“No.”
The foreman looked uncomfortable.
The homeowner pointed.
“That is my driveway.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you have already blocked my car.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Why?”
He lifted the work order slightly.
“HOA project.”
The homeowner almost laughed.
“The HOA has no project on my driveway.”
The foreman looked toward the curb.
“You’ll probably need to talk to the association representative.”
“What association representative?”
Before he could answer, a familiar voice came from the sidewalk.
“That would be me.”
The homeowner turned.
The HOA president was walking toward them carrying a clipboard in one hand and a stainless-steel travel mug in the other.
She wore white pants and a bright pink floral blouse with oversized coral flowers across the sleeves. Sunglasses rested on top of her blonde hair.
She looked entirely too pleased for seven thirty in the morning.
The homeowner stared.
“You.”
The HOA president smiled.
“Good morning.”
“No.”
The president stopped.
“No?”
“No good morning.”
The homeowner pointed toward the yellow posts.
“Explain this.”
The HOA president looked toward the work crew as though admiring landscaping.
“These are parking-control barriers.”
“I can see what they are.”
“Then I’m not sure what part requires explanation.”
The homeowner stepped closer.
“They’re across my driveway.”
“Yes.”
“You ordered twenty-five steel bollards across my private driveway?”
“Twenty-five was the approved quantity.”
The homeowner stared.
“Approved by who?”
“The association.”
“Wrong answer.”
The president’s smile thinned.
“The board authorized a vehicle-control project last month.”
“Across my house?”
“Along the community frontage.”
“This is not community frontage.”
The HOA president lifted her clipboard.
“You’ve been told repeatedly that the first portion of this drive falls within the neighborhood streetscape easement.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The homeowner pointed toward her house.
“I have the survey.”
“And the HOA has the governing documents.”
“The governing documents do not give you ownership of my driveway.”
“They provide authority over exterior vehicle-access areas affecting community safety.”
The homeowner looked toward the foreman.
“Stop drilling.”
The HOA president immediately said:
“Keep working.”
The foreman froze between the two women.
The homeowner’s expression changed.
“This is my property.”
The president tapped her clipboard.
“We have a municipal permit.”
The homeowner said nothing for a moment.