As I mentioned in a previous letter, the property values in our area are less than the surrounding areas which, in large part, is due to the lack of covenant controls. As many of you are aware, we are attempting to do a better job in this area but it takes the cooperation of our members to do our job effectively.

If you receive a card requesting that you make changes on your property to comply with the covenants, please make the changes to help us maintain the beauty and property values of our area. Please do not take these requests personally, the board members are not in the business of irritating our members. However some members take affront and react angrily when they receive requests to make changes. This only makes our job more difficult and less enjoyable. My suggestion to these individuals is to become more active in the affairs of Foxridge and join our board.

If our members realized the problems that confront the board members in the performance of our jobs, they would be more understanding and helpful to us. With that said, we will continue to work to make this area a better place to live, and if there are individuals who wish not to follow the Foxridge covenants, we will pursue these violations until they are resolved. This is often a long process, but we will not be deterred in providing Foxridge with the services it deserves.

This year it is important that everyone understands our covenants because a change in state statutes will now allow for stronger enforcement of covenants by a simple majority vote.

The foremost purpose for establishing a covenant-controlled community is to retain property values. Or, if you’re as lucky as we are these days, to keep pushing values higher. Therefore, covenants are written to specifically address the issues that do affect property values, such as parameters for permanent structures (which usually fall under the responsibility of the builder) and non-permanent items guide the homeowner on residential uses. Covenant guidelines for the "building envelope" or the relation of your house (or any building or structure) to property lines, height restrictions, what materials a structure can be constructed of, minimum square footage, and subdivision of lots are established to have consistency in homes in the area. You can imagine the look of a street with a few 1,200 square feet homes mixed in with some that are 4,000 square feet, but you may not have thought of how difficult such a neighborhood is to have fair property values for either size houses. Covenants also address issues that affect the overall "look" of the neighborhood and elements that can affect property values for the entire area. For example, setting up temporary residences on your property, signage, retaining walls and fences, livestock and mining, just to name a few. Most people consider these paragraphs of the covenants to be stating just good common sense and rarely have any objection to their enforcement.

Finally, covenants allow for establishing and enforcing of architectural controls which help homeowners maintain a certain level of consistency in ever-changing items such as exterior paint color, landscaping, roofing, garbage disposal, and air-conditioning and swamp cooler units. Architectural controls are usually the "hot button" for most homeowners, so it is important to remember that such specific controls are NOT a part of established covenants and can be easily changed at an annual meeting of homeowners by a vote.

This year we need a vote and it requires participation from everyone of us. One item to be determined is if annual homeowner dues will become mandatory, and if so, at what amount. The complete covenants are being consolidated from 11 sets into 1 set, and the majority of the items will remain the same. You will receive a copy of the consolidated document for your review prior to any vote. You will receive proper notification regarding the date and time of this vote.

Voters in South Suburban Park and Recreation District will go to the polls Tuesday, May 2 to vote on Referendums 4A and 4B to acquire open space, park land and improve parks and recreational facilities in the area. The questions follow a recommendation by a grassroots citizens committee, Gold Medal 2020, to build a new recreation center, a new senior/community center, expand athletic fields, and provide more trails, open space and parks to support community growth and increased use of facilities. Renovations would occur at 11 area playground and park sites including Foxridge and Foxhill Parks. The South Suburban Park and Recreation District currently provides facilities for nearly 140,000 residents in unincorporated Arapahoe County and neighboring cities. Increasing interest in activities and population growth indicate the need to expand.

Election Information

All registered voters residing in South Suburban Park and Recreation District are eligible to vote on Referendums 4A and 4B. The total cost to an area resident owning a home with the actual value of $200,000 is $2.76 per month. The election will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on May 2, 2000. Cast your vote at these convenient polling places near you:

South Suburban Golf Course
7900 South Colorado Blvd.

Goodson Recreation Center
6315 South University Blvd.

Cherry Hills Elementary
2400 East Quincy Ave.

Lone Tree Civic Center
8527 Lone Tree Parkway

"No building, fence wall, or other structure shall be erected or alterations made on any building until the construction plans and specifications regarding quality of workmanship, type of materials and harmony of external design shall have been approved by the committee.-----"

"No air-conditioning unit, evaporative cooler or object shall be placed upon the roof of any residence or building except and unless such air-conditioning unit is architecturally concealed from view and plans for concealment have been submitted to and approved by the committee.---"

"Approval shall be obtained from the committee to cut down, clear or kill any trees on any lot.----"

"No boundary wall or fence shall be constructed with a height of more then six feet and no boundary line hedge or shrubbery shall be permitted with a height of more then six feet.-"

Thank you for your cooperation. Remember our only goal is to protect you and your property values as we make Foxridge the diamond of the Metro area. Terry Riester, Covenants Control

Ways to avoid turning your block into a battleground

(Excerpts from "Love You Neighbor" article from USAA Magazine, Feb. 2000)

It was a typical North Dakota weekend. Patsy invited her parents, Frank and Barbara, over for dinner. The couple, who lived across the street, walked to their daughter’s house. As they climbed Patsy’s ice front steps, Barbara slipped and broke her hip. Frank and Barbara sued their daughter for negligence. Just two years earlier, Patsy had sued her parents after falling from their deck and breaking her wrist - the loose railing they’d been meaning to repair for months had finally given way.

This example, based on an actual case, can illustrate the kinds of mishaps that occur, and sometimes grow out of control - among neighbors. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, neighbor problems are one of the most common reasons that people move. Most of the time, it should not come to that. So what can you do to avoid these situations and be a good neighbor?

Most experts agree that communication - not confrontation - is the key to solving neighbor problems peacefully. A calm discussion, or even a letter, can be much more effective than calling the cops or storming over in your slippers at 1 AM.

Consider these hot spots, which can lead to neighbor vs. neighbor conflicts:

Noise

Barking dogs, booming stereos, roaring car engines, leaf blowers at the crack of dawn. Over time, these minor annoyances can lead to major conflicts among neighbors. If the folks next door are making too much noise, let them know in a friendly, non-confrontational way.

Can your family do a better job of holding down the noise? Local noise ordinances vary from community to community, but as a common sense guideline, respect quiet hours between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekdays and 8 or 9 AM on weekends.

Dogs

Each year, mor than 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, dog bites cause one-third of all liability claims against homeowners, Insurance Information Institute reports. If you think your dog will not bite, think again. The Humane Society of the United States claims there is no way to guarantee that your dog will never bite someone. Even the gentlest dog might bite under certain circumstances - if threatened or when caring for puppies, for example.

Foxridge Swim and Racquet Club Membership. $250.00. Call Patty Schroeder at 303-740-6292.

The Youth Services Directory will resume next Foxtales.

If you are a licensed Colorado Real Estate broker who lives in or has experience working in Foxridge we would love to have you write a guest column. Topics could include what makes a home more "sellable," how do Foxridge homes compare to other homes in the area, etc. You will receive full by-line credit for your column and we will include your contact information, but these columns cannot be advertisements for your real estate services. If interested, please call Jay Clark at 303-221-5819 or e-mail at [email protected]

USE FOXTALES TO TARGET YOUR ADVERTISING!

Foxtales, the official publication of the Foxridge Improvement Association, has a circulation of 1,000. If you want a great way to target your message to a great community, advertise in Foxtales!

Advertising Rates:

Personal Classifieds:

$5.00 for 150 characters/spaces
$2.00 for an additional block of 50 characters/spaces.

Business Classifieds:

$10.00 for 150 characters/spaces
$3.00 for an additional block of 50

Display Ads:

Full Page $125
1/2-Page $75
1/4-Page $40
Bus. Card $20
Full Sheet insert $125

(already printed)

Foxridge Resident Discount:

20 Percent discount for one mo.
Non-Resident Discount:
10 discount available for 3 mos.

Discounts may not be combined.

Mail ads, with payment, to:

South Suburban has provided me with a list of plantings. New shrubs include western sandcherry, snowberry, choke cherry and many willows streamside. The willows will provide shelter for land critters and their shade mitigates water temperature for the benefit of water critters. Trees include plains cottonwood, plums and cherries. The areas has been seeded with both wetland and upland seed mix.

Come spring, can you spot the blue flag native wild iris? (Hint: they like water). There are supplies of plastic bags on the trail in boxes on posts, courtesy of Pet Pickups, for picking up dog droppings. Droppings are not only unsightly and unsanitary but provide a preferred breeding ground for flies. Please be a responsible dog owner.

Foxtales goes global with internet site

FIA Board of Directors, P.O. Box 4985, Englewood, CO 80155

BALLOT
Vote for the following Board members:

Scott Bennion Yes No

Anne Taylor Yes No

Jamie Debartolomeis Yes No

Terry Riester Yes No

Katie Barrett Yes No

Bob Bardwell Yes No

Lee Davis Yes No

Anita Joseph Conklin Yes No

Barbara Fisher Yes No

The continuance of the replacing of the common fencing in the Foxridge Area. Rating: ___

The upgrading of the various unimproved entrances into FoxridgeTree and shrub planting in the common areas. Rating:___

Weed control for the Foxridge area. Rating:___

Coordinating with the Arapahoe Sheriff to expedite neighborhood watch programs in Foxridge. Rating:___

Providing an annual or semi-annual trash pickup in which large bins would be place in the area for large item dumping and pickup. Rating:___

Providing crushed rock and or/bark cover on an annual basis at a centralized area to the Foxridge members for home landscaping. Rating:___

Coordinate with Arapahoe County to create curb cus and/or sidewalks. Rating:___

Organization of neighborhood co-ops for snow removal from streets. Rating:___

Foxridge-sponsored street sweeping at more frequent intervals than is now provided by the county. Rating___

The continuance of the Foxtales as a bi-monthly newsletter. Rating:___

Enforcement of the Foxridge covenants. Rating:___

Please rank you interest in specific Foxridge Covenant Enforcement regarding:

Exterior House Colors . Rating:___

Architectural control of exterior improvements. Rating:___

Roofing. Rating:___

Trash can violations. Rating:___

Annual Membership Assessment - $25

Make your check for $25.00 payable to the Foxridge Improvement Association and mail it to the Association at P.O. Box 4985, Englewood, CO 80155

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