Peace flag defender sparks online debate: The Ridge at Eagle Crest bans all flag displays but the Stars and Stripes

(Update: adding comment from residents, former HOA president)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Eagle Crest area west of Redmond is home to seven neighborhoods' homeowners associations, one of which recently sparked debate by moving to ban the display outside homes of all flags except the US flag.

The Ridge at Eagle Crest Owners Association enacted the rule at a board meeting on April 25, sparking an online debate on the matter begun by one resident who would like to keep his "peace flag" on display.

Ken Bauman noted on his Nextdoor post of the flag outside his home and about the situation that the HOA's Architectural Review Committee made the decision - three of whom don't live at Eagle Crest - and that homeowners who do not take down the non-US flags on display could face a fine.

Bauman said Monday, "What's upsetting to me, because flags are, you know, they're a form of personality and they make people happy to wave their favorite flag."

Bauman received a letter form the Ridge at Eagle Crest HOA, saying his peace flag needs to be taken down by May 14th.

"A lot of them are, you know, seasonal flags, college flags, mine's a peace flags," he said. "Some people fly military flags because they're proud of their service in the military and I do not like a blanket no on just every flag."

Bauman has displayed his peace flag for seven years, but now he faces a fine of $25 if it's not down by the May deadline - $100 if it's not removed by the June 30 deadline.

Only American flags can continue to fly in the neighborhood.

Former Eagle Crest HOA president and current resident Robert Sharp said, "I must say, all of the neighbors I've spoken to in the last few weeks have felt really bad about the decision to ban flags in the neighborhood."

Sharp and Bauman say they've spoken to more than 75 residents and haven't found any with complaints about flags on display around the neighborhood.

Bauman said, "What's negative about a peace flag? You know, it makes people happy, makes people smile when they see it."

Bauman shared his story on a social media and it drew more than 200 comments expressing frustration with the ban on decorative flags. One commenter said, "The RECOA president and the ARC chair stated that because we are approaching election season, they felt the need to enforce the flag ban."

Bauman believes the committee is justifying the decision based on other HOAs in Central Oregon having a flag policy. The decision was made by the RECOA Architectural Review Committee, otherwise known as ARC, which is separate from the governing board of the HOA.

Sharp said, "They are a committee of unelected people, largely consisting of people who don't live in Eagle Crest, and they've chosen to make an arbitrary decision of a blanket denial on all flags other than the current U.S. national flag."

Bauman and Sharp said they would like to see a review process, so neighbors can have a say in the policy.

Sharp said, "It would be really possible for them to say, 'Okay, every home can fly a single flag,' place a maximum size on it - just place sensible restrictions."

Bauman added, "I'd like the ability to wave a flag, and for that committee to come up with a solution that's going to make us all happy."

NewsChannel 21 reached out to the Ridge at Eagle Crest HOA and the Architectural Review Committee for a comment or interview, but calls were not returned.