forest oaks september/october 2015€¦ · newsletter to [email protected] follow us...
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Published bimonthly for the Forest Oaks Homeowners Association by Neighborhood News, Inc.
Vol. 9 No. 5
September/October 2015FOREST OAKS
www.forestoaksonline.comfficial Newsletter of the Forest Oaks Homeowners AssociationO
The deadline for article submissions is October 25, 2015 for the mid-November 2015 publication. Please submit articles to be considered for the next
newsletter to [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter @FOHOAwww.forestoaksonline.com
Cross Creek Ranch Development and Extension of
C-Bar Ranch Road toN. Lynnwood
There are two separate issues that are being discussed with the City regarding the development between the end of N. Lynnwood and 1431. One is the extension of N. Lynnwood to connect to C-Bar Ranch (which comes out by Murphy Gas across from the Target entrance on 1431). The other is the rezoning and development of the Cross Creek Ranch area which borders Forest Oaks along the entire length of Peyton Place and moves towards 1431. The plan also includes retail development along the back side of current businesses on 1431.
On 7/23/15, City Council approved the rezoning of the development area in question from Development Reserve to Planned Development –Housing. They specifically approved the plan Brohn Homes applied for,
which is medium density condominium style housing, but was proposed as detached single family homes. This development, called Cross Creek Ranch, has so far only had the zoning approved; it will still need to go through Planning & Zoning (P&Z) for the final design of the new neighborhood. This approval is a good thing for Forest Oaks since they cannot change the density or type of housing in that development unless they reapply with a new plan. That means there will not be high density units such as apartments or attached condos. These are single homes and the plan had approx. 190 homes in the area to be developed, which is reasonable.
Also on 7/23/15, City Council reviewed the proposal for financing of the extension of N. Lynnwood. Brohn is taking on the cost of this as part of this development, but the road has been part of the City’s long term plan for several years. There is not a question of if the road will go through, but there was lots of discussion on how to do that and keep our neighborhoods safe. City Council requested and the developer agreed that language be inserted in the zoning approval to stipulate that the developer make reasonable efforts to design the roadway so that it will be mildly inconvenient and indirect so as to eliminate an express lane to bypass 183A. The developer revealed that there are numerous intricate environmental concerns (US Waterways and environmental studies that need to be done) that might create some unique hurdles to moving and redesigning the Lynnwood extension in a way that would create the inconvenience that the Council and residents desire. At a minimum, they need to build a bridge, which has not been
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planned or properly researched yet. They would not move forward with those studies until the approval on the funding phases has passed. There will be more opportunities to have input into the roadway and the P&Z board reports to City Council, so they will continue to have a say as the process moves forward. It was very clear that the Council is concerned with this access being safe, having traffic calming elements, and not allowing it to become a bypass to 183a.
This is where things stand with the City on the zoning issues currently. There are several other things the Board has been working with the City to clarify which residents should be aware of. There will be a new fire station that has already been approved built behind the Target Medical Parkway/Cottonwood Creek area that will service our area. This will serve as our secondary fire station and goes towards our ISO Suppression Rating, currently the best rating available. That rating does have a direct impact on home owner’s insurance costs. The extension of N. Lynnwood will drastically reduce emergency response times and allow residents more direct access to medical emergency facilities.
There has also been discussion about the construction process. All construction traffic will be entering the area from 1431 with the exception of when they build a bridge over the creek, since they will need to access that from both directions. That should be the only construction traffic that affects N. Lynnwood. There will be a 20 foot buffer from the edge of the HOA property to the build line for the new development. The Board and committee will work with Brohn to design a wall and natural barrier between the neighborhoods that allows wildlife through, but will maintain privacy for both neighborhoods. We are hopeful that walls may go up prior to construction to keep dust, noise and other construction nuisance to a minimum for FO residents. For those concerned about the additional cut-through along Suede onto Peyton Place, we were assured by the Council that it will be a crash gate access for emergency vehicles only, not for general use.
As far as the traffic concerns, the Chief of Police is aware of our current complaints for speeding and will try to help police the area now. There will be additional traffic studies needed as plans progress, but probably not before then. It is very likely that the Village section of FO will have some changes along the N. Lynnwood area to keep the road safe, which may include additional stop signs, cross walks and one way only for alley access as the traffic increases. There will be planning by the City with input from the HOA before any of those changes are made, but City Council is very aware of the concerns of residents along both S and N Lynnwood.
With the amount of work still to be done by Brohn and the approvals still needed from the City, it is likely to be another year before any construction begins and there
will be other opportunities for residents to speak during that time. However, the Board and the Committee set up to work with the Developer are trying hard to provide a united front for our neighborhood and all of the residents’ concerns. As the planning continues, we will alert residents of any opportunities to appear in person at meetings or times to voice concerns. In the meantime, if you have specific concerns or questions, please forward them to the committee so we can limit the amount of interaction with the City and try to provide the same information to everyone. [email protected]
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Dear Residents of Forest Oaks, Several of you have contacted us regarding your water bills. In response to your inquiries, we are conducting a thorough examination of our system—both the meter reading process and billing data. We have been looking at this for the past week, and have not identified any type of meter malfunction or billing errors to date; however, we are going to dig deeper to ensure there is not a larger problem. When we begin to explore a problem like this, we focus on two data points: how much water is being treated at our water plant, and how much are we billing? We want to see these numbers cor-respond as it indicates that we aren’t over or under charging customers. Our initial analysis shows that based on treat-ment plant and billing data, the numbers are corresponding (again, meaning in general how much is going through the plant corresponds to what is being billed). We are also find-ing that the average residential connection is using more water per day in August 2015 then they did in August 2013. However, that is just the average, and your home and situa-tion may be different. There are a few common “culprits” when it comes to wa-ter consumption that we can look at for your specific home. First, I’d encourage you to take advantage of the City’s free irrigation audit (irrigation systems are your sprinkler system). This is a program the City offers in which a licensed irrigator will come to your home and examine your irrigation system. Irrigation systems can account for more than 50% of an av-erage homeowner’s water consumption during the summer months…so this is a common culprit of high use. Even if you
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The Third Annual Forest Oaks 5K was held on Saturday August 8th, and between sponsors and entry fees from the over 100 participants, raised more than $1200 for Cox and Reagan Elementary schools. Runners of all ages, shapes, and sizes converged on the Forest Oaks pool to take on a course that wound throughout the neighborhood.
We’d like to thank all the volunteers who came out to help with the event – with a special thanks to the Vista Ridge Cross Country Team for all their help.
Sponsors included:
Real ManageNative Land Design Ja-Mar Roofing and Sheet Metal Rogue Running Blue Corn Harvest Sagebrook Health Center Kerry Redding Realty
The 5K is an annual Forest Oaks HOA back to school event for our community – so mark your calendar for next August – and start training!
Community Comes Out To Support Neighborhood Schools
have not adjusted settings, a sprinkler head could be off or broken and you are unaware of it. If you are interested in this, please contact the City’s Water Conservation Division at 512 401 5308. You can also read more conservation tips here: http://cedarparktexas.gov/water Next, there may be an issue with the pressure reducing valve on the side of your home. Our Public Works staff can come to your home (please call 512 401 5550) and test to see if your water pressure is too high. If it is too high, then consumption goes up. You may not experience this too much within the home, but it could greatly impact consump-tion of your sprinkler system. There is a simple part/repair any homeowner can make that can help with this. Finally, I’d recommend you take a look at some of our tips online about how to detect a leak (just in case this is the issue). You can find that information here: http://cedarpark-texas.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5127 Again, we are thoroughly examining the meter data, pro-cesses, and billing system to ensure there is not a larger is-sue. Please know that we are committed to providing quality, professional, and responsive service. If you have additional billing concerns or questions, please contact Utility Billing at 512 401 5300. Should we learn of a larger issue or systematic reason for the consumption increase, we will be sure to contact you all. Any other updates on this issue will be provided to your HOA.
Katherine Caffrey, Assistant City ManagerOffice 512 401 [email protected]
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David [email protected]
Robert [email protected]
Community Association ManagerKeri Scott
Assistant Association ManagerCarol Green
On-site hours at FOHOA Community CenterTuesday and Thursday, 2:00 PM–5:00 PM
RealManage9601 Amberglen Blvd., Ste. 150
Austin, TX 78729Phone: 1-866-473-2573
Fax: (512) 219-5696www.realmanage.com
Customer ServiceToll-free, open 24/7 for Emergencies
1-866-4-RealService(1-866-473-2573)
Forest Oaks Owners Association Management Team Forest Oaks Committees
Association Committees are composed of Forest Oaks residents who serve on a voluntary basis. Committee Chairs are appointed by the Board of Directors. All residents are welcome to serve on committees of choice. Please contact the following committee chairs to participate:Architectural Committee Chair,David [email protected] MacDonald, Robert Medure, Members• Reviews all plans and specifications for improvements
to lots within the Association• Assists in enforcement of Deed Restrictions
Recreation & Social Committee Chairs,Julie Levy, [email protected] Rodriguez, Member• Plans neighborhood parties and other Association events• Helps organize neighborhood clubs or groups
Amenity Center/Pool Committee Chair,Jennifer Butler-Harrison, [email protected] Gogulski, Board LiaisonMakes recommendations regarding operation of:• Community Recreation Center• Swimming pools (including rules and hours of operation)
Neighborhood Watch Committee Chair,Bryan Hickers, [email protected]• Makes recommendations to the Board regarding safety
and security of the community• Coordinates the “Neighborhood Watch” program
Landscaping CommitteeMel Kirkland, [email protected]• Maintenance of common areas of the community • Considers special recognition awards for “Yard of the Month”
Publicity Committee Chair, Newsletter EditorEric Carlson, [email protected]@forestoaksonline.com• Works with the other committees to publicize Associa-
tion events and news on the Website and in the Forest Oaks newsletter to inform the members of all activities and functions of the Association.
For advertising sales and information please call or send an email to [email protected]
Articles that appear in the Forest Oaks newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official position of Neighborhood News, Inc. and their publication does not constitute an endorsement therein. The appearance of any advertisement in Forest Oaks newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by Neighborhood News, Inc. of the goods or services advertised. Neighborhood News, Inc. is not responsible for errors beyond the cost of the actual ad space. Any publication of Neighborhood News, Inc., whether draft or final is the sole property of Neighborhood News, Inc. and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express written consent of Neighborhood News, Inc. ©Neighborhood News, Inc.
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LET’S DO OUR PART IN HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT!
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go greenWe are proud to announce we are now o�ering YOU to “opt-in” to having your
Neighborhood Newsletter delivered electronically!
HOW?Visit www.NeighborhoodNews.com
Click on: “Let’s do our part” and follow the instructions.
What will change?Well... nothing! Your address will be removed from the mailing list and a digital
copy will be emailed to you within the next couple of issues.We are so pleased to be o�ering this new service!
Questions? Feel free to contact Neighborhood News at (210) 558-3160with any website-related questions.
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October is Hard Hats for Little Heads Month, a program created by The Texas Medical Association to encour-age children to exercise safely by wearing a properly fitted helmet every time they bike, skate, skateboard, or ride a scooter.
A properly fitting helmet can prevent almost all head injuries — studies show up to 85 percent — the most common cause of disability or death in a bicycle crash.
With so many kids of all ages riding bikes to school and on the busy streets in our neighborhood, wearing a bi-cycle helmet is critical to prevent injuries in the case of falls and accidents.
Right here in Forest Oaks, we have so many opportuni-ties for collisions! Don’t let your kids get caught without a helmet in case of low hanging tree branches or when encountering a chicken, deer, rat snake, nutria or other forms of wildlife, not to mention the not-so-wild dogs that frequently break free from their homes – you defi-nitely WOULD NOT want your child to be stuck without a helmet in case of a run in with a runaway!
But seriously…crashes happen, and little heads need protection!
What’s cool about getting a new helmet? Kids can decorate it with stickers or sharpies or whatever they want! But most importantly they can protect that pow-erful brain that orchestrates EVERY single move they make! And a certified helmet can last 3-5 years (unless
“Get Moving. Stay Safe. Wear a Helmet.”
Source: This photo was borrowed from the internet for your entertainment purposes only. http://carfreeamerican.
blogspot.com/
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involved in a crash…) And now, you can get one for FREE!
100 helmets will be given away for FREE and fitted properly for children, 4 years – 11 years of age.
Saturday, October 3rd9:00 am – 12:00 noon (while supplies last)Cedar Park Pediatric & Family Medicine
345 Cypress Creek Rd. Suite 104Contact: Kim Mallinger – kmallinger@cedarpark-
doctors.com
Take this opportunity to educate a child about the im-portance of wearing a helmet, avoiding collisions of all kinds and the proper way to wear a helmet!
Hard Hats for Little Heads is made possible through a grant from the TMA Foundation thanks to top donors — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Prudential, and two anonymous foundations — and gifts from phy-sicians and their families.
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Some of you may really enjoy receiving and reading the numerous “newspapers” that are dropped on our drive-ways every week or so. But if you’re like me, then maybe you don’t. They get rain-soaked, nasty, and some-times end up lying in the driveway for days on end. Okay, well maybe not so much rain-soaked lately, but still …
I did a little research and found that you can actually stop at least one of these (Hill Country News) from being delivered- that’s right! I tried it and it works, for the most part. Simply send your name and full address to the following via email with a request to stop delivery to [email protected].
If you know of any others that can be stopped, please let us know at [email protected] so that we can get the word out and help keep our neighborhood looking well-kept and “litter-free”.
Cheers!
Robert Medure
How to Stop Unsolicited “Newspaper” Driveway Littering:
GET THE WORD OUT.
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