NOTICE TO OAKBROOK TOWNHOUSES MEMBERS
ON LANDSCAPING POLICY
Approved by the Board of Directors May 9, 2016
The Oakbrook
Townhouses Board has been considering how to enhance the landscaping of the
community.
On September
8, 2014 the Board adopted a set of Landscaping Principles to guide Board and
member behavior on landscaping. A copy
is attached.
The
Landscaping Principles recognize the multiple values of good landscaping, and reflect
the primary responsibility of the Board for managing landscaping in the common
areas, while recognizing that member involvement can enhance the Board’s
landscaping activities.
During 2015,
the Board took several specific actions regarding its landscaping
responsibilities:
1. It
sent to the membership a set of Smart Watering guidelines, aimed at ensuring
adequate, but not over-watering, of landscaped areas.
2. It
inventoried and corrected a number of deficiencies in the OT irrigation system
3. It
conducted a visual inspection of the landscaping in the entire common area for
which it has primary responsibility, and prepared a photographic inventory of
that area
4. It adopted a set of principles to guide its own activities and those of members
5. It
agreed to adopt a clear written policy to govern its activities and those of
our members
6. It
agreed to adopt a set of landscaping goals, and to assess whether our current
contract(s) are sufficient to achieve those goals
7. It
agreed to conduct a regular assessment of the condition of landscaping as the
basis for future activity
8. It
received and adopted a set of recommendations for enhancement of our
landscaping
9. It
implemented, on a trial basis, one of those recommendations (that of barking
the area around buildings 5, 6, and 7, which was completed in December, 2015
10. It
conducted, through landscaping contractors, a preliminary assessment of the baseline
condition of our current landscaping
11. It
approved one of several proposals to correct problems created by previous
owners unaware of proper landscaping criteria (in this case the planting of
bamboo, whose subsequent uncontrolled growth has threatened to damage or
destroy adjacent vegetation, underground piping, sidewalks, and driveways)
12. It
recognized from the inventory and assessment activities mentioned above that
there may be many such situations, where certain landscaping actions of past
owners are creating problems for the community and increasing remediation costs
to the association and its members.
At its May 9,
2016 meeting, the Board adopted the following policy to manage
landscaping. It builds on the Board’s
primary responsibility for landscaping while recognizing the value of proper
individual actions.
1. Any
member may propose an improvement to landscaping in the front of, or adjacent
to the side of existing buildings, by submitting such a proposal, in writing,
to any member of the Board, or to Northwest Properties. Such proposals will be sent to the Board for
approval. (NOTE: this is the same process we use for all other requests for work
to be done by OT).
2. Any
member wishing to enhance the landscaped area immediately adjacent to his/her
own unit shall submit to the Board for approval a written request for such
proposed action. Such requests shall
include, but not be limited to, the placement, removal, or trimming of any trees, shrubs, other
living vegetation; or any rocks, gravel, or other non-living items; except medium
to dark-brown mulching bark and annual flowers.
Annual flowers and bulbs are exempt from the review process; however,
the Board reserves the right to remove them if they are not suitable for the
site. (NOTE: this is the same process we use for all other owner requests for
approval from the Board (eg., mailbox replacements, fences, ground level deck
extensions, garage doors, painting touch-ups, etc.)
3. The
Board shall consider such proposals, in a timely manner, and approve, reject,
or propose modification of such proposal, based on its conformance to the
landscaping guidelines adopted by the Board.
4. No
owner or renter may take any action to modify the landscaped area immediately
adjacent to their own unit without the explicit written permission from the
Board.
5. Any
items requiring approval from the Board, which are placed, removed, or trimmed in
violation of the provisions of this policy will be subject to being removed or
replaced, as the case may be, as the Board may determine is appropriate, at the
expense of the owner who has caused the violation of the policy.
6. Any
owner who receives approval to make such landscaping modifications shall do so
with the explicit understanding that the owner is responsible for any required
maintenance.
7. Any
new owner shall assume the landscaping responsibilities of the previous owner.
