Wilderness Property Owners Association (WPOA) …...Legal challenge to the flaw Flood Zone...
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1 Wilderness Property Owners Association (WPOA) Homeowners Greenbelt and Neighborhood Survey Survey Summary Fall 2018 The WPOA Homeowners Greenbelt and Neighborhood Survey was shared with WPOA Homeowners in October 2018 through the fall newsletter and via email and the WPOA website. Homeowners were given until late November to complete. There was a total of 40 responses to the survey. Roughly a third of participants have lived in the neighborhood five or fewer years, a third have lived here between 10-15 years and a third have lived here for over 15 years. Key Takeaways • When asked what are the primary functions of the WPOA greenbelt the most popular response was the preservation of the natural environment in suburban development (32 responses), followed by privacy (29 responses) and vegetative buffer (18 responses). • When asked what the Board should prioritize in developing a greenbelt management plan the most popular response was safety (22 responses) followed by sustainability of the green belt over the long term (21 responses) and the replanting of removed or dead trees in the greenbelt (15 responses). • Most of the participants prefer the Board communicate work and plans around the greenbelt management via email (32 responses) followed by updates posted to the WPOA Website (10 responses). • When asked what homeowners would consider contributing to greenbelt management most identified an increase in HOA dues (17 responses) followed by in-kind donations (11 responses) and physical labor (10 responses). • When asked what do homeowners see for the greenbelt in the next 5 or 10 years common themes emerged around safety, sustainability, privacy and recreation. • When asked about ideas for the Board to consider with regard to neighborhood improvements ideas focused around increasing opportunities for social and community engagement, safety and greenbelt management. • When asked to share challenges and opportunities with the Board comments echoed prior themes including social engagement, safety, and sustainability of the greenbelt.
Transcript of Wilderness Property Owners Association (WPOA) …...Legal challenge to the flaw Flood Zone...
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WildernessPropertyOwnersAssociation(WPOA)HomeownersGreenbeltandNeighborhoodSurvey
SurveySummaryFall2018
TheWPOAHomeownersGreenbeltandNeighborhoodSurveywassharedwithWPOAHomeownersinOctober2018throughthefallnewsletterandviaemailandtheWPOAwebsite.HomeownersweregivenuntillateNovembertocomplete.Therewasatotalof40responsestothesurvey.Roughlyathirdofparticipantshavelivedintheneighborhoodfiveorfeweryears,athirdhavelivedherebetween10-15yearsandathirdhavelivedhereforover15years.KeyTakeaways
• WhenaskedwhataretheprimaryfunctionsoftheWPOAgreenbeltthemostpopularresponsewasthepreservationofthe
naturalenvironmentinsuburbandevelopment(32responses),followedbyprivacy(29responses)andvegetativebuffer(18responses).
• WhenaskedwhattheBoardshouldprioritizeindevelopingagreenbeltmanagementplanthemostpopularresponsewassafety(22responses)followedbysustainabilityofthegreenbeltoverthelongterm(21responses)andthereplantingofremovedordeadtreesinthegreenbelt(15responses).
• MostoftheparticipantsprefertheBoardcommunicateworkandplansaroundthegreenbeltmanagementviaemail(32responses)followedbyupdatespostedtotheWPOAWebsite(10responses).
• WhenaskedwhathomeownerswouldconsidercontributingtogreenbeltmanagementmostidentifiedanincreaseinHOAdues(17responses)followedbyin-kinddonations(11responses)andphysicallabor(10responses).
• Whenaskedwhatdohomeownersseeforthegreenbeltinthenext5or10yearscommonthemesemergedaroundsafety,
sustainability,privacyandrecreation.
• WhenaskedaboutideasfortheBoardtoconsiderwithregardtoneighborhoodimprovementsideasfocusedaroundincreasingopportunitiesforsocialandcommunityengagement,safetyandgreenbeltmanagement.
• WhenaskedtosharechallengesandopportunitieswiththeBoardcommentsechoedpriorthemesincludingsocialengagement,
safety,andsustainabilityofthegreenbelt.
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Q1.WhatdoyoubelievearetheprimaryfunctionsoftheWPOAgreenbelt?
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Q2.WhatshouldtheBoardprioritizeindevelopingagreenbeltmanagementplan?
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Q3.HowwouldyouprefertheBoardcommunicateworkandplansaroundgreenbeltmanagement?
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Q4.Whatresourceswouldyouconsidercontributingtogreenbeltmanagement?
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Q5.Whatdoyouseeforthegreenbeltinthenextfiveortenyears?
Clearhazardssuchasjunkpeoplehavedumpedinthere;cuttopsofhazardtreesbutleavesnagsforwildlifehabitat;makeparkswhereresidentscansit,play,gather;clearpathsthroughthewoodedareaforwalkingsothatwedon’thavetowalkonthestreetwherethecarstraveltoo;fastreplant.Forthemostpart,leaveitalone.Removeonlyproblemtreesandpossibynoxiousweeds.Limithumaninfringement.Safetyisourmainconcern.Treescoveredinivyhavedifficultystayinghealthy.Couldregularivyremovalhelpourtrees?Eradicateivy.Leaveasnaturalaspossible.Removehazardoustreesasdeterminedbycertifiedprofessionals.Replantnativetrees.Hopetocontnuetohaveasustainableandhealthygreenbelt.Nohikingtrails.Noencampments.Nocrime.Amorecared-for-look;i.e.deadtreeremoval,necessarytrimmingclosetoprivateproperty,clearedwalkingpaths.Debris,deadtreesandvegetationremovedforfireprotectionpurposes.Fireworksbanforfiresafetypurposes.Nopathdevelomenttopreventcrimehomeinvasionandevasionofprivacy.Inthefuture,Iseeivyremoval,perhapssomedangerouslimbremoval,treere-planting,basictrailmaintenance.Maintainandprotectthegreenbelt,andpossiblyplantadditionaltreestoensureahealthy,flourshinggreenbelt.Thegreenbeltisabigdrawformanyresidents.Itneedstobeapriorityforthisneighborhood.Maintainingahealthygreenbeltthatissafeandfreefromdiseasedanddamagedtrees.Itwouldbenicetokeepthemasnativeaspossible.Cleanouttheinvasivespecies(ivy)andactivelymaintaintgereesbeforetheybecomeaproblem.Alsothecommonareasarehardtofind,andthetrailstogettherearemostlyunmaintained.Identificationandmoremaintenancewouldgoalongwaystohavingthoseareasmoreactivelyused.
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AvolunteerarboristfrmT.E.S.C.sharingresultswiththeassociationmembersforfurtherdiscussionisacceptableaslongasthispersonisnotaccompaniedbypotsmokingliberalaffiliatesprowlingbehindandnexttoourhomes.Homeownerswouldhavetobenotifiedpriortoprivacyinvasion.Removalofinvasiveundergrowth.Or,thepossibilityofhomeownerstopotentiallypurchasegreenbeltareasbehindtheirhomeswiththestipulationinthebylawsorconvenantthatnotreeswillberemoved.Iwouldliketoseeimprovementsmadetothissothatourcommunityhasvibrantpathwaystowalkaroundon.I’dliketoseeitstillremaining.ItisthereasonIboughtahouseinthisneighborhood.Itreallybreaksmyhearttoseeneighorshavetreescutdown.Oneneighborbehindushadalltreesinthegreenbeltremoved.Nochangetocurrentpolicy.MaintaintheWiggins&BoulevardRoadentrances,mowthelawnsbetweenduplexesandsinglefamilyhomes.Rightnowmostofthegreenbeltareasarefullofweedsandundergrowthsocouldn’tbeusedforanywalking.Theyaremoreofafirehazardthenbeautyorpleasant.IfeelthattheywerebetterbeforetheassocwastoldtonotdoANYTHINGinthegreenbelts.Letthepeopleclaimit.Atleastitisclean.Overgrowthanddeterioration,needstobethinnedout.Takeoutalltreesthathavevinesgrowingonthem.Notjustcutdown&lefttorot.IthinkdoingacleaningupeverytwoyearsforthegreenbeltareasandtakingouttheBlackberryvines.Preventativemaintenancetopreservecurrentgreenbeltwhilealsofactoringinsafetytoownersandtheirproperty.Cleanthemup,ourshasbeenusedasadumpingspotandthereisalotofgarbagethatneedstobehauledoff.Limb/removetreesthatcausesafetyissues.Concerns-possiblehazardustrees,downedtreesthatprovidedrymaterialsthatcouldfuelfires.Wouldnotwanttoseewholesalecleaningoutofgreenbelts.Havingreadyaccessforpeopletotravelisaninvitationforbreakinsofproperties.Wanttokeeptheprivacyandwildlife.
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Keepingthetreeshealthyandsafe.Maintainingtreesthathavebeentoppedoff.Wehaveseveraltreesthathavebeentoppedbehindourhousethatareunsafe.Wewantthegreenbeltsstaunchlypreservedasgreenspacesfornativetreesandplantsperhapssomenativeplantplantingparties?).Withoutgreenbeltsandacommitmenttotrees,WildernesswouldnotbeWilderness,Welovewhatmakesthisneighborhoodunique!Thereisnoneotherlikeit.Removalofivytoensurematuretreescontinuetogrow.Ifleftunchecked,ivychokesoutthefernsandOregongrape,andeventallycankillethelargetreesaswell.Mypropertyissurroundedon2sidesbygreenbelt.Alargemajorityofthatgreenbeltiscoveredinthickblackberries.Iviewthegreenbeltsasaconstantsourceoffrustrationandheadachetryingtomanagetokeeptheblackberriesoffmyproperty.Removingunhealthyovergrowntreesandshrubsasneeded.Walkingpathsarenice.Curbeappealisimportant.Iwouldlikethegreenbelttobemanageedsothatallcanenjoyit,thinningandaddingsomewalkingpathsandremovingsomelargetreesandreplacingthemwithnewonestoletinsomemorelightwhilekeepingthesecludedfeel.Isupporteffortstokeepthegreenbeltfrombecomingahazard.
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Q6.AstheBoardconsidersneighborhoodimprovementswhatideasdoyouhave?
Perhapsaneighborhoodsocialcommittee.Agroupthatofferswaysforthecommunitytogettoknowoneanother.Groupwalksaroundtheloop,SoupNights,4thofJulybikeride/walkparade,Easteregghunt,EarthDaytrashpickup,workparties,etc.ThanksforallthatyoudoontheBoard!Keepthegreenbeltclearedofdeadtrees/branchesthathavefallenduetostorms,plantnewtreesorreplacedeadonesinareashardesthit,determinedifthereisoldgrowthforestinourgreenbelt,andensurethattheENTIREgreenbeltislookedatandmaintained.Thelightingimrpovementsaregreatlyappreciated.Speedsarestillaproblemandvariousmethodsneedtobelookedtokeepspeedsincheck.Anarboristthatdoesproactiveworkandwatchingforthetreesthatneedhelpsomehowbeforethetreesfall.ItbecomeshazardoustodrivearoundWildernesswhenPeoplewhohave4or5carsparkedinthestreeteveryday&night.PleaseaskthemtoparkoffthecurveStoppeoplefromtakingdowngoodtrees.SpeedbumpsonWildernessdr.,Donnelly,DonavanDr.SWtoslowdowntraffic.Continuewithbetterlighting;clearingplantsalongtheroadsforimprovedvisibilityofoncomingcarsforwalkersandtoseestreetsignsbetter.Askfiredepartmentorforestservicetodoaninspectionofourwoodedareawithfiresafetyinmindandmakerecommendationsforreductionofrisk.Havetreestrimmedaroundstreetlights.Keepitsimple.Don’tcreateortrysolveproblemsthatdon’texist.Sidewalksandaplaygroundwouldbenice.Havinganarboristcomecheckallthetreesisreassuring.Greatnextstep.Continuelightingimprovements.Theyareawesome!Considerimprovingtheparkwithamenities.RemovejunipersbyentranceatBoulevard.Replacewithgrass.Createotheramenitiestoimprovetheneighborhoodsuchasplaygrounds,sidewalks,opportunityforthecommunitytogather.
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Workwiththecountytodevelopanoverallplantoimprovestormdrainagesystems.Oursaresorelyinadequate.Createasavingsprogramandfundraisingtopurchsenewsolarpoweredstreetlighting.Establishaminimumstandardforyardlandscapingtoprotectpropertyvalues(withapenalty).Theneighborhoodiswonderfulasis,buttherearemanylotsnotwellmaintained,toomanycarsonroad,tomanystreetlightsblockedbyhomeownersshrubberyand/ortrees.Also,atleastoneresidencehaspitbullsbreakingthroughthefence.Speederscontrolled.Firehazardousdebrisgone.ContinuationofthestreetlightstobeconvertedtoLED.Maybespeedbumpstheschoolbusstopsforincreasedsafetyofthechildrenduringloadingandunloading.Keeptheexistingstreetlights,butmakethesemoredirectionallightdowntowardthestreetandofftheskyandhouses.Understandthesearenotthecurrentstyleinuseinmostplaces,buttheyaddanicequalitytoournieghborhood.Wouldloveimprovementsinthegreenbelttobemorecommunal.Greenbeltmaintaining,educationaboutinvasivespecies,communitydisasterpreparedeness,socialevents.LegalchallengetotheflawFloodZonedesignationregardingtheseasonalditchthatdoesn’tflood.Morestreetlamps.Howaboutaneighborhoodgaragesale.ManyneighborsI’vespokentowouldliketoseethisasmanyotherneighborhoodaroundusarealreadydoingthis.Selectingdarkskycompliantstreetlightswhenreplacingluminaries.ImprovingwalkingtrailswithaccestoLBA.Greenbeltmanagement.SpeedreductionmeasuresonWilderness.Notsure…maybelimitpeoplesabilitytochopdownandoldgrowthtreeinthefrontyardwithoutboardapproval,asI’dhatetheneighborhoodtoloseitscharacteristicdeep-forestfeel.TheBoarddoesagreatjob.Thankyou.WearemostconcernedaboutpreventingnewroadconnectionstoWildernessthatwouldincreasetrafficnoiseandharmitspeaceful,forest-likefeel.Wildernessisanoasisinarapidlydevelopingarea.Iagreewithhavinganarboristcomeoutandassessourgreenbeltforpotential“problemareas”andhazardsthatcouldleadtopropertydamageorposeapotentialsafetyconcern.
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Makingsureallstreetlightswork,especiallysincearepayingforthem.Dowepayperlight?IknowinHighlinewehavesomeoutthatIneedtocallabout.Removehazardoustrees,allowneighborsadjacentwhoarewillingtokeepuptheiradjoininggreenbelts.Donotplanusesfortravelinglikewalkingtrailsneedtheprivacy.
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Q7.WhatopportunitiesandchallengeswouldyouliketosharewiththeBoard?
Nothinginparticular,justthatinabigpicturesense,Wilderness’identityasaneighborhoodofgreenspaceisworthprotecting!I’dliketoseeclearingofblackberrybramblesandothernoxiousweeds.Thereissomejunkinourgreenbeltbehindourhouse.Iwouldlikeitclearedalsothepathalongthegaslinecouldusesomesprucingup.Makeitabettermoreappealingandsaferpath.Trimtreesthatblockvisibility.Thetreessafetyisnumberone.IalsoreallyappreciatetheemailsthatIreceiveaboutconcernsintheneighborhood,likesuspicouscharactersorincidents.Revitalizingtheneighborhoodforfamilieswithkidsandpets.Morefamilieswithyoungchildrenaremovingin.Idon’tunderstandthisquestion…whywouldyourequireatleast100charactersforthisspace??Neighborhoodwatchinplay.Havevolunteeredseveraltimes.Areadoesnotneedadditionalpaths,recreationalopportunities,etc.Justmaintainingwhatalreadyexists.Alreadymanyfamilyrecreationalopportunities.Onewhichiswithinwalkingdistance.Thepossibilityofahomeownertopurchasethegreenbeltareadirectlybehindtheirhomeswiththestipulationthatnotreeswillberemoved(unlessdeemdedstructurallyunsafefromtreeprofessional).TheFEMAfloodmappingdesignationforseveralpropertieshasbeenarealissue.AfewoftheneighborsdirectlyaroundmeandIhavefiguredouthowtonavigatethereviewprocess,butithasn’tbeenveryeasy.I’mnotentirelysuretheinformationusedtodeterminethefloodelevationiscorrect.SpeedbumpsonWildernessdr.,Donnelly,DonavanDrSWtoslowdowntraaffic.Ihavewrittenseverallettersbutnothingisdone.Somebodyisgoingtobehurt.Keepingtheprivacyandsafety.Allowingpeopletomaintainthegreenbeltsadjacenttotheirpropertieswithoutdoingpermanentbuilding.Permissionsfortreeremovalifnecessary.Somemaybewillngtopayforitifitisadangertotheirproperty.
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Yourbudgetandlistlookapproperiateenough.Justathought…iftheBoardandothersfindthativyremovalisanissuetheywanttotackle,youmighttryworkigwiththeConservationDistrict(EricaGuttman)toseeiftheycanofferassistance/resourcestowardsreplantingnativeplants.Wedonothavedifficultchallengesinourgreenbeltotherthankeepingtheblackberrybushesatbaysotheydon’ttakeoverouryardandpickingupthelargebranchesthatfallintoouryard.Forus,thisisrelativelyeasyandnotthattimeconsuming.http://m.mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/map-your-neighborhoodhttp://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/english-ivyAspreviouslystated,achallengewouldbethecountyandFEMA’sfloodmappingdesignationregardingtheditch.IamwillingtohelpbutamnewtotheareasoIdon’thavealotofcontactopportunities.Iwouldbeabletovolunteertime.
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Q8.Whendidyoumovetotheneighborhood?
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SurveyResponses:
• 40totalsurveyparticipants• Question2:37answersand3unanswered• Question3:37answersand3unanswered• Question4:35answersand5unanswered• Question5:28answersand12unanswered• Question6:23answersand17unanswered• Question7:16answersand24unanswered• Question8:37answersand3unanswered
