The Declaration of Covenants, Restrictions and Easements for Afton Downs are the legal documents which govern all properties in the subdivision. The Architectural Control Committee makes sure all homeowners abide by those covenants and maintain their properties.

As fee simple properties, all homeowners are responsible for the exterior maintenance of their properties, which includes their yards, shrubberies, and the areas between the driveways.

If you have any questions about the below topics, please send an e-mail to the ACC at aftondowns@gmail.com.

ACC Topics

• Read Before You Paint
• Painting Tips
• Maintenance Charts
• Overall Property Maintenance
• Yard Maintenance
• Construction Debris
• Parking
• Motorcycles, Boats, Trailers, etc.
• Grills and Open Flames
• Satellite Dishes
• Pets

Sanitation Topics

• Trash
• Yard Debris
• Recycling
• Trash Lids and Liners
• Other Items for Pick-up

Before you pick up that paint brush or order that new vinyl siding, we ask that you contact the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) to get an approved color chart.

It is important that we adhere to the Afton Downs color palettes so that our neighborhood looks its best. Our neighborhood’s visual style is built from colors, imagery, layout, and design. All of these aspects help create a distinctive Afton Downs style. By employing the approved color schemes, we create a uniform community appearance that helps differentiate Afton Downs from other townhome subdivisions in Smyrna.

If you would like to paint your house, trim, or fascia a color that is not approved by the board, we will be glad to work on a compromise with you. The ACC’s ultimate goal is for every home in Afton Downs to have a clean and neat appearance, while maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood’s style. This will ensure that all of our property values will continue to increase.

The painting of the exterior of homes must be approved, in writing, by the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) when a color change is desired. An Afton Downs approved color chart is available for you to choose paint colors for the exterior of your home. The color chart also offers suggestions as to which colors to use on trim, siding, shutters, and doors. All colors should blend with those nearby and with others in the neighborhood. You may have noticed that some exterior colors clash with others nearby; those colors were not approved by the ACC.

Here are a few painting tips:

• Trim color includes fascia and all trim boards. (Ex: trim around windows, gutters and downspouts, stair rails, porch rails, stair pickets, and porch ceiling) These should be painted in white, beige, or light gray.
• Steps should be painted the same color as the siding.
• Garage doors should match the color of your siding, unless otherwise approved by the ACC.
• Front door and shutters should be painted in the same color. These should be painted in darker colors.
• Do not forget to paint the sides of your unit (anything under your roof is your responsibility). The sides of units that abut each other are often forgotten.
• Rear of units should be painted at the same time as the rest of the unit.

It is the responsibility of the ACC to enforce our neighborhood’s restrictive covenants and protect each homeowner’s investment. The restrictive covenants, which we all must adhere to and which is supported by Georgia Law, make it mandatory to maintain our properties and the guidelines set forth by Afton Downs. The ACC will enforce compliance to the rules of the neighborhood and will advise each homeowner of any existing problems and refer all non-compliance to the Afton Downs corporate attorney for legal action, if necessary.

The process concerning notifications of maintenance and other ACC business has changed. To keep the community better informed and involved, the following process concerning notifications of maintenance and other ACC business has been implemented.

• A chart will be forwarded monthly to all homeowners to inform the community of properties that are in non-compliance of the restrictive covenants and the law. The chart will consist of phases progressively leading to legal action.
• Letters will be mailed homeowners outlining existing problems on their property and requesting that they contact the ACC if these problems cannot be resolved immediately. The ACC will attempt to work with homeowners during all phases to offer solutions and referrals. (Properties will not be listed on the chart at that time.)
• If the ACC has not been contacted within a two-week period of sending the letter, the property and issue shall be placed in Phase I on the chart. Phase I will involve a follow-up letter to those homeowners who have not resolved the problem(s) or contacted the ACC for assistance.
• If the ACC has not been contacted within a two-week period of moving to Phase I, the property and issue shall be placed in Phase II on the chart.Phase II will consist of a warning of the existing situation and a plea to resolve the issue or, at a minimum, discuss it with the ACC.
• If the ACC has not been contacted within a two-week period of moving to Phase II, the property with documentation will be listed in Phase III and delivered to the attorney for legal action. Phase III shall be a final warning of the existing problem(s) and the homeowner’s failure to comply in resolving the issue.
• Phase IV shall represent all cases being handled by the ADHA and its attorney(s).

We hope these procedures will encourage homeowners to take responsibility for their property and allow for positive and effective communication between the homeowners and the ACC. By working together, we can maintain the beauty and peace in our neighborhood.

Minimum building and maintenance standards are established for residential property to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of community residents. It is the responsibility of homeowners to ensure that their property meets these minimum standards. All residential units should be free of leaking plumbing pipes and hazardous electrical conditions. Deteriorated roofs and broken windows should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Chipping paint on the exterior walls or woodwork should also be repaired.

The ACC requires that all front yard areas be landscaped and maintained in a neat, orderly manner. Yard maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner and includes the maintenance of any and all front or side yards belonging to the owner’s property. It is advised that you trim “out of control” tree branches. Please note that overgrown and dry weeds, bushes, trees, grass, and vegetation are unsightly and can pose both fire and safety hazards. Clotheslines in the front yard or next to the street are not allowed.

Junk, litter, and debris cannot be left in the yard. Instead, it must be disposed of promptly and properly. This includes junk auto parts, appliances, furniture, building and/or landscaping material, tires, paper, cardboard, plastics, tree trimmings, fallen tree limbs, or any other items that have been discarded. If you have construction debris, stumps, or large tree limbs requiring disposal, be sure that the cost of removal is negotiated in the contractor’s price. Please note that the city will not pick up old carpeting or carpet padding.

There are no common areas in Afton Downs. Each parking space belongs to someone in Afton Downs. Please refrain from parking in or blocking someone else’s driveway without permission. Our covenants, as well as Smyrna City Ordinance, prohibit parking on lawns or grass or in the center of the cul-the-sacs in the complex. Our streets are owned and maintained by the City, so vehicles inappropriately parked are subject to citations by the police.

No house trailers or mobile homes, campers or other habitable motor vehicles, school buses, trucks or commercial vehicles over one ton capacity, and/or boats or boat trailers shall be kept, stored, or parked overnight either on any street in Afton Downs or on any lot, except within enclosed garages. This applies also to motorcycles.

Cooking grills or any open flame on decks above the first floor is prohibited by the City Fire Marshall. Grills in the yard must be at least 10 feet away from the house.

City ordinance requires that satellite dishes be located in the backyard or on the backside of the roof. If necessary, the Smyrna City Marshall will help you in selecting a suitable location for your dish in order to comply with all rules and regulations of the city and federal laws.

Smyrna’s leash law requires that dogs be on a leash at all times when outside a fenced area. Dogs may not be under voice control. Also, please do not allow your pets to use the neighbor’s property as a bathroom. Be a considerate neighbor, and clean up after your pet!

Cats are not allowed to roam or be on a neighbor’s roof, yard, or property. Please refrain from feeding stray and/or alley cats.

Garbage is collected on Mondays and Thursdays. Please do not put loose items in your trash can, as these items have a tendency to get scattered or dropped by the collectors.

Items that do not fit into the underground can should be placed by the curb early on the day of pick-up or late the night before. This will keep the neighborhood from looking cluttered between collection days.

For more information, please contact The Public Works Department (2190 Atlanta Road or 770-431-2850).

Yard Debris is picked up on Mondays. Plastic bags may not be used for grass or leaves. Please use large brown paper bags for your leaves, as mandated by federal Law. These bags can be purchased at any home improvement store or from the City of Smyrna. Generally the trash truck comes very early, so we suggest you put these bags out late on Sunday evenings.

For more information, please contact The Public Works Department (2190 Atlanta Road or 770-431-2850).

All recycled items are collected on Friday by Browning Ferris Industrial (BFI) under a contract with the City. You must use the blue BFI recycling bin and place it by the curb for collection. Remove all recycling bins from the curbside no later than Monday evening, as dictated by city ordinance. Blue recycling bins are to be stored out of sight between pick-up days and may not be used to hold regular trash.

For a list of items accepted for recycling and instructions on special processing and handling of paint and paint cans, batteries, and oil, please call the Smyrna Recycling Center (645 Smyrna Hill Drive or 770-431-2863 or 404-794-1145). Please use your City ID card when taking items directly to the center.

New underground trash liners or lids can be obtained by calling City Sanitation (770-431-2850). The City will deliver your new item and charge it to your water bill. Lids cost approximately $10, and liners cost $13.

The City of Smyrna will pick up large appliances ( i.e. refrigerators, stoves, etc.) and furniture for a nominal disposal fee. The pick-up must be scheduled by calling the Sanitation Department (770-319-5385). The item(s) must be placed at the curb on the day scheduled for collection. Please do not place items on the curb ahead of time, as this makes the neighborhood look untidy.