Revised Lawn Policy incorporaating FL Statute changes

In an effort to ensure we are meeting the new Florida Statute requirements, the Board of Directors has adopted an amended Lawn Policy incorporating the new standards for Florida-Friendly Landscaping. While we have been approving this type of landscaping for some time now, our documents did not reflect this recent change. Registered users can click on the following link to viw the document on our website:

http://westlakevillagehoa.com/modules.php?name=Documents&doc=Doc297.pdf

With thanks to Pete Mansour for his time and effort amending our rules, it is presented below:

WESTLAKE VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC ARCHITECTURAL POLICY LAWNS AND OTHER LANDSCAPING

This policy implements Article VIII, Section Seven, Paragraph 1 of the Protective Restrictions to set standards for lawns in Westlake Village. Section Seven, Paragraph 1 is quoted in part:

"All lots, together with the exterior of all improvements (if any) located thereon, shall be maintained in a neat and attractive condition by their respective Owners. Such maintenance shall include, but shall not be limited to, painting, repairing, replacing and caring for roofs, screens, windows, gutters, downspouts, building surfaces, trees, shrubs, walks and other exterior improvements. Each owner shall be responsible for maintaining that portion of a street used as his yard which lies between a Lot and the paved street in the same manner as if said Owner owned it ... "

This policy also affirms the support of the Association for efforts by the State of Florida, other governmental agencies and district water resource boards to promote the use of alternate landscaping to conserve water resources.

Acceptable landscaping encompasses defined shrubbery and flower beds, lawns, hedges and Florida-friendly landscaping.

DEFINITIONS

1. LAWN - The lawn is considered that portion of the property that has been planted or seeded in grass. Lawn grasses are routinely mowed to maintain a short height. All areas of a lot not designated as traditional shrubbery or flower beds, hedges or Florida-friendly landscape areas shall be considered lawn areas.

2. XERISCAPING - See Florida-Friendly Landscaping below.

3. LAWN GRASS – The following are deemed as acceptable lawn grasses for use in Westlake Village and are pre-approved for use without the consent of the Architectural Committee.

St. Augustine (except Roselawn)
Argentina Bahia
Improved Bermuda (excluding common or Wild Bermuda)
Zoysia
Winter ryegrass (used as a temporary Winter-season grass

Lot owners may request approval from the Architectural Committee to use other grasses commercially available and sold as lawn grasses. Written documentation of the quality and durability of theses grasses is required. Varieties of grasses that do not meet the above requirements or for which specific approval has not been granted shall be considered to be weed grasses and are unacceptable for lawn grasses.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC ARCHITECTURAL POLICY LAWNS AND OTHER LANDSCAPING

4. FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING – quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, are adaptable to local conditions, and are drought tolerant. The principles of such landscaping include planting the right plant in the right place, efficient watering, appropriate fertilization, mulching, attraction of wildlife, responsible management of yard pests, recycling yard waste, reduction of stormwater runoff, and waterfront protection. Additional components include practices such as landscape planning and design, soil analysis, the appropriate use of solid waste compost, minimizing the use of irrigation, and proper maintenance.

Lot owners must submit plans for Florida-friendly landscaping to the Architectural Committee for approval and documentation showing that the shrubs, ground covers, grasses and other plantings are designated as Florida-friendly by an appropriate governmental or horticultural organization.
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STANDARDS

These standards apply to all areas of a lot. The area routinely evaluated by the Architectural Committee is from the house to the property lines on the side of the house and the area located between the curb of the street and the front of the house. This includes the area (median) between the street and the sidewalk. These are those areas that can be seen from the street. The Committee may also evaluate and enforce these standards to other areas of a lot upon the written complaint from another homeowner.

LAWNS

Lawns shall meet the standard of "neat and attractive" if substantially all of the owner’s lawn is covered in one of the above listed grasses, or another grass approved by the Architectural Committee, in dense growth. Bare areas, areas of sparse growth and areas with growths of weeds or weed grasses are not considered to be covered with grass for purposes of meeting the "substantially all" standard.

This standard shall not apply to portions of a lawn that have recently been plugged, seeded or planted. The homeowner has the responsibility to water, fertilize and take any other measures to insure that the plugged, sodded or planted lawn meets the "substantially all" standard in a reasonable period of time.

Plugs must be place no further than 18 inches apart for jumbo plugs or 12 inches apart for regular plugs. Exceptions may be granted by the Committee.

Rye grass may be used to meet the "neat and attractive" standard during the winter months in cases where a Lot owner determines that it may be more difficult to grow one of the permanent type lawn grasses. When Rye grass is used, weeds must be killed prior to seeding and the seed must be evenly spread over all affected areas so as to give a "neat and attractive" appearance. The use of Rye grass does not reduce the requirement that weed grasses and weeds must be removed and bare areas covered in grass. Those owners who use Rye grass to meet the "substantially all" standard of coverage must plug or sod with one of the above listed grasses by March 31st of each year.

4. If one area of the lawn is bare and/or in weeds or weed grasses the whole lawn does not meet the "substantially all" standard.

Sidewalks, driveways and curb lines must be edged, lawn areas must be kept neat by regular mowing.

Homeowners are encouraged to periodically treat lawns for weeds, insects and lawn diseases to promote a neat and attractive appearance. Routine watering and fertilization are encouraged to promote healthy lawns.

FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING, SHRUBBERY AND FLOWER BEDS, HEDGES

All designated areas shall be maintained free of weeds and the intrusion of lawn grasses.

Shrubbery, hedges and trees shall be kept trimmed in such a manner as to present a pleasing appearance and not present obstacles to passers-by or vehicles.

All dead vegetation must be removed.

COMMENTS

Given the availability of reclaimed water in Westlake Village, lawns and landscaping are able to be provided adequate irrigation to maintain them in a neat and attractive manner in spite of restrictions that may be imposed on other water sources.

Homeowners may substitute traditional landscaping and/or Florida-Friendly landscapes as alternatives to the planting of traditional lawn grasses. Landscape plans must be submitted to the Architectural Committee for review and approval. Plans should include a plot plan showing the area to be included and a list of the plantings that will be used and their arrangement in a landscape area.

All lot owners are reminded that, as required by the Covenants, all significant changes to the landscaping layout or composition must be submitted to the Architectural Committee for approval before work begins.

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors: October 13, 2009

Truck Rule amendment to be voted on by membership at annual meeting

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Your annual meeting package was just approved and will be in your mailboxes shortly. In it you will find the standard annual meeting documents PLUS an amendment to the overnight truck parking rules.

***Let me be perfectly clear - the Board, as a whole, does not have an opinion on this matter and will continue to enforce the current restriction or the new restriction, whichever happens to be in force at the time.***

With that said, I will include below the final text of the amendment as approved by our legal counsel and the Board of Directors. It will be the duty of the incoming Board, should this amendment garner the necessary support of residents, to draft a set of additional definitions, i.e. rules, and solicit resident input and critique of those rules for final adoption. This will be in similar fashion to our current "Fence" Policy and "Lawn & Other Landscaping" Policy. Finer restrictions such as height, lighting, size, etc, of allowed trucks MAY be regulated by those rules. This is both legal, per continuing precedent and our lawyer, and within the powers of the Board. This will allow future Boards to adapt with changing times....which our documents have NOT allowed us to do.

Here is the text of the approved amendment you will be voting on. The bold language in red is the amended language:

"ARTICLE VIII, MAINTENANCE AND USE RESTRICTIONS TO SINGLE FAMILY LOTS
SECTION EIGHT. OTHER USES

3. Parking

a. No trucks, buses, boats, travel trailers, boat trailers, mobile homes, motor homes, recreational vehicles, vans (other than those used primarily to carry passengers), box vans, or other types of trailers or commercial vehicles shall be permitted to park overnight on a Lot, or in the streets abutting a lot, unless in an enclosed garage. For purposes of this subsection, the definitions as adopted by the Board of Directors, as amended from time to time, shall be controlling.

b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pickup trucks used primarily to carry passengers are allowed to be kept in the community and parked overnight outside an enclosed garage. Pickup trucks which display or are equipped with any commercial markings, signs, displays, equipment, inventory or apparatus or which otherwise indicate a commercial or business use such as those which carry tools, equipment, storage boxes, racks, inventory, cargo, or other material used in commerce; which are equipped with camper tops or which have more than four wheels are prohibited from parking overnight outside an enclosed garage."

October happenings

1. Our Annual Meeting is coming up and the ballot packages will be going out soon.
2. GOOD NEWS - Our annual assessments will be staying the same for 2010! This is a result of a stagnant CPI indicator, indicating consumer prices have come down overall.
3. Our Office admin, Rosemary Lehner, is on the mend from her accident and we can't wait for her to get back! She provides us with weekly updates and from her communications, she is well ahead of her rehab schedule! Thanks for your understanding with our reduced hours. Kudos to Pete Mansour and Susie Kaiser for keeping our affairs in order while Rosemary is out.
4. We're having a Halloween Party on 11/24! Bring a dish and a drink and enjoy the night with your neighbors.

Enjoy your new playground!

I want to extend a hearty THANK YOU to the many volunteers who gave up their Saturday to install our new playground in the park. Spurred on by coffee, donuts, water, and pizza, we were able to assemble the playground in 1 day! I have a whole new appreciation for playgrounds...our vendor, Carl from REP Services, and installer, Doug, also went above and beyond and made this a less expensive possibility!

We are just waiting for the concrete to dry in and we'll mulch and be ready for kids!

You should also know your Director of Building and Grounds, Jim Brasby, played an instrumental role in setting up the area, dealing with all our vendors, and even gave up HIS saturday to help out. The next time you see him, please let him know how much you appreciate his efforts!

Our Board meeting is Tues Oct 13 @ 7p at the Clubhouse. Pls stop by and watch us in action. We also are accepting applicants for our open Driector positions...pls consider donating your time for this worthy cause...