Victor Gardens Application Package for New Home Construction

Victor Gardens Community Association's ARC finalized and approved forms meant to simplify the process by which new builders submit new home plan proposals for ARC approval.  The forms have been developed over the last few years through the careful work of the Master ARC. The forms have already been successfully used by the ARC to review new proposed home plans.

The Application Package for New Home Construction is available in PDF format and Microsoft Word format for the builder's convenience.

Architectural & Landscape Changes

Homeowners wishing to make changes to their home's exterior or landscape must first receive Architectural Review Committee approval. Contact your Community Manager for more info. Applications are available in the links below:

• Condo Homeowners
• Single Family Homeowners

Master Board/ARC Working to Clarify ARC Authority

On behalf of the Master Board and Master Architectural Review Committee, Community Development Inc. is asking the Master Assn's attorney for clarification on ARC authority issues.  The question arises due to confusion between Master and sub-association ARC authority.  The question specifically arose from Master ARC discussion of unauthorized Condo sub-association satellite TV dish installations.

Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowners Association is believed to be the only Victor Gardens sub-association that the Master Association specifically turned limited ARC control over to. (link here). The SFV has the authority to govern existing architecture and landscapes, but does not have control over new home building within the SFV.

ARC Committee Meeting Summary

Last night the Victor Gardens Community Association (Master) Architectural Review Committee met.  The group discussed a number of topics including:

• Unauthorized satellite dish antennae on condo and town home buildings.
• The successful completion of Grantaire Green.
• Landscape applications for new Single Family Village homes.
• Compliance Certificates for newly built Single Family Village homes.
• A new Sharper Homes proposal for a new Single Family Village home in the last remaining corner lot on Provence Way.

Agenda Available- Master ARC Meeting Tonight, 6:30pm

Tonight's Master ARC meeting will be held at the Neighborhood Activity Center at 6:30pm.  All are welcome to attend.   The meeting's agenda is available for download here.

Grantaire Green Design Approved - New Common Space for Residents

Victor Gardens Community Association's common area known as "Grantaire Green" is a few steps closer to completion. In recent months, Landscape Committee Chair Tony Schwab, Goetz Landscape, the Master Board/ARC, Phil and Dawn Primeau worked together developing a landscape plan. It includes bench seating, planting beds, shrubs, perennial plants, turf grass, trees, and irrigation system. Currently the area is undeveloped and bordered on all sides by Grantaire Lane in Victor Gardens Single Family Village.

Neighborhood Development Partners, LLC, and Ron Mehl in particular, have been a great help in this process too. They'll play a key role in the project's construction following the expected approval by Hugo City Hall.

It's hoped that by the end of summer installation will be completed on the project. The location's great for the Association as it's just steps away from the Clearwater Creek Trail and the newly built footbridge. Bench seating will provide a great view and a resting place for trail users.

UPDATE: 7/16/10 The City of Hugo approved the plan.

Big Changes Ahead- Landscaping, Common Areas & Park Improvements

The Master Board of Directors discussed a major effort to improve landscape and maintenance in Victor Gardens common areas and parks last night. The Board is working with Goetz Landscape and Landscape Committee volunteer Tony Schwab to identify areas with greatest need, and to follow-up on the major landscape upgrades begun last year. The Board discussed all common and park areas within the neighborhood and identified a few priorities. Victor Square will likely receive greater attention this year including new coordinated planting areas on each of the Square's corners. Progress has already been made. The former land-office site's (currently owned by Alliance Bank) fencing has been removed. The fencing had been falling down for years, and had become an attention-getting eyesore. At some point in the next few years, residents can expect that property to be developed. The boulevard along Victor Hugo Blvd. will also receive attention this year. Cottonwoods and willow saplings will be cut back to provide better views of the pond, low spots will be leveled with black dirt, and grass will be re-seeded. Neighborhood-wide, irrigation systems will continue to be improved, some components will be replaced- including adding new rain sensors. Work is also expected at the Jardin fountain, the south entrance, postal stations, Grantaire Green, the clock tower near Rosemary Way, Flora Green, Provence Green, the elevated berm behind homes along Garden Way 's carriage way, entrances near the Lake Area Bank , and the raised planters on the Victor Hugo Blvd. bridge across Clearwater Creek. A new "Victor Gardens" monument sign has also been proposed to be built possibly near the main entrance at Victor Hugo Blvd. and Frenchman Road. The Board is also discussing the possibility of partnering with the City of Hugo to improve the condition of the turfgrass within Val Jean, Arbre, and Victor Square Parks (all three of which are owned by the City of Hugo). The Board also is hopeful for a future, productive meeting with the City to address sinking retaining wall stones at Victor Square, near the pond.

Alterations of your Home's Exterior & Landscape Requires ARC Approval

Spring is around the corner! You may be thinking of making some alterations or improvements to the exterior of your home or perhaps your yard. If you plan on doing so, please read through the newly revised Architectural & Landscape Change Application Guide. It describes some of the projects that require an application and some that don't.

Now is the perfect time to start planning landscape improvements, new decks, and other exterior projects. Designers generally encourage planning mid-winter before the Spring rush. Submitting your applications prior to the ARC's peak season will also ensure that you'll have the approvals you need when you're ready to start your projects.

Download & Print: Architectural & Landscape Change Application Guide & Form

Keep Victor Gardens Looking Great!

Victor Gardens' new Landscape Committee is signing up volunteers! Whether you're an experienced gardener or a novice who's inspired to make their neighborhood look its best- We need your help! Tony Schwab Chairs the committee, and he's already planning activities for the spring warm-up. He has some great ideas, but he needs your help too!

The Landscape Committee will be involved in a variety of projects this year, and may also help plan the next phase of landscape improvements begun in 2009. Goetz Landscape significantly improved the planting areas near Victor Gardens main entrances last year, including renovation of the flower beds on the North and South sides of Victor Gardens main entrance at Frenchman Road. New areas were also planted with annuals and perennials at the Everton Ave. entrance. We'd like to build on that success, maintain those areas, and identify other areas to improve this Spring/Summer. The Board is committed to maintain areas that needed more attention last year, particularly around the Victor Square Pond and other common spaces.

The Landscape Committee will be a big part of keeping Victor Gardens looking great! For more info, please see this post on our resident website.

We're signing up volunteers starting today. Please see the downloadable sign-up sheet and contact Community Manager, Casey Groff, or Tony Schwab for more information. Thanks!

New Landscape Committee Formed - Please Volunteer

The Master Board chartered a new Landscape Committee at its quarterly meeting last night. The Board asks for one resident volunteer from each of Victor Gardens' sub-associations (two from the Single Family Village) to serve on this committee. Volunteers will help our Community Manager, Casey Groff oversee the health of Victor Gardens' plants, shrubs and trees, help oversee our snow-removal and landscape contractors, and serve as Community Manager's "eyes and ears". Committee members will not necessarily be responsible for hands-on planting, weeding, etc. Those tasks will be reserved for contractors hired by the association. The Board hopes that the new Landscape Committee will work cooperatively with our Community Manager and Board to help maintain the beauty of our neighborhood, and offer recommendations for its improvement.

Please pitch in and help! Volunteers are asked to sign-up with our Community Manager, Casey Groff (phone# 763-225-6498, email cgroff@developcommunity.com). Please see the sign-up sheet for more info.

The following is text from the Landscape Committee Charter. It offers a more detailed explanation of the role of the committee and its volunteers:

Purpose of the Victor Gardens Community Association Landscape Committee:

The Landscape Committee has three main purposes:

1. To oversee the health and well being of the landscaping and irrigation within Victor Gardens Community Association common areas and to submit written recommendations to the Board of Directors as to how to improve these areas.
2. To form a relationship with the landscape contractor for the purpose of developing a long-term partnership, enhancing the quality of work performed, and enhancing the appearance of Victor Gardens Community Association. (It is important to understand that the day-to-day supervision and direction to the landscape contractor should be avoided and be channeled through the management company for consistency.)
3. To represent Victor Gardens Community Association to any Washington County, or other local or federal agency as it relates to the Victor Gardens Community Association Landscape Plan and to report to the Board of Directors any concerns.

Responsibilities and Authority of the Victor Gardens Community Association Landscape Committee:

1. Present to the Board of Directors for approval the committees recommendations for proposal and contract guidelines for the Victor Gardens Community Association landscape contract.
2. Conduct monthly inspections of the Common Areas within Victor Gardens Community Association to make sure that they are in compliance with the Governing Documents, the Bailey’s Arbor Landscape Plan, and any County or Federal Regulations that the Association is responsible to uphold.
3. Submit to the Community Manager on a monthly basis a list of areas that are not maintained, per the scope of work in the Landscape & Irrigation Contract within Victor Gardens Community Association.
4. Conduct follow up inspections of said Common Areas to ensure contracted work has been completed, per the scope of work.
5. Create requests for proposals and analysis for the Board of Directors for projects related to landscaping and Irrigation.

Organization of the Victor Gardens Community Association Landscape Committee:

The Landscape Committee shall consist of six members, two members representing Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowners Association, one representing Villas at Victor Gardens Condominium Association, one representing Gables at Victor Gardens, one representing North Village at Victor Gardens and one representing South Village at Victor Gardens.

The committee members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of Victor Gardens Community Association and reviewed on an annual basis.

The terms of office for each committee member shall be varying terms from 1 through 3 years, unless otherwise removed by the Board of Directors.

The committee also has the authority to remove its own members with a vote of the majority of the committee.

The members of the committee shall appoint both the Chair and the Secretary of the committee.

The committee shall have a Board liaison, appointed by the Board of Directors that serves on the committee in addition to the committee members.

The Board liaison is a non-voting member of the committee.

People interested in serving on the Landscape Committee should complete and return a Committee Volunteer/Application Form to the Community Manager for consideration by the Board of Directors.

Operations of the Victor Gardens Community Association Landscape Committee:

The Landscape Committee shall meet monthly during the peak season (April through October) and every other month during the non-peak season.

The committee shall keep informal minutes of those meetings (one page or less). These minutes shall be approved by the committee, and forwarded to the Community Manager for record keeping, and the Board Liaison for reporting purposes.

The Landscape Committee is authorized to spend up to $25.00 per month for incidental supplies, etc. without additional approval from the Board of Directors.

Master ARC Meeting Minutes Now Available

June Fulton has generously volunteered to record the minutes of recent Master ARC meetings. They have been posted on the Master Association Info page. Thanks June!

Master ARC Meeting Agenda Available

The Master Association's Architectural Review Committee (ARC) will be meeting tomorrow evening, November 10,6:00 PM at Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center.

The meeting agenda is available (here).

Regularly Scheduled Master ARC Meetings Planned

In an effort to improve the Master Architectural Review Committee's process of reviewing new home plans and new landscape applications, a number of meetings have been scheduled. The meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month. Other additional Master ARC meetings may be scheduled as needed.

The next ARC meetings will be:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6PM at the VG Neighborhood Activity Center

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009, 6PM in Sertino's Cafe meeting room.

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, 6PM in Sertino's Cafe meeting room. Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, 6PM in Sertino's Cafe meeting room.

Sertino's Cafe doesn't have their 2010 calendar available yet. Julie Bixby work with them next month to schedule ARC's regular meetings further into 2010.

Master ARC Meeting Minutes - October 22

The Master ARC met on October 22. June Fulton generously volunteered to take the meeting's minutes. They can be found on the Master Association's page, along with other Master documents, financials, minutes, and contact information. You may also view/download the meeting's minutes by clicking on this link: http://www.victorgardensnews.org/files/minutes/vgca_arc_minutes_10_22_09.pdf

The Emphasis on Architecture

From the inception of this neighborhood, Victor Gardens' developer and builders often described the importance of historically styled homes, attractive landscaping, and a "Traditional Neighborhood" design approach. These all took a prominent role in Victor Gardens sales pitches, brochures, and websites.

In addition to the marketing approach, the developer, builders, homeowners, and the City of Hugo literally signed-on, and formalized this approach in the form of governing documents. As a result, all were required to comply with the same set of "rules" designed to complete the idea.

More recently, with the downturn of the housing market, homeowners became concerned about the Master ARC and Board's willingness to maintain the commitment to those documents and ideals. Some expressed concerns at Board Meetings and with City officials.

I thought it might be helpful for everyone to understand what the governing documents require, and which documents need more subjective judgement. The covenants, bylaws, disclosure statements, etc. are relatively straight-forward. Other documents, such as the Design Guidelines are not "black and white". They are, however, essential to clarify what's appropriate for this neighborhood.

For the benefit of all, and to keep some of these "rules" straight, we've developed a document that summarizes a lot of the architectural information found in the governing documents. As a reference point, I think it may be very helpful:

http://www.victorgardensnews.org/files/arc/arc_governing_document_references.pdf

It's clear that a comprehensive "Traditional Neighborhood" approach does not appeal to everyone. It isn't meant to. The vast majority of most other suburban neighborhoods don't look like Victor Gardens- and that's perfectly appropriate. Some might think Victor Gardens' "rules" are too restrictive or rigid. Others understand that they're in place to preserve the character that began here years ago.

- Mark

Master Board/ARC Approves Landscape Plan without Group Discusssion

The Master Board, sitting as the Master Architectural Review Committee has just voted by majority to approve a new landscaping plan submitted for one of the newest Single Family Homes. Two Single Family Village representatives on the Master Board/Master ARC shared their viewpoints and questions with the rest of the ARC committee via an emailed checklist, but did not vote to approve. It was hoped that the group could come together in some form and discuss the details of the application prior to voting.

Four other representatives on the Master Board/Master ARC did not discuss the application with all the other members of the committee either by email, phone or by meeting. No group discussion among the Board Members/ARC Members took place.

Len Pratt voted to approve as submitted.

Todd Stutz voted to approve as submitted. (He asserts that he has two votes)

LaVonne Fitzgerald voted to approve as submitted.

Jason Lanpher abstained.

Julie Bixby voted against approval.

Mark Vlker did not vote.

Centex Submits Second Set (Concepts) of Plans to Master ARC

Following an (Master) Architectural Review Committee meeting with Centex a few weeks ago, Centex altered some of the plans they originally submitted to the (Master) Architectural Review Committee. These are multiple variations on proposed plans for 23 Neighborhood Development Partners-owned lots in the Single Family Village. A second round of (apparent) concept drawings by Tim Whitten of Whitten Associates was sent to members of the ARC last week. ARC will meet with Centex, Neighborhood Development Partners, and Tim Whitten September 15 for the next round of review. To see the plans for yourself, please contact your neighborhood's representatives on the Master Board/Master ARC.

Landscaping Concerns & Grounds Maintenance Update

Many residents have expressed concerns about the condition of many of the planting areas in and around our Association-owned common areas and City-owned Parks. Last year, through the efforts of residents volunteers and the Landscape Committee, the group maintained as much as they could without any budget. In many cases, residents generously paid for improvements with their own money.

This year a limited landscaping budget was restored. The Master Board prioritized high-visibility areas that needed the most attention, and hired Goetz Landscape of Centerville to renovate and improve a few key areas. A large amount of the effort and the budget went to repairing numerous broken irrigation systems throughout Victor Gardens, re-purposing the old main entrance fountain, and installing perennial and annual planting beds at Victor Gardens entrances North and South of Frenchman Road, along Everton Avenue near Lake Area Bank, and renovation of landscaping around the Neighborhood Activity Center and Pool.

Many resident and Board Members realize there's more work to left to do. The Master Board is working towards a few important coordinated solutions.

1. The Board approved a bid to remove the weeds around the Victor Square fountain pond this season.

2. The Board will re-form a Landscape/Grounds/Garden Committee made up of resident volunteers.

3. With the help of a new Landscape Committee the Board will maintain, through volunteer and contract help, the areas that were most recently renovated and re-visit the other areas including the planters on the Victor Hugo Blvd. bridge, the Victor Square fountain pond beds, Victor Square planters, secondary entrances, Provence Way Green, Flora Way Green, and Jardin Fountain mini-parks, Postal Stations, Poet's Green, Val Jean Park, Arbre Parks, etc.

4. Mark Vlker and the City of Hugo's Public Works Director, Scott Anderson, will meet in the next few days to discuss the shared maintenance responsibilities of Victor Gardens Parks. A few years ago, the former developer , CPDC met with City officials at a meeting in which some of the responsibilities are clearly spelled out. (View the complete list, and Parks turnover meeting notes at this link). The two will also discuss, among other things, replacement and maintenance of Trees throughout Victor Gardens Parks including Victor Square Park, Val Jean Park, and Arbre Park.

I'd like to take this opportunity to ask concerned residents to review the responsibilities list, and post comments of other areas that might be missing from the list or might need extra attention of the Board and the future Landscape Committee. As always, your constructive comments are welcome. Please take a moment to let us know what we could be doing better.

Thanks, Mark

Goetz to Maintain Association Landscaping

Victor Gardens Community Association (the Master Association) has hired Goetz Landscape of Centerville to maintain the Master Association's lawns and landscaping for the upcoming season.  The Master Board held a walk through meeting with Goetz  (a highly regarded locally-owned company) to estimate costs for high-priority areas that need extra attention this year. These include removal of the non-working fountain at Frenchman Road, new annual and perennial plantings at the Main Entrances North and South of Frenchman Road, refreshing mulch neighborhood wide, replacement of some of the dead trees, pruning, etc.  The Association is in much better financial shape this year,  but the Board will still need to prioritize the projects that Goetz will be hired for.  Some less-prominent projects may be differed.

The Board is also considering locations to erect a permanent "Victor Gardens" monument sign near the Main Entrance or the northern corner of Victor Square.

As was the case last year, The City of Hugo is responsible for maintenance of the City-owned parks such as Victor Square, Arbre Park, and ValJean Park.

Spring Walk-Through Planned Next Week

The Victor Gardens Community Association's (Master) Board and Casey Groff, our Community Manager will be doing a "walk-through" of the neighborhood.  A few items the Board will look into will be the replacement of some dead trees, updating pool security, reviewing plans for renovating the main entrance areas North and South of Frenchman Road, etc.

If there are areas that you may want to Board to investigate, please leave a comment here or contact Casey Groff.  The Board may then add those to the list of issues to discuss.