Living in the Neighborhood

Contents

• Yard of the Month
• Neighborhood Survey Complete
• Parking Restrictions — Reminder
• Property Transition Information
• SPINN Plans Underway
• Some Thoughts about Stewardship and Global Warming
• Newsletter Delivery Volunteers

Yard-of-the-Month – 2007

It is nearly spring and thoughts turn to warmer weather and lawn care. The Landscape and Grounds Committee is making a change to the Yard-of-the-Month judging this year. Rather than starting in April and running through November, the first award will be made for the month of May and the last month will be October. Winners are selected among single-family homes. The home will be selected one or two weeks prior to the month of the award and will be featured in the newsletter and posted on the website.

The criteria established by the Selection Committee (representatives from the neighborhood) are listed below. The total exterior appearance of the yard, including the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street, should be one of neatness and visually appealing as evidenced by:

• Mowed and edged lawns.
• Well defined planting beds that are mulched and weed-free.
• Pruned shrubs and trees.
• Effective use of seasonal color through plantings of annuals and/or perennials.
• Plantings in scale to size of yard.
• No trash, junk, or dead plant/grass material.

If you have questions or suggestions regarding this plan, please call Donna Howell at 704.987.0363.

Neighborhood Survey Complete

The neighborhood survey started late-2006 has been completed and updated data (addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.) sent to Abbott Enterprises. As part of the survey, questions and comments were solicited in order to pinpoint problems and resolve them. The following list summarizes many of the comments received on the survey. It does not represent all concerns. Some will have to be addressed individually. However, steps have already been taken to address some of the comments and the Association wanted to provide general feedback to residents.

(1) There were a number of questions and concerns regarding landscaping. In particular, there were several homeowners that expressed concerns regarding the maintenance of the common area and drainage easement that runs behind homes on Harper Lee Street and North Faulkner Way.

      Response: Landscape issues should be addressed with the Landscape and Grounds Committee. [A complete listing of members appears on page 8 of this newsletter.] The issue of maintenance of the drainage area between Harper Lee Street and North Faulkner Way has already been referred to the committee and will be presented to the landscape contractor for suggestions on best approach.

(2) Parking on streets and following parking restrictions in the Neighborhood Covenants and Canons of Conduct were mentioned more than once.

      Response: There have been both technical and legal reasons for delays in enforcement of these restrictions. However, the Council of Stewards will finally vote on approval of an enforcement policy at the February meeting. [See newsletter article on page 4.]

(3) Since part of the intent of the survey was to solicit comments regarding problems that residents have had with payment of assessment fees, input was frequent and varied on this topic.

      Response: Many of the problems and comments received in survey feedback were addressed with Abbott Enterprises in the annual performance review between Abbott and the Association in November, 2006. Some of these issues have been covered in the last several newsletters. For example, concerns regarding erratic timing of bank drafts have already been addressed by Abbott with the goal of having these drafts occur within the same timeframe each month. A quarterly notice will be sent to all owners with past due assessments and fees. This is to better communicate the status of past-due accounts. Response to homeowner phone calls is improving and an Assistant Community Manager, Cindy Wagner, has been added. Recordkeeping problems have not been totally eliminated, but have decreased noticeably in the past twelve months. Concerns in this area should continue to be addressed to any member of the Council of Stewards as soon as possible.

(4) The question regarding at-home delivery of mail was discussed by two residents.

      Response: This is a complex issue and has been discussed by the COS on more than one occasion. Problems regarding location of mailboxes and added costs to owners for implementation are significant. The Association will not consider further discussion of this request at this time.

(5) Cleaning of gutters has been a problem for a number of townhome residents.

      Response: The Townhome Maintenance Committee has contracted to have this work done on a routine basis. [Contact Hank Howell, chairperson of the Townhome Building Maintenance Committee, if you have scheduling questions.]

(6) One neighbor suggested painting house numbers on the street curbs for improved identification of addresses by emergency response personnel at night.

      Response: This has certainly been done in many neighborhoods and makes good safety sense. The suggestion will be brought to the Council of Stewards and referred to appropriate committee for evaluation.

Again, this list does not represent all comments received, but does generally include those items that are of wide interest. The Council of Stewards will review all comments and take appropriate actions as needed.

Parking Restrictions - Reminder

At the February 28 Council of Stewards meeting, final review and approval is expected on the Policies and Procedures governing enforcement of New Neighborhood Covenants and Canons of Conduct, including a summary of the most common violations and associated fines. The Covenant Committee has put a lot of hours into completing this document and it has received legal review by the Association’s attorney. After approval, a copy of this policy will be mailed to all owners. Following a reasonable grace period that will be determined at the COS meeting, residents should expect strict application and enforcement of penalties for all covenant violations, including parking. Within the next few months, residents should expect to again see reminder flyers on improperly parked vehicles and possible notification of violation by Abbot Enterprises, the Association’s management company. Until now, some restrictions have been overlooked due to a lack of adequate enforcement guidelines and policies.

Exhibit C (Canons of Conduct) outlines restricted and prohibited activities in the neighborhood. Under Section 2a, parking of vehicles in the neighborhood is covered. These restrictions have been outlined in the newsletter on several occasions and, in 2005, reminders were placed on car windshields of vehicles in violation along townhome streets. Parking restrictions for single-family homeowners will also be enforced. In most situations driveways are not constructed in such a manner as to allow overnight parking. For townhomes, parking is permitted along streets during daylight hours for brief periods, but, with the exception of house guests, street parking is NOT PERMITTED at night by residents. The obvious and intended solution is garage parking. Residents should begin planning toward this goal if not already in compliance. The recent neighborhood survey pointed to non-compliance with parking restrictions as a major complaint by homeowners.

In order to provide for the orderly administration of parking spaces within the Townhome Peer Group, parking spaces located on the Common areas (pads between units in byways) are dedicated to the exclusive use of the unit to which it is assigned. These pads have been pre-assigned to work units and to units with casitas and may not be used by other townhome residents. Pads have been marked and, with the exception of a number of places along Miriam G. Tuttle Byway (behind South Faulkner townhomes), nearly all other parking pads have been assigned and are not available.

It should also be noted that parking facing traffic is prohibited by a Town of Davidson ordinance. A number of streets throughout the neighborhood are clearly posted “No Parking on This Side.” Violations of these town ordinances are subject to enforcement by the Town of Davidson Police Department.

The Association requests the cooperation of all owners and residents. Once enforcement guidelines are in effect, the Covenant Committee will entertain review of and possible changes to restrictions that may need change. In the meantime, residents and owners are expected to comply with neighborhood restrictions.

Property Transition Information

It is obvious when driving around New Neighborhood that many units are for sale. The Property Transition Committee was formed over a year ago to deal with turnover and to insure that the Association receives new owner information in a timely manner. The following requirements during sale are often overlooked:

Article XVIII of New Neighborhood Covenant

Changes in Ownership of Units

“Any Owner desiring to sell or otherwise transfer title to his or her Unit shall give the Council [of Stewards] at least seven days’ prior written notice of the name and address of the purchaser or transferee, the date of such transfer of title, and such other information as the Council may reasonably require. The transferor shall continue to be jointly and severally responsible with the transferee for all obligations of the Owner of the Unit, including assessment obligations, until the date upon which such notice is received by the Council, notwithstanding the transfer of title.”

Handling of activities associated with the transition or sale of property from one owner to another continues to be problematic, but is improving with the help of the Property Transition Committee. As existing homes are resold and new neighbors move into the community, key financial obligations regarding sale fees and payment of assessments are not always made clear. This is not a direct responsibility of the Association, but rather an obligation by the realtor(s) involved and the attorney that handles the closing process.

One of the most frequently overlooked items at closing is the collection of a $100 transfer fee from the seller. This fee is separate from fees charged by the Management Company and goes into an account designated as an Enhancement Fund. This fund is utilized to the general good and welfare of the neighborhood for items not otherwise addressed by the Association’s general operating budget. [Owners can find further detail of this fee in Article IX of the Neighborhood Covenant, Article IX, Section 9.11: Neighborhood Enhancement Fee]

A second problem frequently encountered at closing is failure by the closing attorney to adequately determine accountability and collection of Association assessment fees. New owners may not be aware of the fact that they can potentially shoulder the liability of unpaid assessments from previous owners if these fees are not collected and cleared at closing.

Please be aware of your responsibility as an owner wishing to sell. The Council of Stewards wants the seller and buyer to experience a smooth transition of property and to avoid potential problems following closing.

SPINN Plans Underway - Volunteers Needed

Temperatures are rising and SPINN (Spring Party in New Neighborhood) is just around the corner. The date has been set for Saturday, June 2 (rain date – Sunday, June 3). Adria & Woody Appleby have agreed to chair this event in 2007, but only as part of a hard working committee. There will be a planning meeting at the Appleby’s townhome (109 St. Alban’s Lane) on Thursday evening, March 15, at 7:00 p.m. Lots of notes and boxes of supplies are available from past years to jump-start the planning process.

SPINN is an annually budgeted event supported by the Neighborhood Association. However, it does require organization and communication in order to occur and be a success. It does require volunteers throughout the neighborhood. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Appleby’s at 704.655.9717 and plan to attend the planning meeting on March 15.

This is a great way to celebrate New Neighborhood each spring and to meet both old and new neighbors. We are expecting the biggest party yet in 2007!

Some Thoughts about Stewardship and Global Warming
(Final Installment)

Summary and Conclusions

Animal life breathes oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide. Plant life absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. This cycle has been in balance for millions of years. In addition to supporting plant life, carbon dioxide serves as a “greenhouse gas,” trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere. Historically this has provided the stable and moderate temperatures all life needs to survive.

In the late 1700’s, James Watt replaced a horse on a treadmill with a steam engine and kicked the industrial revolution into high gear. This replacement of limited muscle energy with seemingly unlimited chemical energy has been one of the most profound changes in human history, a change primarily responsible for the high standard of living we enjoy today. The chemical energy that fuels our standard of living comes almost entirely from fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas.

Inexpensive, abundant energy is sometimes compared to a drug that our society is dependant on. Some say we need to “kick the habit.” This is far from the truth. Energy is an essential food stock of our economy and our way of life. If it were curtailed, we would suffer far more than temporary withdrawal symptoms. Life as we know it would starve and die. For that reason, and that reason alone, we need to respect and conserve our energy resources.

There are problems with fossil fuels. As our population grows and individual energy use increases, the problems become more apparent. The supply is not unlimited after all. They are increasingly expensive. They pollute the air we need to breath. There are serious political and human consequences of obtaining fuels from countries who are our adversaries. And now, we have the most damaging of all. Carbon dioxide is a primary and inescapable product of the combustion of fossil fuels and it is accumulating in our atmosphere faster than nature can process it, trapping heat, and causing global temperatures to rise.

Small temperature changes make a substantial difference. In 2005, for example, we suffered the three most powerful Gulf hurricanes in recorded history – Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Over 200,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. These three “once in a lifetime” storms occurred in a single year and were fueled by Gulf of Mexico waters only two degrees warmer than normal. If we do nothing, maybe our children, and certainly our grandchildren, will live in a world so hostile that we cannot even imagine.

It is for all these reasons that I began this series of articles on energy conservation. Not everyone will agree with all the reasons and it is not my intent here to convince you of any of them. I simply suggest that you pick the reasons that work for you and commit to action.

In the past five articles, we have addressed a number of areas covering our household’s total energy consumption.

Lights. We have 134 lights in our house, not uncommon for new houses. We replaced the 38 most commonly used lights with florescent replacement bulbs which use only 25% of the energy and last up to 5 times longer. By actual comparison of year to year electricity bills, we are saving $42 a month.

Computers burn more energy than we expected. We have three. By turning off the two we don’t use every day, we save half the energy.

Appliances. When we moved here, we replaced all our appliances with new energy efficient appliances. Most impressive was the new design front loading clothes washer which saves on electricity, water, water heating, soap, and energy for drying.

Heating and Air Conditioning. By turning our thermostat up to 78 in the summer, down to 65 in the winter, and off in the spring and fall, we are saving about half in heating and air conditioning costs.

Automobiles. The important factor is gallons per year, which includes both miles per year and miles per gallon. We reduced our miles per year from approximately 42,000 to 27,000 by re-centering our lives around where we live. The big change was working here rather than commuting to Charlotte. We also replaced our primary vehicle, a small and relatively efficient SUV at 16 miles per gallon overall, with a more efficient Honda Accord at 26 miles per gallon overall.

The savings in money and carbon dioxide production are substantial, and they were obtained with virtually no loss in quality of life. In fact, in many ways our quality of life has improved. No suffering. All that was required was commitment, knowledge of what to do, and action.

In the aggregate, we are saving over $5,000 a year in energy costs, important for a semi-retired couple. These savings by themselves are motive enough for almost anyone. More importantly, we have cut our carbon dioxide production almost in half. And yes, doing things the old way, our household produced nearly 60 tons of carbon dioxide a year. Multiply that by the 105 million households in the United States and you can see why we have a problem. And why as a country we and we alone can fix it.

I have presented this information here in a neighborhood newspaper for this reason. We need a great change here and great changes in a society more often than not bubble up from the bottom rather than trickle down from the top. Change begins with an individual, then a family, a neighborhood, a city, a state, a nation. Think about what we as a neighborhood could do to demonstrate to ourselves and others what can be done to save our planet for our children and our grandchildren.

Mike Stenhouse
Concerned Resident of New Neighborhood

Newsletter Delivery Volunteers

Many thanks are due our newsletter delivery volunteers.

Many thanks are due our newsletter delivery team. Most of our February volunteers worked double duty with delivery of both the newsletter and advance flyers for the Neighborhood Discussion Group meeting held on February 1. These dedicated folks included Adria & Woody Appleby, Barbara Doster, Tom Fischer, Sherman Kahn, Norm Reid, Norman Richards, and John & Marcia Williamson. I want to express personal thanks to Norm Reid who, in my unexpected absence, picked-up the newsletters and coordinated the delivery.