Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Special Board Meeting Minutes June 21 2013


Bridger Creek Subdivision Community Association
Special Meeting of the Board of Directors
Friday, June 21, 2013 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 am at Sharyn Anhalt’s home.
Board Members present were Sharyn Anhalt, Bill Ranard, Dian Bottcher, Karin Jennings, and Dorick Sauvageau. Guest, Dennis Balian  

Request for Fence – Kelleher Property, Phase 3, lot 22
The board reviewed the perimeter fence plan and request, previously submitted to the Design Review committee. Discussion ensued resulting in modification of the plan to pull the fence south toward the house and away from the parkland and trail, in order to avoid fence lines bordering parks and trails. The modified layout was approved unanimously by the Board, pending discussion with the homeowners.
[Post meeting update: Sharyn discussed the modified layout, as approved by the Board, with Dave Andreassi, Chair of the Design Review Committee.  Sharyn offered to discuss the modification with the owners, as Dave was not available to do so.  Sharyn reported that it was agreed that the fencing at the front of the property needed to stay as originally proposed in order to accommodate the entrance to their deck. At the back of the house (along the parkland and trail) the fence will extend further east than the Board discussed in order to include the back door entrance to the garage; and will meet the north property line in just one spot rather than all along the property line.] 

Access Easement Across Trail in Phase 1 Park - Requested by Dennis Balian
            Dennis Balian arrived at about 7:10 and presented his request for an access easement from Boylan Road, north of the Village Green Condominiums, to cross the trail and parkland in phase 1 in order to provide access to the 12 acre parcel outside of the subdivision and adjacent to the parkland.  He described the easement as approximately 40 feet wide and 60 feet long, to cross the trail at the narrowest point of the park, where the trail currently enters the park and crosses the storm drainage ditch across a culvert.  The 12 acre parcel is currently for sale and he is simply exploring options with the Association in order to better inform his decision whether to buy the property. The only access to the parcel currently is from the industrial area behind Panda gas station and Ziggs (Industrial Drive). The parcel is in the county and is currently zoned AS (agricultural suburban). The immediately adjacent areas of the Bridger Creek Subdivision are zoned R3.  The industrial area to the south is zoned M1. The west boundary of the parcel is owned by the City and is designated parkland.
            Dennis discussed that options for developing the property are limited due to the access issues as well as wetlands/high water table. One could build a single family home with only the one access from the industrial area, but two access points would be required if multiple units were to be possible. He was provided a letter from the parcel seller indicating approval for access across the trail from a prior Board in 2005, but indicated he recognizes that such approval is not necessarily still applicable or granted.  He is willing to discuss exchange of “easement for easement” such as additional trail access easements on the parcel for the grant of the access easement requested. Dennis left the meeting about 7:30 to allow the Board to further discuss his request.
            Following discussion a motion was made to deny the access easement requested, which was seconded.  Following additional discussion the motion was amended to the following: the Board denies the requested access easement across the Phase 1 trail and parkland because of 1) concern that multifamily development is not appropriate next to the existing homes as well as the existing parkland; 2) disruption to the existing trail system; 3) concern for potential traffic increase along Birdie Drive and Boylan Road; 4) concern about impact to adjacent (spring-fed) wetlands and wildlife habitat; 5) the Board would need to study the covenants and determine if member approval is needed before granting an access easement across homeowner-owned parkland; and 6) it is the desire of the Board that the “wetland” under study by Balian will eventually become park, and that providing a road access easement would be in conflict with that aspiration. The amended motion was approved unanimously.
            A second motion was made to direct the Park and Trail Committee to pursue options to work with the landowner/seller to protect that 12 acre parcel from development through the City’s open space bond fund initiative or other partnerships with the Association; which was approved unanimously.
            It was agreed that Sharyn would communicate the decision with Dennis Balian, as he is under a deadline with the seller, and would draft a letter for review by the Board prior to following up with Dennis in writing.  

Vacation Rentals in the Subdivision
            The presence of vacation rentals was recently brought to the attention of the Board by a concerned neighbor. Vacation rental, or renting one’s home for short term use, is not addressed in the Association’s Covenants.  It is, however, a permitting and compliance issue for the City, which has recently stepped up its enforcement efforts in this regard. The Board has a responsibility to work with the City to make sure properties are in compliance with the City’s ordinances/regulations, similar to weed control and snow removal, for example.  A motion was made that since the Board does not have authority to support or deny vacation rentals in the subdivision per the Covenants, the Board will work with the City to ensure that any vacation rentals it has or becomes aware of are in compliance with the City’s rules and regulations; which was approved unanimously.   

New Business
            Dorick informed the Board that he is following up regarding replacement of trees within boulevards fronting Golf Course Partners’ properties.  The City will be removing dead trees this week.  They have about 18-20 trees to replace, which will amount to approximately $7-8k. They are discussing cost sharing with Great Northern Golf. They do have some tree vouchers from the City for reduced cost for suitable street. Also, the lots on either side of Birdie Drive were mowed; weed spray (by Grass Chopper) is to happen soon, weather permitting.  Grass Chopper will work it into their schedule with the other work they are doing in the subdivision for the Association.
            Sharyn reported in response to a previous inquiry from Karin that Grass Chopper will be spraying the trail surfaces with Roundup to eliminate all vegetation, where present.  Additionally, they plan to mow all of the Phase 3 park – to the park delimiters – as bid and budgeted. 
            Per general discussion, Bill was requested, and agreed, to discuss with Dane Gamble (Great Northern Golf) several items:  1) trimming the grass around the trees and mailboxes in the August Drive boulevards fronting the golf course (they were mowed but not trimmed); 2) whether they would be willing to regularly mow and weed control the easement off Augusta Drive between lots 21 and 22, which they use to access the golf course near hole 17; and 3) confirm whether the sprinklers have been or are being turned on for the boulevard fronting the phase 1 parkland off the west end of Boylan Road.   

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 am.