Townhouse Landscape Enhancements

A. GENERAL

  1. The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage the beautification of the individual townhouse properties, leading to homeowner and community enjoyment, and improved property values.
  2. All landscape enhancement requests shall be submitted to the Management Company in writing, and shall include the following:
    • A scale drawing showing width and depth of beds, the location and names of all shrubbery and trees (exclusive of seasonal plants), and an accompanying list showing name, number to be installed, and height and width at maturity.
    • Details of any additional proposed installations including edging, landscape stone, or lighting (in accordance with Exterior Lighting Guidelines).
  3. All requests for proposed landscape enhancements must be submitted to the Management Company for review and approval by the Board of Directors BEFORE work commences. Each landscape enhancement request will be reviewed with consideration given, but not limited to, other lot owners property and views, density and size of plant materials, ease of maintenance, and harmony with existing landscaping.
  4. Approval of any request shall be limited to the work specifically described within the submitted request. All work on an approved request must be completed within ninety (90) days following the Unit Owners receipt of the written Board approval. Any changes to the submitted proposal MUST be submitted to the Management Company as an addendum to the request.
  5. The Association Board of Directors reserves the right to deny or require modification of any request deemed to be offensive or consistent with the character of the community or with these guidelines.
  6. It is the responsibility of the Townhouse owner to assure that all required information is included with all requests. Requests which are not completed according to these guidelines will be returned without approval to the homeowner.
  7. Owners are responsible for any damage that may result to buildings, lots or underground utilities from any such landscape installation. Any such damage must be repaired within 30 days and in a manner satisfactory to the Association Board of Directors.
  8. Townhouse Owners, using a landscaping contractor, are responsible for obtaining a Certificate of Liability insurance from the contractor which must be submitted as part of the landscape request.
  9. Any damage to neighboring privately owned or common area property shall be repaired or restored within thirty (30) days of occurrence by either the contractor or the Townhouse Owner for whom the work was performed, or both.
  10. Townhouse Owners are responsible for removing and replacing any dead plant material, annuals or parts of perennials that die at the end of the planting season (November 15) from the landscape beds.
  11. Driveway widening (of any type) and/or installation of planting beds along driveways is prohibited.
  12. No beetle traps (bags) are permitted on homeowner’s property or on any common areas or streets.
  13. No artificial flowers of any kind are permitted in any garden bed, pot, planter or other container

B. PLANTING BEDS

    1. Planting beds are permitted along all building foundations. All owners are required to maintain the landscaping on their lot in an acceptable fashion that is, at a minimum, keeping with the original intent of the neighborhood. Each individual yard should be designed to blend into the community as a whole. Any additions in the planting beds must be of an “earth  tone” color and complimentary to the resident’s exterior and community as a whole.Property maintenance shows courtesy and respect to neighbors and the surrounding Community. Additionally, it helps to maintain higher property values. Any owner or member of the Association has the right to complain if another member is not in compliance or not properly maintaining is or her grounds and landscaping. Owners renting their homes are responsible for the upkeep of their property since their renters have no relationship with the HOA or Board. Any designs in the planting beds not in keeping with the original intent of the landscaping design and without approval WILL be required to be removed.

      Additional requirements are as follows:
    2. At the rear and side of the unit and along the privacy fence, the beds shall not exceed thirty-six (36) inches in depth.
      1. At the front of the unit (facing the court): End Units – Beds may fill the space between the building and the sidewalk. Beds may be installed along the sidewalk from the entry door to where the sidewalk changes direction and may not continue around the turn to the front of the unit. The maximum width of the beds is thirty inches (30″). Middle Units Beds may extend along the entire front sidewalk to a maximum width of thirty (30) inches. Beds may be planted between garage and walk.
      2. . At the side of the building on end units, beds may be planted between the building foundation and the walk. Where no walk exists, the beds shall not exceed thirtysix (36) inches from the building foundation.
      3. Shrubs which are planted in foundation planting beds must be kept trimmed to a maximum height of forty-eight inches (48″).
      4. Shrubs which are planted along sidewalks must be kept trimmed to a height of thirty-six (36) inches, and maintained to provide a minimum space of twelve (12) inches from edge of shrub to edges of adjacent shrubs.
      5. Ornamental trees or tall shrubs may be used individually in foundation planting beds, at the inside and outside comers of the unit, and in deep planting beds. Ornamental trees/tall shrubs must be kept trimmed to a maximum height of eight (8) feet, and must meet all other criteria in Section E.3 “Ornamental Trees”.
  1. Patio Planting Beds
    1. Patio planting bed installations must abut the patio with no grassy area between the bed and patio, must not exceed
      thirty-six (36) inches in depth, and may not extend beyond the end of the privacy fence.
    2. Shrubs which are planted in patio planting beds must be kept trimmed to a maximum height and width of thirty-six (36) inches. A minimum space of twelve (12) inches must be maintained between the outside edges of all shrubs to preclude the appearance of fencing.
    3. Ornamental trees used in plant beds around patios must be at least ten (10) feet on center from other ornamental trees to preclude the suggestion of fencing. Ornamental trees under twenty-four (24) inches in foliage width at maturity, may be used in clusters of three (3) trees maximum. Trees at each end of a cluster must meet the spacing requirement of ten (10) feet on center from other ornamental trees.
  2. Air Conditioner Clearance: Planting beds around air conditioner compressors shall allow a minimum space of 12 inches from existing pads when planting materials are mature.
  3. Weed Barrier: All planting bed enlargements or additions shall be installed using landscape weed barrier material to be placed underneath mulching material. Such weed barrier material shall be placed underneath any ornamental rock installations.
  4. Mulch: Mulch must conform to the color and type of mulch used by the Contractor for the Association (double-ground shredded hardwood black bark mulch).
  5. Edging: All planting bed enlargements or additions must provide a defined edge or use approved edging materials to separate the bed from turf areas. The following are approved for use as landscape border material:
    1. Unpainted River Rock – Minimum 4 inches and maximum 10 inches in width and maximum 4 inches in height.
    2. Decorative Landscape Edging Stone – Minimum 4 inches in width and maximum 4 inches in height. No landscaped beds, including drainage areas abutting grass areas may contain decorative landscape stone which is less than 4 inches in width, unless such stone is installed behind an approved landscape border. The purpose is to mitigate loss or damage to Unit Owners property or contractor equipment and to prevent personal injury..
    3. Black vinyl edging – Maximum 4 inches above grass line.
    4. Unpainted pressure treated wood or landscape ties – Maximum 6 inches above grass line.
    5. Formed decorative concrete block in neutral colors – matching the existing community stone work.
  6. Maintenance of Planting Beds
    1. Front and side planting beds will be maintained by the Association contracted landscaper.
    2. Rear planting beds and landscape beds surrounding patios must be maintained by the homeowner. This includes yearly mulching, trimming, weeding, and replacement of dead plants.
  7. Vegetable gardens are not permitted.

C. Planting OF TREES

Each Townhouse Owner will be permitted to plant trees on their property and/or in the common areas adjacent to their properties, with prior written approval, as follows:

  1. The homeowner will take full responsibility for planting and maintenance of new trees on the homeowner’s property. All trees planted by the homeowner, which subsequently die, are to be replaced by the homeowner, who will bear all related costs.
  2. All tree planting requests will be evaluated on an individual submittal basis, considering model of home and location of other plantings on the property, and in the adjacent common area(s). The following guidelines are established to guide homeowners in preparation of acceptable landscaping plans and written requests to the management
    company.

D. Number and Placement of Trees

Totals do not include small ornamental trees which are planted in beds adjacent to the house or patio. These are covered under E.3, “Ornamental Trees”.

  1. Inside Units: The homeowner will be permitted a maximum of two (2) trees in the rear (patio facing) of the house.
  2. End Units: The homeowner will be permitted a maximum of three (3) trees in the rear (patio facing) of the house.
  3. New Trees in Common Areas
    1. A homeowner may request permission to plant new trees in the common area(s) immediately adjacent to the homeowner’s property. Properties adjacent to Fountain Farm Road may be permitted side trees to afford privacy and noise control if the lot size and shape allow. These requests will be considered by the Board on an individual basis).
  4. Tree Root Systems
    1. Trees may not be planted with root systems that may grow above the ground and
      impede mowing.

E. PLANTING GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTED SPECIMENS

Deciduous Trees
a. Must be a minimum of fifteen feet (15′) from center of tree to house.
b. Must be planted a minimum of ten feet (10′) on center from neighboring property lines and other trees. Small or narrow trees approved by the Board for clustering may be planted closer to each other as determined by the Board on an individual basis.
c. No fruit-bearing trees shall be planted.
d. Suggested Specimens:
Amur Maple
Japanese Maple
Birch
Mountain Ash
Redbud
Star Magnolia
Crabapple (non- fruit bearing)
Weeping Cherry
Crape Myrtle
Red Sunset Maple
Dogwood
October Glory Maple

Evergreen Trees
a. At maturity, height may not exceed fifty feet (50′) and width at maturity may not exceed twenty feet (20′).
b. Must be planted a minimum of ten feet (10′) to center of tree from house, patio, or privacy fence.
c. Must be planted a minimum of ten feet (10) on center from all other evergreen or deciduous trees.
d. Must be planted at least ten feet (10′) from neighboring property lines, so as not to encroach upon neighboring properties at maturity.
e. Suggested Specimens:
Colorado Blue Spruce
Longstalk Holly
Eastern Red Cedar
Norwegian Pine
Hemlock
Rocky Mountain Juniper

Tall Shrubs
Barberry (Red Leaf)
Hibiscus/Rose of Sharon
Blue Girl/Blue Boy Holly
Hydrangea
Burning Bush
Lilac Bush
Butterfly Bush
Rhododendron
Compact Holly