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- Parks Auxiliary FormedPosted on: 2004-11-29Several homeowners have volunteered to help put in plants and other 'special activities' to improve the neighborhood appearance while reducing costs to the association. These people may not have the time to participate as full members of the Parks and Grounds Committee, but they can be available for short-term events. Recently some of these volunteers helped by digging up hibiscus that were to be replaced. The plants were potted and kept in volunteers' back yards so they could be transplanted elsewhere in the spring.
If you have a green thumb (or strong back), have time available given adequate notice, and you are willing to participate in these types of activities, the Parks and Grounds Auxiliary Committee may be for you.
Interested parties can call CMSI at (281) 480-2563 or any Parks and Grounds Committee member. You'll be able to see the fruits of your labor and to save money in the process! - Drill Site UpdatePosted on: 2004-11-29In the spring of 2004, ExxonMobil considered selling the Drill Site located in Bay Oaks to a developer for new home construction. After protests by Bay Oaks residents, ExxonMobil hosted a town hall meeting, and since the meeting, they have reconsidered the possible sale.
Even though the letter of intent for the sale has formally expired, ExxonMobil continues to negotiate with the developer to reach an equitable settlement. The Community Association has been informed that ExxonMobil has made what they believe to be a fair 'final'
offer, and ExxonMobil has said they expect the negotiations to conclude soon.
Although the Community Association has gotten no official word regarding future plans for the park, all indications are that the park will not be sold for development. Based on this, the Community Association board will proceed with repairs to the facilities at the park and clean-up along the trails.
In addition, the CA board will again allow organized use of the athletic field. Residents interested in using the field for practice should contact Community Management Solutions at (281) 480-2563. - Survey Follow-upPosted on: 2004-11-29Results from the summer 2004 survey of Bay Oaks residents were reported in the last issue of the Bay Oaks Leaflet. The survey showed general satisfaction with the services provided by the Community Association. The board appreciates all comments and suggestions offered, and the board is forming plans to follow-up on many of the suggestions. Details of these plans will be announced in future Leaflet articles.
The area of the height restrictions for back yard structures was a significant departure from past survey opinions. In the 2004 survey, homeowners expressed a desire to increase the height cap by a two-to- one margin. This sentiment is a reversal of the previous margin.
Current standards restrict buildings to a maximum of eight feet.
The board wants to honor the opinion expressed in the survey; however, the standard limiting the height is a deed restriction, and the board feels a strong need to confirm this change in sentiment before taking the drastic step of revising the deed restrictions.
To confirm the desires of the community, the board will send a notice to each homeowner containing a postage-paid reply card. Each card will be numbered for control purposes, but the vote will not be recorded by home. The notice will outline potential considerations of a change based on prior comments from homeowners, both negative and positive, to aid homeowners in their decision process. The notices will be sent in January to give homeowners time to consider the proposition after the holiday rush.
Some survey respondents wanted to raise the allowed height to commercially-available play structure sizes. Play structures are available in 8, 10, 12, 14, 15-foot and taller heights. Unscrupulous area vendors advertise their structures as 'approved' by community associations, even though they have been advised that the structures exceed the height allowed. Those opposed to taller structures express privacy concerns over children standing on the top level of the structures peering over fences into the neighboring back yard and pool areas.
The 2004 survey had even stronger support for allowing higher shade structures and gazebos. Homeowners previously expressed desires for taller structures for safe installation of ceiling fans. Concerns have been expressed about the 'blocking' of neighboring view lines from taller structures.
The most frequently suggested alternate to the current restriction was 10 feet. The proposal in the January notice will include this suggestion. - Focused Audits UsedPosted on: 2004-11-29A technique used to assist in deed restriction enforcement is to conduct a compliance audit with a particular focus. This was recently done when CMSI focused on basketball goals. Most goals were found to be in compliance, but several minor violations were found. Homeowners with these problems will be getting letters asking them to make needed adjustments like replacing frayed nets, etc. In other instances, there was no record of a Home Improvement Application.
These homeowners will get an HIA and a copy of the basketball goals restrictions asking them to file the HIA and comply with the guidelines.
As a future improvement to focused audits, the board plans to announce the focus area in the Leaflet before the audit. This will allow homeowners an opportunity to make adjustments before the check by CMSI.
