An Ahwatukee homeowners association backed away from a new parking policy after an overflow crowd packed a Thursday night board meeting.
The Foothills Club West HOA meeting drew angry residents who objected to rules that would have changed how people use garages, driveways, streets, and visitor parking, according to Arizona’s Family.
The proposed policy was set to take effect in the coming weeks.
At the start of the meeting, the board voted quickly and unanimously to rescind the new rules and return to the old ones.
The Rules Reached Garages And Visitors
Among the proposed changes, homeowners would have had to register vehicles with the HOA every year, including make, model, and license plate. The policy also would have required at least two days’ notice if five or more visitor cars were expected at one home.
Residents also objected to a rule requiring people to park in their garages before using the driveway or street. Arizona’s Family reported that an outside towing company would have been hired to enforce the new rules.
The HOA Said The Policy Was Included By Mistake
A representative for the HOA management company said the parking rules were intended for some sub associations but were included in the master parking policy because of a clerical error.
The Foothills Club West community page lists regular monthly board meetings at the Foothills Club West Clubhouse, with optional Zoom attendance available.
Some board members told Arizona’s Family that artificial intelligence was used during the process of creating the rules. Board member Richard Lake said he had warned that homeowners would push back if the policy moved forward without more input.
The Meeting Stayed Heated After The Vote
Some residents called for the board president, and even the full board, to resign or face recall.
Three Phoenix police officers came to the clubhouse after a homeowner got face to face with the board president during a heated exchange, according to Arizona’s Family.
Board President William Atkins later told the station that mistakes were made and that communication with homeowners needs to improve. He also said he did not intend to resign.
Arizona Parking Rules Can Be Complicated
Parking disputes in Arizona can depend on whether roads are public or private, when a community’s governing documents were recorded, and whether members voted to keep roadway authority.
Arizona law says newer planned communities generally lose authority over public roadways after declarant control ends. Older communities that regulated public roadways had until June 30, 2025, to hold a membership vote on whether to keep that authority.
That state law issue is separate from the immediate Foothills Club West result. The new parking policy was rescinded, and the board is now facing a larger trust problem over how the proposal reached homeowners in the first place.