LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES Submitted by the Landscape Committee of The Village Townhomeowners Association Approved by the THOA Board of Directors April 2015
THE VILLAGE TOWNHOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION BRADFORD WOODS, PA Table of Contents 1. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE GUIDELINES Page 1 Definitions Page 1 1.1 THOA Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities Page 1 1.2 Townhomeowner Landscape Responsibilities Page 2 2. LANDSCAPE ALTERATION REQUESTS PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES Page 3 2.1 Before You Dig Page 3 Before You Plant Near Utility Boxes Page 4 2.2 Submission of Landscape Change Requests to the Committee Page 4 3. MINIMUM LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS Page 4 LAWN ORNAMENTS/YARD ART Page 5 4. USE OF COMMON AREAS Page 5 4.1 Clean-up Page 5 4.2 Placement of Personal Property Page 5 4.3 Enforcement Page 5 ATTACHMENTS Maps of THOA Common Areas Boothbay Harbor Page 6 Marblehead Harbor Page 7 Mystic Harbor Page 8 Saybrook Harbor Page 9
1. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE GUIDELINES of the Village Townhomeowners Association (THOA), Bradford Woods, PA All residential Townhomeowner lots, as well as common areas owned by the Village Townhomeowners Association, shall be maintained and landscaped in a manner that is harmonious and compatible with the natural setting of Bradford Woods. Definitions: Residential Townhomeowner lots: Clusters A, B, C and D of the Village Plan of Lots as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny County, PA (see Townhomeowners Association of the Village of the Village of Bradford Woods Declaration of Covenants, p.1) Common Areas: Common Areas shall mean all real property (including the improvements thereto) owned by the Village Townhomeowners Association (see Townhomeowners Association of the Village of Bradford Woods Declaration of Covenants, p.2) Attachments: Common Area maps of the THOA-owned common areas from Allegheny County, PA Property Assessments website. The Landscape Guidelines, approved on April 18, 2015, by the Village Townhomeowners Association (THOA) Board of Directors are intended to inform Townhomeowners of owner and THOA responsibilities with regard to landscape appearance and maintenance. The purpose of these Guidelines is to maintain aesthetic consistency and property values. These Guidelines, approved by the Board of Directors, are to be administered by the Landscape Committee of the Village THOA. An individual Townhomeowner should not alter the landscaping without following the Landscape Alteration Requests - Procedures and Guidelines (Section 2) and obtaining approval from the Board. The Townhomeowner can seed, fertilize or aerate around his/her home, as desired. 1.1 THOA Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities The THOA shall routinely contract with a landscaper/contractor for regular and basic maintenance only of landscape as specified below for each townhome lot and common areas as defined above. Lawn Care: mowing, trimming/uniform edging, weeding/insect control, seasonal fertilization and clean-up after work is completed. Plant Beds and Ornamentals: weeding, fertilization, corrective pruning, and uniform edging. Trees up to 15 feet, shrubs and ground cover: seasonal treatment, trimming, pruning, and shearing, as necessary. 1
In spring clearing of leaves, mulching; non-selective herbicide, as needed. With the exception of above as determined necessary by the landscape contractor, the THOA will not incur the expense of removing trees, shrubs, bushes or the reconstruction of any area unless the item is dead, diseased or poses a safety hazard to person, house, walkway, driveway or roadway. 1.2 Townhomeowners Landscape Responsibilities Townhomeowners who desire additional maintenance on their property, outside the scope of the THOA and the THOA maintenance agreement, may pursue additional work at owner s expense. Such additional work, however, must be in compliance with existing landscape maintenance and THOA Landscape Guidelines, e.g., grass cut consistent with landscape maintenance height, shrubs trimmed/pruned consistent with routine maintenance. Townhomeowners must give THOA landscape requirements to their independent landscape designer, architect and/or contractor prior to implementation of the work to facilitate and ensure compliance with THOA contracted landscape maintenance. Mounding of planting beds and lawn areas will be permitted if graded so as to blend with adjacent lot and/or landscaping. Front yards may be planted with trees and shrubs (conifer and deciduous) and ground cover. Any damage caused to common ground areas or neighboring properties, including homes or yards, by installation of owner-initiated landscaping, drainage or sprinkler systems on individual lots or common areas by a contractor engaged by a Townhomeowner will be the sole responsibility of the individual Townhomeowner. Townhomeowners should not request THOA contracted landscape maintenance agents on site during routine maintenance visit to conduct additional, owner-specific work. Townhomeowners shall not extend shrub/flower beds into the common areas, nor shall they modify any plantings in the common areas without Committee approval. See Section 2 Landscape Alteration Requests Procedures and Guidelines. If a Townhomeowner plants or modifies plantings in a common area, with or without Committee approval, it becomes the Townhomeowner s and/or subsequent buyer s responsibility to maintain the plantings they have planted and or modified, or to restore the common areas to original condition at the request of the Committee. Townhomeowner will pay all restoration costs. All precautions must be taken so as not to infringe on or damage neighboring property(ies) during owner-initiated and approved installation of drainage to eliminate water pockets. 2
2. LANDSCAPE ALTERATION REQUESTS - PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES At their own expense, Townhomeowners may landscape the property immediately adjacent to the front, rear or side of their units. It is the responsibility of the owners to provide on-going maintenance of their personal landscaping throughout the season. A Townhomeowner who desires to modify or change plants and/or alter the appearance of the property surrounding his or her townhome, including the installation of landscape lighting, shall petition the Landscape Committee in writing with a description of the planned modification. THOA Landscape Committee will review the request, pursue additional information if necessary, and submit a recommendation for approval or disapproval to the THOA Board for consideration and final disposition. No altering of landscape is to commence until the THOA Board has granted approval. Townhomeowner is responsible for obtaining any required permits, for ensuring that Borough right-of-way regulations are observed, and for contacting/notifying utilities, before digging, to locate underground utilities (Call 811 or 800-242-1776). Notification is required at least 3 business days in advance of start of any work. 2.1 Call before you Dig It s the Law pa1call.org By law, anyone planning to excavate or demolish is required to call 811, Pennsylvania One Call System, at least three business days before work begins. Whether you re planning an excavation as part of a landscaping project or building a deck or addition onto your home, avoid property damage, personal injury, and possible fines by contacting Pennsylvania One Call System before you start to dig. The service will notify all utilities to mark the approximate location of underground service lines that might be in the construction area at no cost to residential customers. If you damage a natural gas pipeline while digging, you endanger your safety and the safety of others. You may also be responsible for repairs. If you have contractors performing work for you, make sure they call Pennsylvania One Call System before starting work, too. The primary cause of natural gas pipeline damage is from third parties digging near underground facilities. Please remember to always dial 811 at least three days before you do any type of digging/excavating. From the most basic of landscaping chores to major construction, no job is too small or too large for a One Call. A little pre-planning, a simple phone call to 811 and some patience can help protect you, your loved ones and your property from the often devastating results of an underground utility damage. Why take the unnecessary chance and possibly suffer major loss and tragedy when you do not have to? It is all preventable 811 Make the Call! 811- Call Before You Dig! 3
Townhomeowner is also responsible for adhering to the following Penn Power Policy regarding landscaping in the vicinity of utility boxes. 1. Always call 811 within 3 business days prior to planting anywhere; wait until after markers are placed. They don t want markers to be in place too long so they don t have to send workers out to repeat their efforts. 2. There is to be a minimum of 10 clearance in front of each locked utility box access door to allow workers to open and work safely. 3. The sides and back of each utility box must allow 3 of clear access. 4. Mature size of bush must be factored in, keeping in mind that a small bush near the box may eventually grow within 1 of the box. 5. No thorn bushes, holly bushes or any other bushes with prickly leaves are permitted. 6. Keep in mind that in an emergency any ground cover (such as pachysandra) will be trampled in the course of repairs being made. Plantings cannot obstruct roadway line of sight, interfere with or impede access of contracted landscape workers, utility workers or other maintenance personnel (e.g., THOA contracted repair personnel). Mulch applied by owner, before or after regular spring mulching, much be consistent in color and texture with the mulch applied to all other areas. Planting of vegetables is limited to containers only. 2.2 Submission of Change Request to the Committee may be made via email to villagethoa@aol.com with Landscape Change Request in the subject line or via US Postal Service to Village Landscape Committee, c/o P.O. Box 56, Bradford Woods, PA 15015. The Landscape Committee is responsible for responding to Townhomeowner no later than 30 days after receipt of request. 3. MINIMUM LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS The THOA is not responsible for maintaining additional plantings by owner beyond approved replacements. Example: the maintenance contract does not cover ongoing maintenance of additional plantings such as flower beds planted by owner surrounding townhome. 4
LAWN ORNAMENTS/YARD ART Lawn ornaments are discouraged. The variation of ornaments detracts from the consistent and natural aesthetics of the environment. Townhomeowners who want to install a lawn ornament should petition the Landscape Committee for approval. Placement of ornaments shall not interfere with access of maintenance, repair or utility personnel. Ornaments must not pose a safety hazard or distraction (e.g., an overabundance of lights or displays) nor impede the flow of traffic. Yard art should be limited in number and kept to a height of 3 ft. or less (excluding garden poles) and be confined to areas immediately adjacent to the front, back or side of townhome unit. Townhomeowners are further encouraged to refrain from displaying an excessive amount of garden ornaments/displays/art in their individual gardens as they detract from the natural aesthetics. Lawn ornaments/garden art objects that are in disrepair and no longer have decorative value should be removed. Temporary holiday-themed lawn ornaments are permitted but are to be removed no later than one week post-holiday date. 4. USE OF COMMON AREAS Townhomeowners, their contractor or any other person associated with alteration of landscaping to a unit shall not disturb the surface of the common areas during construction, use any portion of the common areas for storage or other activities related to construction, except as disturbing the surface may be required to connect to utility mainlines in those common areas, if any. (Please refer to Section 2 Landscape Alteration Requests Procedures and Guidelines for additional information). 4.1 Clean-up Roadways, adjoining lots, and common areas shall be kept clean and free of debris and mud arising from construction on the Lot. Roadways must be swept and/or washed prior to 5:00 p.m. each day. 4.2 Placement of Personal Property (such as furniture, firewood piles, etc.) on common areas is discouraged. If any personal property inhibits access for utility and/or landscape contractors, it will be removed. 4.3 Enforcement If, as a result of construction activities on a Lot, violations as specified above occur, then in addition to any other remedies permitted by the THOA governing documents and law, the Association may correct violations and charge (payable on demand) the owner of the Lot for corrections and place a lien on the townhome to secure payment. 5