Street parking is a topic the HOA Directors have been hearing about from our residents. Vehicles parked on streets can impede the progress of emergency and delivery vehicles, trash and recycling collection, and affect the ability of drivers to see and react to potential hazards. And, of course, many residents are concerned about the negative impact on community aesthetics when vehicles are parked on neighborhood streets.
Read moreSpring lawn and landscape compliance tips
With Spring just around the corner, Site Manager inspections will begin to focus more attention on landscape appearance and maintenance. Under the Master Declaration of the Association, all owners, at their own expense, are obligated to keep their Lot in good condition and repair and in a well-maintained, clean and attractive condition at all times. Failure to comply with the association's restrictive covenants can result in fines levied under the association's fine policy. As a reminder, penalties can begin accruing after only one courtesy notice. To help residents comply and avoid fines, the board has prepared the following information on appearance and maintenance expectations.
Landscape Maintenance and General Appearance
An Owner's Lot must be kept neat and tidy in appearance. Lawns must be kept mowed, edged and free of weeds and trash. Planters and beds must be kept free of weeds, leaves and other debris. Some latitude is permitted for seasonal leaf shedding. Shrubs and trees must be kept trimmed and attractive. Any dead foliage or limbs must be removed promptly. Nothing on an Owner's Lot must be allowed to become overgrown or unmaintained. Owners with xeriscaping are reminded that "low-maintenance" does not mean "no-maintenance." Xeriscaped beds must be equally maintained, edged and kept free of weeds, leaves and other debris.
Sufficient water must be applied to the landscaping, in accordance with any mandatory watering schedule in effect, to maintain the sod and plantings on the Lot. Landscape irrigation systems must be kept in good working order. Sod must not be allowed to die due to lack of water. Bare spots are not allowed although some latitude is permitted in heavily shaded yards where sod is difficult to grow. In this case, it may be more attractive to create a bed and to mulch or use shade tolerant plants. Be aware that construction of new beds requires an application to and review by the Architectural Review Committee.
Driveways, sidewalks and curbs must be kept edged and free of clippings and leaves. All hardscape including driveways, sidewalks, curbs, planters, retaining walls, etc. must be kept free of weeds, grasses or other plants within expansion joints, seams, etc. Sidewalks must be kept clear of shrubbery overgrowth and overhanging limbs so as not to obstruct the walkway.
Residents are also prohibited from discarding yard waste, brush, compost, trash or any other item on any Greenbelt or Amenity Area. This applies equally to Owners of Lots bordering the Greenbelt. The City of Austin provides weekly yard waste collection and twice annual large brush collection for this purpose.
Fences
Fences must be kept attractive and in good repair. Each owner must promptly repair and replace any missing, broken or rotted fence pickets, posts and gates. Fencing must not be allowed to lean or sag excessively. Gates must be kept closed except when entering or exiting. Wooden fencing may be stained upon prior approval by the Architectural Review Committee. If a fence is already stained, repairs must be similarly stained. Stain must be maintained from time to time due to the effects of natural weathering and sprinkler spray.
Trash and Recycling Containers
These may be placed at the curb no earlier than 8pm the evening before the designated collection day and returned to their storage area no later than 8pm on the day of collection. At all other times, carts must be screened from view and not visible from the street. Use of privacy screens for carts is permitted but requires prior approval by the Architectural Review Committee.
Thank you for helping us keep Canyon Creek looking its best. If you have questions about these requirements or need to report a violation, please reach out to the board at anytime.
Fence and Hardscape Compliance
One area the HOA has asked our compliance monitor to focus on during the winter months is fences and hardscape. More notices of non-compliance with wood fence appearance and/or maintenance standards are going out and we're beginning to see an increase in replacement activity as a result. Follow these design guidelines to avoid unnecessary expenses and fines for non-compliance.
Read moreLandscape Maintenance and Compliance
To help residents comply with our landscaping maintenance and appearance requirements and avoid fines, the board has prepared the following information on expectations.
Photo: r reeve via flickr
Read moreCanyon Creek Xeriscaping Guidelines
Many folks within Canyon Creek are considering transitioning from (high water requirement) lawns to drought tolerant landscapes. Below is a quick synopsis of our guidelines for Canyon Creek homeowners. Please remember to submit an Architectural Review Form before commencing any projects.
Read moreOvernight Parking Restrictive Covenant: Frequently Asked Questions
To assist residents of the neighborhood in understanding and complying with the Canyon Creek overnight street parking restriction, the Directors have prepared this FAQ.
Read moreDirectors Consider Updated Fine Policy
As we talked about in our earlier post outlining our strategic priorities this year, the Board has been looking at our current policies and rules with an eye toward addressing complaints from Members about poor compliance with provisions of our governing documents that deal with aesthetic issues (among others) in the neighborhood. As the first of a series of planned steps to address these concerns, at the March 30th meeting of the Canyon Creek Board, the Directors voted to publish a proposed update to the Association's Fine Policy for violations of the Canyon Creek Restrictions (as that term is defined in our governing documents).
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