The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has hired HR&A to design a governance model that will improve upon the Home Owner Association (HOA) structure predominant in Prince George's County, MD. Westphalia, a rural area in Prince George's County, is positioned for fast-paced residential development over the next twenty years. A 5,000 acre tract generally assembled by several developers, Westphalia would, in the normal course, be significantly maintained by a host of Home Owner Associations formed by developers to maintain key infrastructure. History has shown that at least some of the fledging Associations will be unable to meet their responsibilities, and virtually all will have difficulties coordinating their actions with those of neighboring Associations. In response, HR&A is designing a governance and administration structure that will improve upon the current decentralized HOA model and ensure an appropriate maintenance level of newly developed land. HR&A is researching current HOA models, analyzing the factors behind HOA success or failure, and assessing the advantages and disadvantages of different existing and proposed HOA models. The resulting governance structure will be a key factor in the long-term development of Westphalia.
