Can An Hoa Claim A House That Existed Before The Development Even Was Built?

My stepfather bought his house around 22 years ago. We live in a rural part of Ohio and there was no nearby properties, and he owned a few acres surrounding the house as well. Within the last years, more McMansion type houses and developments have been popping up. One began to be built behind our property and adjacent to it. They even started to build onto some of his property and he had to have a conversation with his lawyer with whomever was handling the construction. They stayed put in the area they owned and the houses are now lived in by multiple families.

A few months ago he gets a letter saying the HOA of the development has placed a lien on the house due to unpaid fees. He never agreed to being in their HOA nor is he inside their development. He does not abide by any rules and has never had communication. He believes this is unfair as he never agreed to be part of the HOA nor is he even inside their loop of the culdesac. They are the ones that came after him. If he bought the house inside the development, yes that is an agreement to HOA. However, his house was built in the 1970s.

Should he be getting a lawyer? He feels helpless to this HOA and they continue to fine us for things they see on our property. We just want to live a rural life with our barn and acres, not be harassed by these people.

UPDATE: thank you all for the advice!!! i told him the main repeated points in the comments and i believe he will looking at all prior documents and getting a lawyer