completion of the investigation, the Board secretary shall place the matter on the agenda for the next Board meeting. At that meeting the Board shall determine whether sufficient facts were presented to support a finding of rule violation.

If the Board finds that there was insufficient proof that the violation occurred, the matter shall be closed and the complainant (if known) and the permit holder shall be notified of such a finding.
If the Board finds sufficient proof of rule violation, then the permit-holder shall be given an opportunity to rebut the investigative findings either in writing or orally at the next Board meeting.
Board Decision – If the Board finds that the alleged rule violation did in fact occur, then it shall decide on the remedial action to be taken against the permit-holder which, after consideration of the seriousness of the violation and the history or prior violations, if any, shall consist of one of the following:
1. Written warning;
2. Assessment of a fine not to exceed $100;
3. Suspension of the permit for a period of time; or
4. Revocation of the permit.

Property Damage – If, in an incident involving damage to property, the Board finds sufficient facts to determine that the permit-holder’s golf cart caused the asserted damage, the Board may require the permit-holder to pay for the repair or replacement
TENNIS RULES & REGULATIONSGeneral Rules

The use of the courts is limited to members of the Buena Vista Club, their families, guests, and renters.
The courts are for the sole use of playing tennis and pickleball.
Regulation court shoes are required.
To guarantee court time, sign up on the sheets provided at the courts.
No food or drink, other than water, is allowed on the courts.
The gate must be locked after playing. Vandalism has been a common occurrence. Keys have been distributed to each household. Replacement key requests are to be directed to the Board Member responsible for Sports.

Playing Time Rules

All reserved times shall be limited to one and one half (1 ½) hours.
Time reservations may be made one (1) week in advance.
Members may not sign up in advance for more than one session of play on the same day.
After 10:00 AM of the desired day of play, a member may sign up for one

(1) additional hour of play.

Empty courts may be used by any resident until reservation privileges are exercised.

Miscellaneous Rules

The above rules are designed for orderly and equitable use of the tennis courts during those times when they are in demand. When there is no demand the courts can be used on a first come first serve basis, but must be relinquished after a reserved session if others are waiting.
If a player has reserved a court and does not appear on the court within ten (10) minutes of the reserved time, that time is open to standby players.
Doubles play is encouraged during high-demand times. Please invite others to play with you if you are playing singles and others are waiting.

Reserved Court Times

Courts are not available for general use during the dates and times that Buena Vista events and programs are scheduled. See the annual calendar for dates and times of these scheduled activities.

WATERFRONT REGULATIONS

All permits for existing or new piers, boat platforms, boat lifts, or buoys shall be issued in accordance with the regulations and standards hereby established. Property owners now having piers, boat platforms, boat lifts or buoys may, at the request of the Board of Directors of Buena Vista Club, be required to provide written acceptance of a permit, subject to these rules and regulations. Refusal by owners of piers, boat platforms, boat lifts, or buoys now existing or hereafter built or installed to abide by these rules and regulations will give the Board of Directors, on behalf of the membership at large, the right to remove such pier, boat platform, boat lift or buoy.

Piers, Boat Platforms and Boat lifts

Piers, boat platforms, and boat lifts may not be reinstalled, transferred, or added to without the prior approval of the Board of Directors. Each application for the installation of a new pier, boat platform, or boat lift or for additions to existing piers shall include plans and specifications showing and describing the installation details, including material, size, design, and proposed location. Overhead boat hoists, pier, or boat canopies are not permitted (except those in existence prior to 9/18/88).

The owner of a pier, boat platform, or boat lift, in addition to maintaining the same in proper physical condition, also agrees that it shall be for the exclusive use of the owner, or his family and their guests. The owner agrees that the conduct of the people using such pier, boat platform, or boat lift will in no way annoy or irritate the people in adjacent piers or owners of adjacent lakefront property.

Piers, boat platforms, and boat lifts on the Buena Vista lakefront may not be sold or transferred to anyone other than a property owner of Buena Vista Club. Piers may be rented to or used by other property owners or residents of Buena Vista Club with the consent of the owner. Members shall not make any charges for such use in excess of actual costs incurred for placement, removal, and maintenance. No commercial activity is allowed on any pier.

Purchasers of property from Buena Vista Club owners having piers, boat platforms, or boat lifts shall have priority for a permit to continue use of the location of such pier, boat platform or boat lift, and the Board of Directors shall approve such application in the absence of any outstanding or important reason for denying the same. Any other Buena Vista property owner who desires to purchase an existing pier on the waterfront must make application to the Board of Directors for a permit.

The lake frontage bordering the park property, running approximately from the creek to the present existing Kendall pier, shall be reserved permanently for the Buena Vista Club pier, dinghy pier, and swimming.

All piers should be installed by June 15th each year. It is the pier owner’s responsibility to have a clear understanding with his contractor regarding the installation of his pier—that all unused timbers or lumber, old tires used as buffers, or other refuse of any kind incidental to the installation of piers must be removed by his contractor at the time of installation. If this is not done, Buena Vista Club will remove such material from the waterfront at the expense of the responsible owner.

Buoys:

Buoy locations have been assigned to each residence in Buena Vista Club and control of these locations shall reside with the Board of Directors. No buoy is to be used for any purpose other than the mooring of a boat or other mobile watercraft without the prior consent of the Board of Directors. The Board reserves the right to rearrange the Buena Vista Club buoy locations to comply with any future changes in mooring regulations by state or local authorities.

The location so determined shall remain assigned to the respective Buena Vista Club property owner and that location shall transfer to the new owner in the event of the sale of that residence.

Any two or more parties may, by mutual consent, exchange their assigned locations. In the event of any such exchange, whether permanent or temporary, the Board must be notified in writing of the proposed exchange, and its effective date, by all parties involved. The Board must be notified in writing if consent to a temporary exchange is revoked.

Any person who intends to place a buoy in his assigned location must apply to the Board for a permit. The application shall be returned to the Board in its completed form prior to the issuance of a buoy permit.

Buoy locations are provided for the exclusive use of the Buena Vista Club property owners, their tenants, or members of their immediate families. Under no circumstances shall a Buena Vista Club member loan or rent his buoy location to any other non-Buena Vista Club member.

In the case of property rentals by a Buena Vista Club Member that member must submit a properly executed buoy permit application on behalf of his tenant.
No buoy anchor may be moved from its designated location without the prior expressed approval of the Board.
Club members who do not intend to moor boats on their buoys are requested not to install them. Allocated spaces will be maintained indefinitely regardless of whether used or not (this will help to avoid unnecessary congestion of our waterfront).
Buena Vista Club members loaning their buoys to other Buena Vista Club members shall not make any charges in excess of actual costs incurred for placement, removal, and maintenance.
Buoy mooring specifications must be met as outlined below:
1. Anchor size must be adequate for the size of the craft to be moored:
  1. Anchor size must be a minimum of 750 lbs for craft up to 20 ft. in length.
  2. Anchor size must be a minimum of 1500 lbs for craft over 20 ft. in length.
2. Anchor chains must be 1/4 to 3/8 inch hot-dipped galvanized steel and all shackles and fitting must be of comparable quality.
3. Buoys must conform to specifications set forth by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources and must be clearly marked with the letters BVC and location number.
4. Mooring lines from buoy to boat must be of an approved type fitted with spliced shackles, Coleman hooks, or snaps. No hand-tied buoy mooring lines will be permitted.

Any violations of the foregoing regulations, rules, and standards will be submitted to the Board of Directors of Buena Vista Club, who will be sole judge of said violations, and if said violations are consistently repeated the Board of Directors of Buena Vista Club will have the right to revoke the permit for pier, boat platform, boat lift or buoy involved, and to have the same removed at the owner’s expense.