I appreciate what he is trying to do, and Homeowners Associations can be overbearing, but some rules actually do have a purpose. He moved into that neighborhood to be in a nice environment. That environment is disturbed if someone turns their garage into a woodshop or furniture factory. The fact that he is a veteran or is making furniture for military families in need should not have a bearing on this. It should not give him special status.
I would have added one issue. It either makes noise and a mess outside the garage or not. If the former, he should stop.
There are churches and other places in a community where he might continue without disturbing the community.
My hats off to you as you clearly believe in truth in labeling.
But the fact that he is not selling the furniture should.
According to the article, someone has complained that he is "producing odors and noxious fumes," basically the same complaints someone might make if the next door neighbor smokes. Unless he is running a large scale operation, some drying varnish is not going to reasonably affect any neighbors.
If he is not running a commercial business and the "odors and noxious fumes" do not rise to the level that someone could successfully sue him as a public nuisance (generally pig farms and waste dumps) then it is his business what he does in his own home.
Of course, that is why I refuse to live in a subdivision with a homeowners association or in a house within pissing distance of a neighbor.
It hardly sounds like this guy has a 'factory' It is at a hobbyist level. Heck, one can complain about bbq (smokey air and odors) just as much. HOA's get more than their share of power hungry liberal/progressives who want them to obey them no matter what. The HOA needs to stand down - this guy is doing it for a good cause - it appears the HOA is anti-military.
I agree. At first I almost went into default mode for stories like this, that say the Veteran is almost always in the right, but not this one. If he’s really that good, to make furniture, he should be able to rent or borrow space in a facility that is away from private residences. Not everybody wants to hear all that noise after working hours or during the weekend, regardless of the reason. Last week, there was another Vet pressing his luck. He has 14 (FOURTEEN DUCKS!) white Companion ducks, and he is being pressured to get rid of them or some. Unless he’s on a ranch, 14 ducks or geese is too much. He is pushing the courtesy too far. I’m sure I will hear from those who disagree, as is their choice.