Homeowner’s massive 60,000-light Christmas display dubbed a safety hazard by HOA

Neil Heuer, a North Carolina homeowner, is in a dispute with his community’s homeowners’ association over his elaborate holiday displays, which feature more than 60,000 lights, animatronics and music. Neighbours say the shows disrupt the area and make them feel unsafe; the conflict has prompted a hearing, a lawsuit and proposed rule changes that could prevent future displays.

Heuer says he has spent more than $70,000 on the displays over five years and argues the dispute is connected to disagreements over golf-course spending and an anonymous newsletter critical of the HOA. He says the course’s annual upkeep was estimated at about $8,000 but later put closer to $16,000. The article reports that the HOA’s lawyer objected to inviting unknown members of the public into the subdivision.