It was just a question. I know that HOAs can tell people what to do with their property. However, many HOAs own substantial tracts of land in their own right.

It was just a question. I know that HOAs can tell people what to do with their property. However, many HOAs own substantial tracts of land in their own right. It could be that this rule OP describes pertains only to the HOA property and not to the private property of the homeowners.