Interesting thread. I was going to chime in since I do some CAD drafting work on the side for some contractors I know. Used to work for an architect several years ago, but all commercial and no residential. Anyway, the advice on sketching was pretty much what I would have suggested so I didn’t.
As for the current issue, if the design standards are not clearly defined in anything you signed off on, you might have a chance, especially if there are other homes that look “worse”. Sounds like the decisions are left to the board and since those positions change, what is allowed changes as well. Sound about right?
If that is the case and the board would have to approve it, you may not have many options. Frankly, this is why I couldn’t bring myself to live in a development with an HOA or similar group overseeing everything. But, I understand why people do.
In my experience, meeting arguments with facts, leaving the emotional component out, works best. “You denied my design because of xxxxxx, but this home clearly has xxxxxx in it’s design and it was allowed. Can you provide me with a logical reason why mine was turned down and this one was not?” Most likely they will come up with a BS answer, which, if you are savvy enough, can be refuted in the back and forth. May not work, but I always opt for the direct, logical and practical over emotional at first. If their answer is basically “because we said so” then you can get nasty.
