January 24 Board Meeting PLUS Update on 707 Commons Drive Proposal

Neighbors – Monday night’s board meeting became unfortunately contentious primarily over the issue of the Long Range Landscape Development Project (LRLDP). In the interest of clearing up some confusion and misunderstandings that seem to be circulating right now, we have put together the attached background information. A few points: • The board approved this project last November. • The committee has completed Phase 1 of the project and has received the board’s approval to start Phase 2. These two phases are charged with assessing the need for, and considering and presenting possible solutions to any problems in or improvements to our common area landscape. • The committee has sought homeowner input throughout Phase 1 and will continue to do so. • Any recommendations made by the committee and brought to the board that involve major change and/or investment will be brought to homeowners for a vote. The LRLDP committee regularly provides updates both in the commentator and on the Village 4 web site. If you have any questions or concerns, please send them to Gary Slavit (gslavit@pobox.com), Paul Stiffler (pstiffler@comcast.net) me at nancycomstock@gmail.com. Campus Commons Village 4 Long Range Landscape Development Project Background The board has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the grounds are safe, maintained, and healthy. The board has undertaken this project to evaluate the landscaping and how it serves the Village Four homeowners. The landscaping is a complex issue. Our common area grounds impact many aspects of Village 4 and many aspects impact the landscape. The existing landscape is old, and many bushes, plants, and grasses are unhealthy inviting pests and parasites that can invade healthy plants and trees. Before we can make any decisions on what, if anything, should be changed requires professional evaluation of the existing landscape. Landscape professionals advise that landscape flora has a life expectancy in terms of its health and viability. While certain plants and trees may have longer lifespans than others, landscape in excess of 40 years is past due for evaluation. Jurisdictions at many levels, city, county, state, and even water districts have become much more strict in terms of water-wise landscaping. Maneuvering the ever-changing requirements requires professional assessment and consultation. We have been advised that not all ordinances are subject to grandfathering and landscaping that is out of compliance could subject the Homeowners Association to significant fines. Fines can often be avoided if we can demonstrate that we are in the process of evaluating changes to bring the grounds into compliance. The board has a responsibility to ensure that all actions are based upon correct and complete information. The common area landscaping is a valuable asset in which decisions must be made frequently to ensure its viability. This project is being executed according to best practices so that such decisions can be made by informed homeowners and board members. Our homeowners should have as many facts as reasonably possible before making such an important and long-lasting decision. Throughout this process, homeowners are being asked for input. The first two phases of the project are about obtaining information from both homeowners and landscape professionals. Homeowners have elected the Board of Directors to make informed decisions and recommendations and to authorize projects such as this. Over the last few years there have already been changes to the landscape. Our aging landscape is in need of additional repairs to replace dead plants and other maintenance issues. It would be irresponsible and a failure of the Board’s fiduciary responsibility to continuously making patchwork changes without considering an overall plan. The only immediate actions the Long Range Landscape Development (LRLDP) is entrusted to make are those related to urgent maintenance issues. Simply asking homeowners if they want changes to the landscaping is not appropriate. That is a false dichotomy and changes are not a binary choice. There can be a wide range of options from no change to complete overhaul. Asking simply for a yes or no choice is asking for an uninformed decision. Any recommendations initiated by the LRLDP Committee and brought to the Board that requests major change and/or investment will be brought to homeowners for a vote.