Ballot Boxes Give Way to Mailboxes in Roof Vote

It’s a citywide election, but there are no ballot boxes or polling places. Instead, voting will by mail during November.

It’s happening because before this community was a city, it was a collection of homes governed by the Palos Verdes Homes Assn., which was formed when the first houses were built in the area in 1923.

The association still enforces deed restrictions and architectural standards and wants to amend its basic protective restriction document so homeowners with shingle roofs will have the option of using fire-retardant roofing materials that look like wood. This requires a two-thirds vote of property owners. Current restrictions permit only wood shingles or tile and about half of the homes have shingles, the association said. The main purpose of the amendment is fire safety.

“There is no opposition to this, but there is apathy,” said association President Harry M. Brandel Jr. He said the odds of getting enough votes are “not in our favor” because people will not bother to return ballots, which must be signed in the presence of a notary, and people with tile roofs won’t think it matters to them.

There are 5,015 properties in Palos Verdes Estates and the 360-home Miraleste community in Rancho Palos Verdes also is affected.

The association is spending about $30,000 to conduct and promote the election and has hired a public relations firm. Volunteer notaries also will be provided. Ballots will be sent out Nov. 7 and are supposed to be returned by Dec. 5.

“We’ll go around door-to-door if we have to,” Brandel said.