May 2005 Pinery HOA Newsletter

PHA General Meeting
May 11, 2005

Pinery Fire Station Meeting Room

6:45 p.m. Newcomers’
Meeting
7:30 p.m. Main Meeting

Agenda:

ACC Survey of Parking Surfaces (See survey on Page 5)

Results of ACC Election

Security Coalition

Entrance - Landscaping

Reata

Kinney Creek Trail Access

Light meal provided
Complimentary Child Care

Great news! Douglas County will be resurfacing North Pinery Parkway from the Fire Station west to the Northeast Elementary School entrance this summer.

By the time you read this I hope we’ve had our first workday of the season (April can be tricky…!) Assuming we were successful, I’d like to thank everyone who stopped by to help. We are especially excited to have three students working with us this summer. If things go as planned they will get all of the community service hours they need to graduate from Ponderosa!

I’d also like to thank the Barbers for Christel’s role in setting up our next bulb fundraiser, which will be at the Pinery Picnic this year! I know that when one person in a family takes on some volunteer work, everyone makes some adjustments-thank you, Barbers!!

We have one more Eagle Scout project in the works, and, one way or another, you will see a new “Pinery Bird Sanctuary” sign at our site by the end of this year! Our current sign, painted by Mary Wiedemann is fading, so look for a more visible one in the future!

As always, please call me with questions, concerns, or if you’d like to help out. The birds are singing, the ground is wet, the bulbs are up! Have a great spring!

Beginning this Spring heavy equipment will begin carving out the Colorado Golf Club course to the north of The Pinery. By the time September rolls around, the infrastructure of the community will begin to take shape. Lot sales will begin in the fall for only 169 premiere homes to be built on 2100 acres. Designed by Ben Crenshaw, one of the leading golf course architects in the country, this course promises to be something special. Mike McGetrick will be the golf pro (rated a top 100 teaching pro in the U.S.)

For more information, come to our HOA meeting May 11th at 7:30 p.m., or call Jeff Kroll at 303-717-1492.

Playgroup for children under age six. For information call Laura at 303-840-6324 or Patsy at 303-905-4672. If you would like to be included on our list of neighborhood babysitters, please call.

   Spring is upon us and with spring comes the dreaded spring cleanups. You have a few options if you are cleaning out your garage, remodeling your basement or just sprucing up your house.
   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 pre-pay over the phone via credit card.
   If you are doing a bigger job, such as remodeling a room in your house, or getting rid of a large tree in your yard, you can get a roll-off. Roll-offs are large temporary dumpsters; you typically see them at construction sites. We are currently running specials on our roll-offs. If you just need a roll-off for one weekend only, you can get additionally discounted prices. You can even split the cost with a neighbor by sharing the roll-off if you don’t have that much to put in it.

Please call our roll-off department at (303) 286-1200 for price and/or availability.

If you are planning to put out limbs or branches please make sure any tree limbs are bundled, no longer than 4 feet in length and securely tied into 18-inch diameter bundles. Up to six bags or bundles are allowed per week. These bundles help the driver to pickup your trash and yard waste quickly, so he can move onto the next house. If you have any questions, please call our Customer Service center at (303) 287-8043.

Please try to help BFI keep the neighborhood clean by bagging your trash, even in containers. It keeps the trash from blowing around when the driver is picking up and even when the cans are just sitting on your curb.

To blend buildings as much as possible with our beautiful natural environment, covenants require all structures in the Pinery to be in earth tones indigenous to the area. This covenant restriction is a primary factor in the unique character of the Pinery. A sample board of approved shades is available in the PACC office. Some colors not allowed are white, black, red, blue, yellow, purple, orange and pink.

Submittal for architectural review is not required if repainting using the same colors previously approved by the ACC. If your current colors pre-date your ownership or you are in any way unsure of the approval status of the colors on your house (e.g., if you don’t have an ACC approval letter on file), please submit samples of the colors prior to repainting. Reapplication of an unapproved color represents a new violation, initiating appropriate ACC enforcement.

For shades which clearly appear within the range presented by the office color board, the ACC administrator can confirm the colors to be pre-approved. You can at this point begin painting, the change will be noted by the ACC at the subsequent meeting, and you will get a confirmation letter for your files.

If there is any question as to whether or not a color falls within the desired earth tone range, color chips submitted will be reviewed by the ACC at the subsequent meeting. Be sure to have confirmation of ACC approval; either verbally if pre-approved or through an ACC approval letter as described above before you start to paint!

Earlier, we announced that the Architectural Control Committee was considering instituting a ‘Yard of the Month’ program to honor our homeowners’ efforts in beautifying their home and landscape in the summer months. Many thanks to Charles Rosmorduc, Pinery resident and woodworker, for creating a beautiful yard sign for this purpose.
Pinery Architectural Control Committee members will now be on the lookout for Pinery homes whose landscaping and yard design stand out. If your yard is selected, you will be contacted so that the committee can come and post the sign in your yard with your permission. Also with your permission, we will recognize your yard with a photo in the following newsletter.

The following Pinery residents were elected April 5, 2005 to fill open committee positions:

We want to thank all candidates for offering to serve the community in this fashion.

   As you may be aware, there has been interest in revising the covenants in The Pinery for quite some time. Below is the first of a planned series of surveys for you to use to help The Pinery Homeowners’ Association get as broad a consensus as possible of ideas and opinions so we can proceed in this process.
   The first question is of course key because we need to know how many want us to even continue down the road of revision. The rest of this survey deals only with parking surfaces. Future surveys will deal with items such as paint colors, roofing materials, the number of garage doors that we might want to allow, landscaping issues such as water features and other items not common when we were initially established in the 70s.
   Please take time to complete and return the survey. You may drop off or fax the completed survey at the Pinery HOA office in the lower level of the fire station, fax 303-841-5444 or use our web site, www.pinery.org where an online survey 1 will be posted. Thank you for taking the time to give us your input. Look for subsequent surveys in future newsletters. Be sure to validate your survey by including your name and address:

Many times the PHA is asked “What do I get for my $30 annual dues, and why should I continue to voluntarily join?” The standard answer from any Board Member usually includes a combination of the following benefits: the office staff; the RV lot; our parks and front entrance maintenance; the annual picnic; the large item drop-off; fish stocking in the lake; maintenance of our common acreage; etc. One area not frequently mentioned, until recently, was security.

With the ever expanding developments and the apparent stretching of Sheriffs’ resources over more and more territory, several years ago a group of leaders in the community got together to discuss what we could do to help. The outcome of that meeting was a unique coalition. Over the last several years, we had an equal partnership with our neighbors: The Country Club; The Water District; Douglas County Parks and Recreation; The Timbers and High Prairie Farms Metro District, to provide off duty Douglas County deputies to patrol our areas. This was a very unique relationship that had never been tried before, and from all involved we felt that it was a “win-win” situation, with overall reported crime reduced over the time period. Due to an issue with contractual wording, our insurance company in mid-2004 decided that we, as the PHA, could not continue this relationship and we stopped.

Your board would not accept this stoppage and with the help of the Sheriff’s Department, legal assistance from our lawyer and that of the Water District, we have overcome the objections of the insurance provider and have restarted this project. Based on the success we previously experienced and the ever-expanding neighborhood, we are including the Pinery Pointe HOA and Pradera in this new coalition. A representative committee has been formed to provide a prorated split of the costs involved this time around and also to provide direction to the patrols. Management and accounting of the project is once again being provided by the PHA Board and our staff, as a service to our community.

Listing the times of patrol would tip our hand, but suffice it to say you will be seeing more Douglas County deputies in your neighborhood. Be sure to wave to them, as many of them live in the area as well. Also realize that they in some cases, are working for you and your dues dollars, to make the Pinery the safest place to live.

If you are one of the few who have chosen to not pay your voluntary dues, we hope that this benefit will encourage you to do so.

Please continue to call 303–660–7505 to report any suspicious activity to the Douglas County Sheriff’s office. Those calls will be routed through to the patrols in our neighborhood and should be handled in a very timely manner.

Please be courteous!
It’s traveling time again all you RV’ers. Please be kind to your neighbors in the RV lot and make sure you are not extending beyond the 45’ boundary with your vehicles and also that you are in the middle of your space. Boundaries are marked on the fences.

Dump Station:
The dump station has been refurbished and is now in good working order.

RV Lot Security:
Regarding the security of the RV lots, the RV lot committee has submitted a pre-approval proposal to Douglas County for additional lights for added security. The committee also discussed installing a surveillance system. The PHA will keep the community informed of the progress.

Thank You:
Thank you for responding so well to our request for new license plate numbers. It is important for us to keep our database updated so we know exactly what is in the lots.

Spring has come in with a vengeance, but we are still in a situation of drought for the South Platte River drainage, of which we are part. While we are not looking at implementing mandatory water restrictions as Denver and Aurora have, we would encourage members of the District to use water as they have in the past couple of years. This will help to ensure that there is plenty for all needs.

In keeping with our policy of continual improvements to the infrastructure of the District, we are continuing to improve current wells and previously drilled, but not outfitted deep water wells. You will see lots of work in and around these areas throughout this spring. This will help to ensure that we are ready for the summer months, when we anticipate another warm and dry summer.

Work on the Wastewater Treatment Plant also continues to go well, in spite of the wet spring. We will be going through transition to the new parts of the plant in June and will then begin renovations on many of the older parts of the facility. This should be complete by early fall and we will then plan on finishing the rest of the work, starting in the spring of 2006. All of this keeps us well ahead of regulatory requirements for our discharge permit and one of the best run facilities in the nation. As always, you are cordially invited to attend our monthly meetings, which are currently scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:00 p.m. at the District Offices. Please feel free to contact our office at 303-841-2797 if you have any questions about District operations and questions about the information presented here.

David C. Eyre
Civil Engineer, P.E., Director
Pinery Water and Wastewater District

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

Saturday, July 30, 2005
Shea Stadium
3720 Redstone Park Circle
Highlands Ranch

Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005
Castle Rock Utilities
(New Location)
175 Kellogg Rd. (near the intersection of Hwy 85 & Liggett Rd)
in Castle Rock

Cost: A voluntary $10 per vehicle donation requested to help offset costs. There is a $3 fee for tires (off the rim). Only passenger vehicle & pickup truck tires accepted.

We will accept: paint products, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, solvents, vehicle batteries, house and garden chemicals, scrap metal, fire extinguishers, fireworks, ammunition, mercury, obsolete propane tanks, tires and other household chemicals. Last year, more than 1,800 Douglas County residents came to Roundups, safely recycling or disposing of more than 70 tons of hazardous materials.

The Ponderosa High School Band Booster Club is hosting its sixth annual benefit car show on Saturday, June 11, in the parking lot of the Parker Wal-mart. Car registration and viewing will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with trophy awards at 2:30 p.m. Early registration is $20 per car and includes a free T-shirt to the first 100 entries. There will be exceptional door prizes. Trophies will be awarded to the best entry in five classes including a 4X4 class. “Best of Show” and “People’s Choice” will also be awarded.

This show is open to the general public and will also feature concessions and a small car expo 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 12. Register and pay with Paypal at: www.ponderosaband.com or contact Bryan Marklin at 303-840-7520.

A Team Event to Fight Cancer
June 17, 2005 from 6:00 p.m.
to June 18, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.

Parker’s walkers and runners go around the clock in the battle against cancer during the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This “celebration of life” brings numerous groups and individuals concerned about cancer together for a unified effort to fight back.

Teams of enthusiastic citizens from all walks of life will gather at Ponderosa High School for a 16-hour relay against cancer from 6 p.m. on June 17, 2005 until 10 a.m. on June 18th, 2005.

Teams form and raise money prior to the event, then come prepared to camp out and enjoy the activities and “celebration of life”. For information on forming a team or participating as a survivor, call 720-274-3960.

For more information contact: Judy Poulson 303-841-9783 or Kimberly Henson 303-841-1462

Express Your Artistic Talents!
June 4 - 5, 2005
11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Fire Station Meeting Room
N. Pinery Parkway & Hillcrest Way

The 5th Annual Pinery Art Show is being held June 4-5th concurrently with the Pinery Garage Sale. Similar to last year, we are opening this show to ALL artists interested in participating. Admission is free for PHA members and $5 for non-PHA members. You will be amazed at the artistic talent that lives within this community!

What’s New? There will not be a pre-selection jury this year. All entries will make it into the art show until we run out of space!! Awards will still be given (categories listed below). Art will be judged prior to the showing

In addition, we have a special wall dedicated to displaying any child’s artwork. Each child participating will receive a ribbon!

Artist Entry: The art show will be opened to ALL artists willing to participate in the event. Entries will be accepted between May 23rd and May 31st. Please drop off your art work, entry form, and any applicable fees (if a non-member) to the Pinery Homeowners’ Association office between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed on Memorial Day). There is a limit of two (2) pieces of art per household. The art pieces should not have appeared in any previous Pinery Art Show.

Guidelines: Artwork is for display purposes only, however, interested buyers are encouraged to contact the artists directly. The artwork can also be viewed on the PHA website: www.pinery.org. Any 3-dimensional items, including pottery and sculpture, should be able to be displayed on a table.

All pictures must be matted, framed, and ready to hang. Art that is unusually heavy or larger than 36-inches in height or width may need to be accompanied by an easel (provided by the artist).

Awards: Fourteen (14) blue ribbons will be awarded. One (1) ribbon will be awarded for each of the following categories:

1.) Painting – Best Oil Painting;
2.) Painting – Best Acrylic Painting;
3.) Painting – Best Watercolor Painting;
4.) Drawing – Best Pastel;
5.) Drawing – Best Charcoal/Pencil;
6.) Drawing – Best Pen/Ink;
7.) Best Pottery;
8.) Best Sculpture;
9.) Best Mixed Media;
10.) Photography – Best Photograph;
11.) Best Young Artist (ages 12 and under);
12.) Best Young Adult Artist (ages 13-18);
13.) Regional – Best Pinery Representative Art
14.) Best Landscape.

Thanks again for your support and making it another successful art show, Coordinators: Kirk and Adrienne Rabius.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the Pinery Art Show, please call PHA (303) 841-8572.

Get on the map: To be included on this year’s map, please complete the form below and drop it off or mail it to the PHA office, 8170 Hillcrest Way, no later than Tuesday, May 24. Residents on the map will be limited to 100 this year so get your name in early.

Pick up a map: Garage sale maps will be distributed to “shoppers” as they enter the Pinery June 3rd & 4th. Maps will be distributed in two locations this year: North Pinery Parkway & Parker Rd. and South Pinery Parkway and Parker Rd.

Yard signs: There will be a limited number of yard signs available to homeowners to help advertise your sale. Signs will be distributed on Wednesday, June 1st behind the fire station from 5 to 7 p.m.!

Categories: If you would like to categorize your items, you may contact Carolyn Williamson at 303-483-2333.

It has been observed and reported by many residents that speed limits in School Zones in the Pinery are not being observed. Please heed the speed limit and keep our children safe and sound.

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 shortly 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.

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.

Car, SUV or Minivan
Small truck, trailer or Van
Large truck, trailer or Van

PHA Member Price
$10.00 each
$15.00 each
$20.00 each

Non-Member Price
$30.00 each
$30.00 each
$40.00 each

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

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

	Homeowner
Published by The Pinery Homeowners’ Association, Inc. Volume 29; Issue 3