Scoop From the Community
An IATeam Update, Meeting with Community Manager - Part One:
On Monday, November 3rd, members of the IATeam met with K. Hovnanian®/ Associa’s community manager (Manager) to discuss various issues that had been recently brought to our attention.
At the beginning, the Manager raised concern about the activities of FS Community Voices (FSCV). She stated that a number of residents who regularly share the commentary and articles presented here on our Resident Only Facebook page, had expressed their feelings that the FSCV is an organization with a hateful message and seeks to divide the community. I reassured the Manager that this is far from our agenda and clarified why we even exist.
For the majority of those residents who have or continue to participate in the FSCV mission, we do so as concerned residents who have found issues that have the potential for financial implications for all once K. Hovnanian® transitions the ownership of community assets to the residents.
For each of us who have volunteered hundreds of hours to research and catalogue incomplete and defective construction work, work done out of specification and even items completely ignored such as the missing root barriers currently being addressed through our efforts with Berkeley County, we do so out of concern that we will have a well-constructed and maintained community that performs as designed and advertised.
Our mission which is clearly stated in our banner at the top of both our website and Facebook page declares, we exist “to ensure a fair and equitable transition of the HOA from Builder to the Homeowners”. That’s it! For those who have difficulty accepting our mission, please keep an open mind as we continue to represent the best interests of all who reside here.
The Team reiterated that had K. Hovnanian® or its ownership controlled HOA Board of Directors been responsive regarding significant issues brought to its attention along the way rather than ignoring these inquiries or concerns, it would have been very unlikely that FSCV would even exist.
To that end, the IATeam once again expressed its willingness to meet with management and begin a long overdue dialogue that could be very productive in addressing the plethora of poorly performing and in some cases dangerous conditions that exist within the community. The Manager assured us that she would once again bring up our request at this coming Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting.
Please watch for Part Two of our meeting with the Manager which will be posted later this week. It will cover a discussion regarding a number of recent slips and falls that have taken place within Phases 6, 7 and 8 and what was promised to remediate the dangers. We will also present newly discovered information that has cost implications being paid for from our HOA fees. Stay tuned.
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10/30/2025
Go to “Infrastructure & Assessment” page and see Tim Trayner’s Person to Person email dated Oct. 17, 2025 to Berkeley County Director of Planning & Zoning
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10/21/2025
In response to a question posed by a resident, Denise Matthews:
“Tim,
Thank you. My observation and question...
As a fairly new resident of Four Seasons, I don't have a complete history of the builder’s repeated purchase of adjoining land with intent of additional home construction within our FS community beyond what was originally presented at our time of purchase.
Do we as residents have legal rights or recourse regarding this expansion, particularly since the added homes will surely place additional strain, maintenance and financial burden on home owners for amenities designed to accommodate a specific number?
Is it your opinion or understanding we should consult with legal counsel or county planning authorities to better understand the developer’s rights vs. ours as homeowners in consideration of Khov's less than transparent actions?
It seems we've been unable to enjoin many to any great degree.”
Denise Matthews
Tim Traynor’s Response (Infrastructure Assessment Team - IATeam):
“Denise... thank you for the question. I am not an attorney, but the research done by our various FSCV teams has revealed the following. There is no recourse over the declarant, in this case KHOV, when it comes to their actions. The applicable CCR’s clearly state that they can make up the rules anytime they choose until they have transitioned control over to the homeowners.
South Carolina is woefully weak when it comes to homeowner’s rights prior to this event and we only have an omnibus or information officer at the State level who records our objections or concerns. This adjunct has no authority to compel a fair or balanced resolution for actions taken by the declarant under the State statutes.
Having said that, there is one opportunity we as non-voting members of the developer/ builder’s-controlled HOA will have and that will be at the time we negotiate our transition of control from KHOV’s ownership and obligations of the common amenities and land that we will inherit. This is why our small group of residents formed FSCV and have been collecting data over these past years to bring forth any deficiencies in KHOV’s implementation of its permitted responsibilities.
To date, we have uncovered numerous areas of concern and have requested that KHOV address them prior to transition. Their response has not been encouraging, quite the opposite. There has been a pretty well-defined reaction by ownership and its managers that have involved intimidation both physical and legal, a confluence of misdirection, and a general lack of transparency when confronted with the facts on the ground.
I point to a recent example of a response to a question posed to KHOV’s Board of Director’s at last year’s annual meeting. Mr. Steven Baker, its land manager, told the community in attendance that KHOV was not obligated to install the root barriers required by Berkeley County’s Streetscape ordinance. When Mr. Baker was asked to further explain his claim, he shut down communication and told the resident he would no longer speak with him. He walked away mumbling that he had a family affair to attend limiting his time.
However, he did not leave the ballroom for some time after making this statement nor has he responded to numerous email asking for a follow-up.
This led to the Infrastructure Assessment Team (IATeam), residents tasked with researching such erroneous claims, to act. Berkeley County’s Planning Department was contacted and agreed with the IATeam that KHOV must install the root barriers along with several hundred missing streetscape trees prior to it being granted a final occupancy certificates for Phases 6 through 10.
For those living in Phases 6, 7 and 8, you are witnessing the results of that requirement as KHOV attempts to comply. To understand what type of financial exposure the residents might inherit over time, The IATeam did a preliminary estimate and it was their opinion that this expense if left unattended could cost residents in excess of $1,000,000.
Another note that raises concern is that by KHOV’s own admission, they did not comply with these Berkeley County requirements in Phases 1 through 5. This will be a topic to be brought forward at time of transition.”
Tim
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5/3/2025
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR OWN WAY
Hello Fellow Homeowners...
As we move steadily toward the transition to a resident-owned community, it is essential that each of us take the time, in our own capacity, to identify and document any areas that require correction or remediation.
Please remember that our focus is on infrastructure and common areas—specifically, as well as any concerns outside of individual homes and personal property lines. These may include, but are not limited to, raised sidewalks, misaligned manhole covers, drainage issues, or any other elements that appear out of place or not in compliance with expected standards.
Community Voices will serve as the central repository for this information. We will compile and regularly update a comprehensive report that will be submitted to Associa. This ensures that KHOV is made fully aware of the necessary corrections and can address these deficiencies before the official transition takes place.
To report any concerns or observations, please send detailed information, including location and description, to fscommunityvoices@gmail.com
It is in the community’s best interest to ensure that any deficiencies are addressed by the builder now, thereby reducing potential financial responsibilities for residents in the future.
Although we still have time before the transition, staying proactive will help ensure that Four Seasons remains a well-maintained and desirable place to live for all current and future residents.
Thank you on behalf of the community,
Harvey Drill
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