Goetz Landscape is offering snowplowing services for residents in Victor Gardens for a discounted price. The cost to plow the driveway after a 2” or more snowfall will cost only $20.00 with an option of also shoveling the sidewalk for an additional $10.00. If interested please contact Goetz Landscape @ 651-426-2136.
December 5, 2009
December 1, 2009
City of Hugo Noise Ordinance
Sec. 46-3. Public nuisances affecting peace and safety.
(11) All unnecessary noises which tend to disturb the peace and repose of neighboring residents. In addition the following requirement for amplified sound from motor vehicles shall be met.
a. Amplified sound from motor vehicles. It shall be a violation of this section to play, operate or permit the playing, use or operation of any radio, tape player, disc player, loud speaker or other electronic device used for the amplification of sound, music, or other entertainment, which is located within a motor vehicle on a public street or alley, or in a commercial or residential parking facility, which is plainly audible by any person from a distance of 50 feet or more from the motor vehicle. When sound violating this section is produced or reproduced by any such device that is located in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle's owner, if present when the violation occurs, is guilty of the violation. If the motor vehicle's owner is not present at the time of the violation, the person who has dominion, care or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation is guilty of the violation. In addition to an owner or a driver, any person who controls or assists with the production, reproduction, or amplification of sound in violation of this section is guilty of the violation.
i. Enforcement duties. The Sheriff's Department shall enforce the provisions of this section.
ii. Civil remedies. This section may be enforced by injunction, action for abatement, or other appropriate civil remedy.
iii. Criminal penalties. Every person who violates any provision of this ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for a term of not to exceed 90 days, or both plus, in either case, the costs of prosecution. Each act of violation and each day a violation occurs or continues constitutes a separate offense.
Sec. 46-4. Enforcement--Responsibility and powers.
It shall be the duty of the council to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and the council may, by resolution, delegate to other officers or agencies the power to enforce particular provisions of this chapter, including the power to inspect private premises, and the officers charged with enforcement of this chapter shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent the commission and maintenance of public nuisances.
(Prior Code, § 165-050)
Sec. 46-5. Same--Procedure.
(a) Complaint filed. Whenever in the judgment of the city council charged with enforcement, it is determined upon the preliminary investigation or complaint filed with the city clerk that a public nuisance may be maintained or exist within the city, the city clerk shall notify in writing the person committing or maintaining such public nuisance requiring him to appear before the city council at a specific time and place after service upon him to discuss and explain said public nuisance and its abatement or removal.
(b) Judgment by council. Upon the failure of said persons to appear or after said preliminary hearing if in the judgment of the city council it is determined by its investigation that a public nuisance is being maintained or exists within the city, the city clerk shall notify in writing the person committing or maintaining such public nuisance to remove such conditions or remedy such defects.
(c) Notification to abate. Said preliminary and final written notice shall be served on the person committing or maintaining said nuisance in person or by certified return receipt requested mail. If the premises are not occupied and the address of the owner is unknown, service on the owner may be had by posting a copy of the preliminary or final notice on the premises, or both, to take reasonable steps within a reasonable time to be designated in said notice, but the maximum time for the removal of said nuisance after service of said notice may be proved by filing an affidavit of service in the office of the city clerk setting forth the manner and time thereof.
(d) Noncompliance. When an order so given is not complied with, such noncompliance shall be reported forthwith to the council for such action as may be necessary and deemed advisable in the name of the city to abate and enjoin further continuation of said nuisance.
(Prior Code, § 165-060)
Sec. 46-6. Abatement of nuisance by council.
If, after such service of notice, the person served fails to abate the nuisance or make the necessary repairs, alterations or changes in accordance with the direction of the council, the council may cause such nuisance to be abated at the expense of the city and recover such expenditure by civil action against the person served; or, if service, as herein defined, has been had upon the owner or occupant, by ordering the clerk to extend such sum as a special assessment against the property upon which the nuisance existed and to certify the same to the county auditor for collection in the same manner as taxes and special assessments are certified and collected.
(Prior Code, § 165-070)
Sec. 46-7. Penalties.
Any person who shall cause or create a nuisance, or permit any nuisance to be created or placed upon, or to remain upon, any premises owned or occupied by him, and any person who shall fail to comply with any order made under the provisions of this chapter, upon conviction thereof,shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Prior Code, § 165-080)
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!
November 17, 2009
SFV Board Meeting Dec. 17, 7PM
The next Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association Board of Directors Meeting will be held Thursday, December 17 at 7:00pm. The location has not yet been determined. An agenda will be released prior to the meeting.
November 13, 2009
Builders Downsize the Dream - from the Wall Street Journal
Here's a interesting Wall Street Journal article describing a new approach in home building: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125807017854346243.html
November 9, 2009
Your Opinion Requested
An agenda for the next Master Board meeting has not yet been set. As of today, the next quarterly Board meeting has not been scheduled either. I thought now might be a good time to ask if there were any items that residents would like to bring to the Board's attention. Of course, its usually better if residents bring up the questions themselves during the meeting's homeowner forum. Sometimes that isn't always practical though. Please feel free to add your constructive comments to this post. I'll ask that the comments be used to draft the upcoming Master Board meeting agenda. I'll start it off with a few questions I've been asked by residents since the last meeting. Thanks for your participation.
Please be aware that architectural and landscape issues in general will not be discussed much at the Master Board meetings. Those question are better addressed in writing to the Architectural Review Committee, who have decided to meet at separate monthly ARC meetings.
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.
October 29, 2009
Centex Drops Effort to Build in Victor Gardens
According to the City of Hugo, as reported to me by a resident yesterday, Centex is dropping plans to build new homes within Victor Gardens Single Family Village. The merger of Centex with "The Nation's Largest New Home Builder", Pulte Homes, was cited as the reason for Centex's change of plans. Further research confirmed that Victor Gardens was removed from Centex's website.
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
October 20, 2009
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:
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
October 16, 2009
SFV ARC/Board Meeting Minutes Posted
Minutes for the most recent SFV Board & ARC meetings are now available on our Single Family Village page.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)