Answer: Several years ago, I wrote a column and made reference to an Architectural Control committee which was called the "KGB" by its members. I was deluged by letters all over the country, asking me how I knew about their association.

I am opposed to the "pro-active" approach to architectural review. I have visions of men and women walking around the Association with their binoculars and clip-boards, marking down every real -- and sometimes imagined -- violation.

In my opinion -- whether legal or not -- it is not the way to treat your fellow homeowner. The Architectural Review committee serves a valuable function -- namely to assure compliance with the association documents, and to try to insure that all new structures (or installations) will comply with the guidelines within the association.

Additional, the committee should investigate complaints by neighbors, to determine if there are deviations from the standards.

However, in my opinion, the "pro-active" approach encourages neighbors to spy on one another. This is not the American way. Architectural committees have enough to do; they must establish -- with the Board's consent -- standards to be adopted within the community. They must review -- impartially -- all applications submitted by homeowners. And they must take (or recommend) action against owners who flaunt the rules.

But to wander unfettered through the community looking for rule infractions is, in my opinion, beyond the pale. If your association takes a "pro-active" approach, you may want to call a special meeting of the membership to determine if this is really the will of the majority. It is to be noted that in many situations, the committee is appointed -- not elected -- by the Board.

Architectural committees must be responsive to the owners; they should not be antagonistic to those owners.