May 2004 Pinery HOA Newsletter

	Homeowner
Published by The Pinery Homeowners’ Association, Inc. Volume 28; Issue 3

Your Attendance is Requested

PHA General Meeting
May 19, 2003
7:30 p.m.

Pinery Fire Station
Meeting Room
Hillcrest Way & N. Pinery Parkway

-AGENDA-

Update to Articles
of Incorporation
and By-Laws

Proposed Covenant Changes

Presented by:
PHA Executive Board

Complimentary Child Care provided

Light meal provided

   At the January General Meeting the community voted on a new structure for the Pinery Homeowners’ Association that more closely reflects a united community for a common goal. At that time you also approved the By-Laws for this new structure. As was promised at that January meeting, the newly formed Board went out and evaluated what was in place and got further assistance from our Legal Advisor. After much review we have developed some changes to the Articles and By-Laws that we feel are necessary. As is the structure of the new organization, your input is requested: We ask you to review these proposed changes on our Website www.pinery.org after May 1st and come to the May General Meeting prepared to discuss the changes and vote on them.
   In addition to the evaluation of the Articles and By-Laws, the PHA Board, through the Architectural Control Committee, will provide an update regarding proposed changes to the covenants at this meeting. As was outlined at the January meeting and agreed to by a majority of those in attendance, the covenants are outdated in many areas and need to be revised. We will have draft copies with examples of the proposed changes available for your review. Remember, these proposed changes are just that – proposed! We ask that you bring your opinions to the meeting, but ask that they be brief, as there will be much to discuss for all of us.
   If you have an interest in your community, you need to be in attendance on May 19 at 7:30 in the meeting room in the lower level of the Fire Station for these discussions and votes.
   The PHA Board, as well as all committees that are associated with the board are made up entirely of volunteers. Please attend the meeting with the intention of assisting those volunteers as they work for and with you to continue to improve the community we all have chosen to call home.

    This year has been abnormally dry so far, but West Nile Virus is still a concern. Good information on West Nile Virus including a checklist for your home can be found on the internet at www.fightthebite colorado.com. Homeowners can do simple things to reduce the mosquito population by minimizing the potential for standing water on your property. For example, rain gutters with leaves and debris in them provide an excellent mosquito breeding ground. At the Water District we are inspecting all of our facilities to minimize the potential for standing water. We have also had discussions with Tri-County Health regarding management of Bingham Lake. Bingham Lake is not viewed as a prime mosquito breeding ground because it has an active fish population that will feed on the mosquito larvae. However, we will lower the lake level as needed during the year, to minimize the potential for stagnant areas around the shoreline.
   We have recently completed several construction projects within the Pinery, most notably the completion of a new water main across Parker Road at North Pinery Parkway. It was noted during the recent construction that many drivers did not obey the construction traffic signs. Please be courteous to our work crews, and be alert when you see those orange construction signs. The safety of our employees and contractors is at stake.
   In mid-April we began construction of improvements at our Wastewater Treatment Plant which is west of Parker Road. This construction is focused on improvement of the treatment processes to comply with new, more stringent permit requirements in Cherry Creek; we are also expanding some parts of the plant at the same time. Construction of this phase is scheduled to take 15 months. Please be alert to construction traffic when using the Cherry Creek trailhead at the west end of North Pinery Parkway or accessing the RV lots; we have included in the construction contract periodic grading of the road to minimize the impact of construction on the other users of the road.
   Please contact our office at 303-841-2797 if you have any questions about District operations.

Many thanks to the Community Services Committee for their reaffirmation of the Pinery Homeowners’ Association support of our project. We will continue on with our goal of creating a healthy field on our site, which contains the four elements of habitat selected specifically to attract songbirds. We also appreciate the support of others and thank Christel Kozar and Brett Barber for donating fencing to protect our seedling trees from deer. Thanks, also to Daneen Harger and the Cub Scouts of Pack 649 for putting up the fencing in observance of Earth Day, April 22.
This summer we will start our plant adoption program where residents may “adopt” groups of 10-13 plants to maintain through the summer. The initial part of this obligation involves about 3 hours of work, to be completed during June, and then a weekly visit to water and keep an eye on the plants. There’s plenty of flexibility to allow for volunteers’ personal schedules and vacations, so please call me if you are interested. Ponderosa students can get community service hours to count towards graduation from participating in this program.

Trash & Recycling News
...from Elizabeth Philpy,
BFI Representative to the Pinery

It’s not too late to take advantage of our specials on roll-offs for the weekend or neighborhood cleanups. If you have a big job, such as remodeling a room in your house, getting rid of a large tree in your yard, or cleaning out the attic or garage, a roll-off container may be just what you need. Roll-offs are large temporary dumpsters. You typically see them at construction sites. Sizes range from 12, 20, 30 and 40 cubic yards. The smaller sizes are just right for those weekend projects. You can even split the cost with a neighbor by sharing the roll-off container. Please call our roll-off department at (303) 286-1200 to inquire about price and/or availability.
If you are only doing small jobs, such as throwing away some furniture you can put those items to the curb on your regular pickup day. Please call our Customer Service center at (303) 287-8043 at least the day before you plan to put out the extra trash. Customer Service will be able to schedule it for the driver and explain any costs that may be associated with the pickup. If there is a charge, you will need to have a check or money order on the door at the time of pickup.

With spring comes storms and windy days. When putting out your trash on trash day please help BFI keep your community clean by bagging your trash. Also, if you recycle and put out newspapers, please be sure to secure them by placing something heavy on top of the newspapers, like a heavy rock or even your container with your co-mingled recycle materials.

Everyone got hit pretty hard with the blizzard of 2003. If you still have tree limbs and branches to get rid of please be sure to bundle them in bundles no more than about 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length. You are allowed up to 6 bundles of branches and/or yard waste bags each week.

BFI offers trashcans at a monthly usage fee of $2.50 per each can. We bill this out annually at $30.00. BFI also has a second option. If you would like to purchase a trashcan the cost is at $85 (before tax) per can. This is a savings of $15 off the normal price. Please call our customer service department for details on how to purchase your trashcan.

PHA Note: Please remember that all trash cans are to be stored out of sight of the street.

   If any of these holidays fall on Thursday or a weekday before Thursday, your pickup for the week in which this occurs will be on Friday. Holidays that fall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will not affect your pickup day.
   If you are moving or no longer require service, please notify our office immediately so that we can stop both service and billing promptly.
   Please call 303-841-8572.

The RV lot access combinations changed on May 1, 2004! Billing for the May 1 – October 31, 2004 lease term went out the first week of April. As soon as payments are received for the lease term, new combinations are mailed to lessees. Please contact our office immediately if you didn’t receive your bill or, if you have mailed your payment in and not received your combination. Lessees bringing their payment to the office during office hours will receive the combination at that time.

All responsible pet owners regularly clean up after their animals. If this becomes a problem in a neighboring yard, we always encourage residents to have a friendly discussion, which in most cases takes care of the matter. In the event that further action is needed, Douglas County Animal Control, 303-660-7529, can visit with the homeowner to ensure the problem is corrected.
Also, failure to ‘clean up after’ is becoming an evident problem at the Bingham Lake Trail. Douglas County Parks and Recreation has thoughtfully provided bag dispensers and trash cans at the main parking lot and at the Thunderhill Road parking lot. When walking your leashed dog, please be sure to take along a bag and take care of business. Others using the trail will greatly appreciate it!

   The Pinery Homeowners’ Association has received many complaints about speeding cars and reckless driving, especially during school hours.
   One specific call came from a Timbers resident regarding the traffic on Fox Sparrow Road. The speed limit there is 25 miles per hour. Cars going too fast make it very dangerous for children waiting for school buses or walking along the road. It is important to obey the speed limit and not get impatient with those who do so.
   Please show respect and concern for the safety of our children. Be considerate, patient and please slow down.

The Parker/Franktown Boy Scout Troop 469 will be holding a benefit car wash next to the garden center on Saturday, June 5th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Parker Wal-Mart. Proceeds from the car wash will help boys attend a High Adventure trip such as Sea Base and the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Please stop by Wal-Mart on June 5th and support your local troop. The troop meets each Monday night at the Hilltop Community Church. If you need any information or would like to make a donation, please contact Karen Lowy at 303-805-7592.

Here’s an opportunity for Pinery residents to show off their classic cars! The Ponderosa High School Band Booster Club is hosting its fifth annual benefit car show on Saturday, June 12, in the parking lot of the Parker Wal-Mart. Car registration and staging will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. with trophy awards at 3 p.m. Registration is $20 per car and includes a free dash plaque and T-shirt to the first 75 entries. Gift bags will be given to all entrants. Trophies will be awarded to the best entry in the following classes: Classic, street rod, custom, bucket of bolts, kit car, new modified, motorcycle,
muscle car, and factory original. “Best of Show” and “Director’s Choice” will also be awarded. This show is open to the general public and will also feature a concession stand as well as performances by members of the Ponderosa High School Band. Sponsorships of trophies from the Parker community are being sought. The Ponderosa band program appreciates your support. Rain date is Sunday, June 15. For additional information and registration forms, please contact Bob Hammervold at 303-840-7336.

The annual Large Item Drop Off has been such a successful event; we are doing it again. Annually, we try to plan the event around everyone’s spring clean-up, “honey-do” time and the weekend after the Annual Garage Sale, so that you have a place to get rid of all those once important, now excess, items that the garbage service will not take.

Now is the time to get rid of that “old range” or other appliances/fixtures, (except refrigeration units) - old chairs, sofas, tables, metal items and things you just want to be without.

WHERE: Across Highway 83 from the North Pinery Entry at the entrance to the Water Treatment Facility*. If you know where the RV lot is, this event is adjacent to that facility. For your assistance we will place signs in strategic locations.

WHEN: From 7 AM until the bins are full or 2 PM, whichever comes first. Please note that last year the bins filled around 1:30, so get there early to ensure your load is accepted.

WHY: The Pinery Homeowners Association contracts with our trash service provider, (BFI), to rent large roll-offs. Your fees do not cover the cost of rental, so the PHA subsidizes this effort as a service to our homeowners.

WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTED: Generally most large items will be accepted, but we do reserve the right to say “NO.” All items must be placed into the dumpsters by the person(s) bringing the item to the drop area. Our volunteers will not handle loading or unloading due to insurance concerns. Nothing may be dumped onto the ground, or outside of any container!

WHAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED: Refrigeration items, (with or without Freon present), hazardous waste, paints, oils, contractor cleanup materials, garden clippings, trash, etc. We will be providing flyers for the Douglas County Household Chemical Roundups if you have any of these materials and wish to dispose of them. Also, please see the Roundup Article in this newsletter for more information on these roundups.

WHAT DOES IT COST?
PLEASE NOTE THAT All COSTS ARE PER VEHICLE, PER LOAD:

Please note that we will have applications available if you wish to join the PHA and/or our Trash Program.

* In addition to the use of their great facility, the Pinery Water District will be providing free bio solids to Pinery residents during this event if available. Therefore, now is the time to bring a load of trash and take home a load of fertilizer free of charge. Please thank our friends at the Water District for helping to keep the Pinery clean and green!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED – Food, and Drinks provided!
Please call the PHA to volunteer (303-841-8572).

Easements: The great majority of lots in Pinery filings 1-8A have ten feet (10’) of property inside the rear and side boundaries set aside as ‘Easements’. This property is set aside on the recorded plats and will appear on property surveys as such. Typical wording in Protective Covenants regarding easements is as follows:

Easements for installation and maintenance of utilities and drainage facilities are reserved as shown on the recorded plat. Within these easements, no structure, planting or other material shall be placed or permitted to remain which may damage or interfere with the installation and maintenance of utilities, or which may change the direction of flow of drainage channels in the easements. The easement of each lot and all improvements in it shall be maintained continuously by the owner of the lot, except for those improvements for which a public authority or utility company is responsible.

In addition to the above, the presence of these easements has had the effect of ensuring that spacing between houses is maintained; which is one of the elements that gives the Pinery its unique quality. Property owners should be aware that items within the easement could be subject to destruction or reinstallation at their expense should utility access be required.

Right-of-Ways: All streets within the Pinery are owned and maintained by Douglas County. The streets reside on Douglas County property called ‘right-of-way’. Right-of-ways for streets in the Pinery are sixty feet (60’). Typically, street asphalt is NOT 60’ wide. Therefore, to find a front property line, an owner can measure the asphalt, 30’ from the center line of the street should be their front property line. Residents are responsible to maintain the strip of land between the edge of the street and their boundary.

Trees and Covenants
Sadly, the ongoing drought over the past several years has taken a dramatic toll on trees in the Pinery. The landscaping paragraph for all Pinery Protective Covenants requires that any diseased (or dead) trees be removed. Some filings stipulate removal within a reasonable time after the condition is discovered, others within 120 days from when the condition was discovered or after receipt of notification from the ACC. In some filings, two for one replacement of removed trees is required. If you have dead or diseased trees on your property, inform our office and make arrangements for removal of the tree(s). This will ensure compliance with covenants, maintenance of the beauty of the neighborhood and reduction of fire danger.

Pinery Signage Policy
Pinery Covenants limit real estate signage to one small sign per property. Pinery policy is that signs may not be posted off of the property. However, for an open house or garage sale, one directional sign, present for one day only at a nearby intersection (not the main entryway), and removed at night, is allowed. Signs not meeting this policy will be removed and brought to the PHA office.

2004 ACC Election Results
The following Pinery residents were elected April 6, 2003 to fill open board positions: Kevin Beck, Joe Narracci, Janice Raab and Herb Warp. We want to thank all candidates for offering to serve the community in this fashion.

Considering Cooling?
Covenants restrict placement of 'air conditioning equipment'. This includes evaporative coolers. If you're considering installing air conditioning or an evaporative cooler, be sure to contact our office at 303-841-5305 or ThePineryACC@comcast.net .

Order deadline—May 14
Pick-up date—June 5th at noon
Bingham Lake parking lot

The Pinery Homeowners’ Association along with two resident Pinery realtors, Carole Fluhart, Home Real Estate and Barb Buzako, RE/MAX Home and Ranch are sponsoring the Second Annual Spring Flower Sale to raise money to support Pinery neighborhood beautification projects, such as the Bird Sanctuary.

This unique fund raising event is a great opportunity to beautify your property, get a discount on incredibly fresh plants and help fund community beautification projects all at the same time.

Residents of the Pinery neighborhoods are invited to order flats of annual bedding flowers. All net proceeds from the sale will go to help beautify our unique neighborhood!

Flowers will be very high quality, fresh from the nursery and delivered to the Pinery the same day. Flats are jumbo power 4 packs of 32 large flowers and are priced at $21.00 per flat. That’s $8.00 below their typical retail price of $29.00!

Flowers will be delivered by truck to the Pinery on Saturday, June 5th. The pick-up time will be 12:00 noon at the Bingham Lake parking lot. An order form listing the kinds of flowers available is included on the back of this page.

It’s almost time for the 4th Annual Pinery Art Show and that means we need your community spirit to help us promote this unique Pinery event. This year we’ve made a few changes that will help us to improve our art show. We’re opening the show to all artists. So, if you know of any artist, are an artist, or art lover, plan to participate in our show. Admission is free. We think that you will like what you see. Our goal is to promote The Pinery as a community that is alive with art!

Artist Entry:
The art show will be opened to all artists. Entries accepted between May 24th and June 8th. Drop off art work, entry form and fee if applicable to The Pinery Homeowners’ Association Office between 8 a.m., and 3 p.m. Mon-Fri (closed Memorial Day). Entry Fee is $5.00 for non - PHA members. (Fee is waived for PHA members). There is a limit of two pieces of art per household. Art should not have appeared in any previous Pinery Art Show.

Place:
The Pinery Fire Station Lower Level, located at N. Pinery Parkway and Hillcrest.
Artwork is for display purposes but interested buyers are encouraged to contact the artists directly. The Art entered will once again be shown on the PHA website.

Guidelines:
Entry into the show will be determined by jury. The jury will consist of the three art show Coordinators. Size and space limitations may apply. Ribbon awards will be judged by a local Art Professional.
All pictures must be framed and ready to hang. Art that is heavy or larger than 36” may need to be accompanied by an easel. Pottery and sculpture should be able to be displayed on a table. Note: The Great Frame Up at Lincoln and Jordan will offer a 50% discount on frames, just mention the Pinery Art Show to receive it.

Awards:
14 Blue Ribbons will be awarded. One ribbon will be awarded in the following categories: Painting- Best Oil Painting, Best Acrylic Painting, and Best Watercolor. Drawing-Best Pastel, Best Charcoal/Pencil, Best Pen/Ink. Best Pottery, Best Sculpture, Best Mixed Media. Photography- Best Photograph. There is a Young Artist Category- Best Young Artist (12 & under), Best Young Adult Artist (13 -18.) Regional- Best Pinery Representative Art, Best Landscape.
Art will be Juried Wednesday, June 9th. Art that is not accepted into the show will be available for pick up on Thursday June 10th and should be picked up no later than Friday June 11th 3:00 p.m.

Thanks for your support! Coordinators: Carmen Gardner, Theresa Lugo, Justin Moore
If you would like to volunteer to help with the Art Show please call PHA (303) 841-8572.

Douglas County
Household Chemical Roundups
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Open to residents of Douglas County

Saturday, July 24, 2004
Shea Stadium
3720 Redstone Park Circle
Highlands Ranch

Saturday, September 25, 2004
Castle Rock Maintenance Yard
675 Justice Way
Castle Rock

Cost: A voluntary $10 per vehicle donation requested to help offset costs. There is a $2 fee for tires (off the rim). Only passenger vehicle & pickup truck tires accepted.

For more information, call:
Roundup Hotline 303-846-6249
Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or water bill, is required.

	PHA Member Price	Non-Member Price
Car, SUV or Minivan	$10.00 each	$30.00 each
Small truck, trailer or Van	$15.00 each	$30.00 each
Large truck, trailer or Van	$20.00 each	$40.00 each