LEHI -- Four property owners can now build their new homes after more than a month of being put on hold by a Lehi homeowners association.

Three-hundred construction workers had been idle because of the hold up, said Salisbury Homes spokesman Chris Salisbury at a Lehi Planning Commission work session last week in which the commission sided with the HOA. The Spring Creek Ranch HOA Architectural Committee took issue more than a month ago with the siding installed on the homes, keeping four prospective homeowners from building and halting the second phase of construction.

During a Wednesday morning phone interview, HOA representative Dave Johnson told the Daily Herald the decision-making process between the builder and the HOA couldn't be hurried.

"An HOA isn't very agile, and to turn things around at the spur of the moment is [difficult]," Johnson said. "We haven't reached an agreement and we really need to run it by the members July 13 as an agenda item."

But by Thursday morning, the HOA had already given its stamp of approval for the homes, according to a notice received by Salisbury Homes representative Michelle Armstrong. Johnson did not return calls Thursday seeking comment on the turnabout.

The Spring Creek Ranch HOA had approved 24 Salisbury Homes single-family dwellings for occupancy before the Spring Creek Ranch developer transferred HOA management to the community's residents on April 16.

The new HOA officers pointed out that the siding used in Salisbury's exterior design did not comply with the HOA's governing legal documents, called the covenants, conditions and restrictions or CC&Rs. Salisbury received a June 1 e-mail notifying him that Salisbury's Plat H had exterior material violations of the CC&Rs, and the HOA would not OK the remaining four buildings.

Since then, construction of a second Salisbury phase was halted, and without the HOA's stamp of approval, new homeowners could not receive the city's go-ahead for occupancy.

"In view of the homeowners association, the exterior material does not fit the standard of the HOA Architectural Committee," Johnson said at the commission meeting.

LP SmartSide, a pressed wood siding, did not meet the committee's interpretation of required exterior material as listed in those CC&Rs that "1. Minimum 80 percent hard surfaces on exteriors. a. Hard surfaces include brick, stucco, and rock." Salisbury says the pressed wood siding is superior to stucco.

After hearing from both sides, the Planning Commission voted with the HOA.

"This product is not listed or considered according to the document," said Commission Chairman Jason Willes. "Whether it's better or not is another issue."

• Cathy Allred can be reached at heraldextra@digis.net.

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