LandscapingGuidelines

Page Contents

• Landscaping Community Rules
• Landscaping Guidelines Serving as Standing Resolution
  • Exterior Landscaping
  • Foundation Plan Materials
  • Planter Boxes (at entryway/driveways or on decks/porches)
  • Window Boxes
  • Hanging Plants
  • Ground Planter Boxes
  • Pathway / Walkway and Landscape Lighting
  • Bird houses, bird feeders and birdbaths
  • Plant Material

Landscaping Community Rules

(Including modifications approved by ARC

per letter sent to BCL Homeowners 11Jan2008;

sections affected in italics)

The CSA encourages the initiatives and energy of homeowners intended to beautify individual homes and the community with landscaping improvements. The vast majority of supplemental plantings will be approved by the Environmental Preservation Committee [Architectural Review Committee], except for the following:

• Artificial plants and flowers.
• Plastic lawn statuary placed in front or corner-lot side yards.
• Wire, lattice, or plastic borders to plant beds projecting above the height of the grassed lawn.
• A landscape screen of plants having a mature height in excess of 6 feet, the effect of which would be to block a neighbor's view from ground level.
• Tomato plants and vegetables placed within front yard areas.

All landscaping should be maintained in an "alive and green" condition. Plant material which has ceased to be alive must be removed.

Where plant beds are intended to be bordered, use of railroad ties, natural stone or cedar posts is encouraged. A wire, lattice, or plastic bed border which does not project above the height of mown grass also may be utilized.

Planter boxes affixed to homes must be painted a color to match house siding and trim. Plant material within boxes must be "green and living". Preferred material for planter boxes is wood, although planter boxes beneath covered porches may be of plastic, wood or pre-cast construction.

Landscaping Guidelines Serving as Standing Resolution

(April 14, 2003)

In recognition of the pride of community and ownership which motivates many residents to provide certain improvements around the exterior of their homes, this letter is to facilitate the process by indicating those changes which are "approved without the necessity of written request" by the Environmental Preservation Committee (EPCOM) if accomplished within stated guidelines. At the same time, these guidelines will reference types of changes which still require specific EPCOM review even though related types of improvements enjoy "standing approval".

As matter of policy, the Back Creek Landing Community Service Association (CSA) wishes to encourage Member initiatives which will enhance aesthetic appearances and property values within the community and wishes to avoid procedural delays or inconveniences which might inhibit such changes. In general terms, the EPCOM gives approval to changes likely to accomplish the previously stated purposes which do not at the same time detract from another neighbor's enjoyment of the community or add to the CSA's cost of providing obligate services. Accordingly, the following types of improvements to the exterior of homes enjoy "standing approval" without the necessity of a member/resident securing from EPCOM approval:

Exterior Landscaping

Any planting/landscaping of a permanent nature having all of the following characteristics:

1. Mature plant height of less than 6 feet.
2. Planting located so as not to overhang or encroach on a neighbor's view or block a pedestrian way.
3. Appropriately sized mulched area installed around such plants to minimize and facilitate grass cutting and edging.
4. All responsibility of maintenance, loss or replacement of installed plant material to reside with the homeowner member.

Foundation Plan Materials

1. Vegetables shall not be located within a front yard, either at the foundation or elsewhere in the front yard, but may be located in a side or rear yard.
2. Annual or Perennial Flowers and Bulbs
   • Flowers and bulbs placed in a mulched bed
   • Plant tops cut back to ground when plant dormant or dead
   • Mulched bed maintained in good appearance by homeowner member
   • Ground Cover and Shrubs less than six feet in height

Planter Boxes (at entryway/driveways or on decks/porches)

1. Plant container to be of a natural wood, terra cotta or, if of other material in earthtone or white color.
2. Plant material to be green and living.
3. Plant containers to be secured or fastened to deck so as to minimize risk of plant container being blown off deck in high wind.

Window Boxes

1. Window boxes to be painted/stained same color as siding of home or white. If window box has trim, trim may be siding color or white.
2. Window box must be fastened securely to facade of home, with proper flashing and sealants provided to protect surface of home from decay or water leakage where it is in contact with planter. Window box must be cleared of soil when plants are not alive as soil contains organisms which will decay planter box and siding if soil is left in box for an extended period of time.
3. Plant material must be maintained in a green/living condition.

Hanging Plants

1. Hanging plant baskets with green, living plant material may be suspended from the facade of homes but only during the season when such plants are alive and green. During seasons when such plants are dormant or dead, the plant basket must be removed.
2. Hanging support for plant container should be earthtone macrame, plastic, filament or lightweight metal having white, black, bronze or earthtone color.
3. Plant container may be terracotta or, if of other material, must be white, black or earthtone color.

Ground Planter Boxes

1. Ground planter boxes are to consist of a rot-resistant enclosure, surrounding a well-mulched planting area maintained by the homeowner installing such improvements.

Pathway / Walkway and Landscape Lighting

Pathway / walkway and landscape lighting consisting of ground mounted Fixtures less than two feet in height are approved for installation. In installing such a landscape lighting system care should be taken first to locate existing underground phone, electric, and cable TV service wiring prior to trenching for landscape lighting.

Bird houses, bird feeders and birdbaths enjoy standing approval for installation in front, rear or side yard. These items also can be installed in portions of the common areas by homeowners so desiring and who are also prepared to maintain such items installed.

In the selection of plant/material, owners are encouraged to select plants requiring low maintenance e.g those which are resistant to insects and other plant diseases and which require comparatively little watering. Plants which do not meet that objective pose a maintenance burden for the homeowner and a potential detraction from the community.

With regard to landscaping improvements, please note that any proposed plant installation for which mature plant height will be greater than six feet will continue to require advance EPCOM approval. For such larger plant sizes the EPCOM will make its decision based upon considerations of mature plant size, proposed location and potential for view obstruction.

Except as changed in a consistent manner throughout the community, proposals for modification of house street address identification will not be approved by the EPCOM.

The guidelines set forth above for typical exterior improvements that enjoy "standing approval" are intended to facilitate such activities and should not be construed as precluding any homeowner from requesting formal EPCOM approval of a related change which does not conform in all respects (e.g. color, style, size, etc) to the guidelines identified. All such requests will be considered on their merits.

Please be aware that items covered by "standing approval" should be implemented in moderation and in a manner that is not obtrusive. For example, there is standing approval to provide mulched beds around plantings, but "standing approval" would not extend to mulching 100% of one's lawn area. Such an action, if implemented, would require express advance approval by the EPCOM of a landscape plan showing a 100% mulch treatment. When in doubt, seek EPCOM approval.

Do not hesitate to call any Board Member or me if you have any questions concerning these guidelines.

Back Creek Landing CSA

Environmental Preservation Committee

Signature of Chairman, D. Stephen Seawright