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Sunnyside Highlands HOA Newsletter
2020
Radon Safety Alert - Radon exposure can cause very serious health effects. The Mount Scott is known as a high-probability radon area. Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas generated by the decay of naturally occurring radioactive elements in the soil. Soils that generate radon are common throughout the Portland Metro area. To find out more, go to the State of Oregon Public Health website: http://public.health.oregon.gov/PHD/Directory/Pages/program.aspx?pid=63 or just search Oregon Public Health Radon.
Some of the homes in Sunnyside Highlands have radon protection systems installed by the builder. Some older homes may predate the 2011 Building Code requirement for radon protection and may not have a radon protection system. Some may predate the 2014 Code update and may have different types of systems than described. The details of the several radon systems can be found at oregonhba.com/radon-mitigation-code-requirements/. The easiest way to tell if a radon protection system is installed is to look in the subfloor area for plastic sheeting covering the entire subfloor area and more or less sealed to the foundation walls. There will also be a 3-inch or 4-inch plastic pipe marked “RADON” visible in the subfloor and attic spaces.
Homes with installed systems probably will have a passive-vented radon protection system; these should leave the subfloor vents open in winter for the system to work effectively; they should not be closed off. The vents provide necessary air flow to the venting system and to dilute any radon gas the seeps through the joints and sealing of the plastic sheeting.
Homeowners’ of homes that do not have radon protection systems installed may want to consider keeping the subfloor vents open to dilute any radon under the floor as a precaution. These homeowners may want to consider making sure that all floor penetrations are well sealed and doing a three to four month radon test in the lowest floor living space; the test is not very expensive and can provide peace-of-mind. The Oregon Public Health website has very good information.
Homeowners should contact a competent licensed building contractor if they have questions or need assistance.
Deck Maintenance Alert - During construction of some of the homes the deck structural support columns were covered and closed in for appearance. The Board has been informed that homeowners have found that water is leaking into the column covering increasing the risk of rotting of the structural columns. In at least one instance, the boxed column was not capped and sealed before the decking was installed allowing considerable water to enter the enclosed space. Homeowners with covered deck columns may want to make sure the decorative covering is properly caulked and sealed to reduce the risk of water entering .the enclosed space. Homeowners may want to have the columns inspected by a competent licensed contractor if they have questions or need assistance.
Rental of Homes - Homeowners who rent their homes should read CCRs Section 4.6 Rental of Homes. Owners are required to provide a copy of the rental agreement (rent amount may be redacted) to the Association manager, Superior Community Management, and to provide a copy of the CCRs and resolutions to the renters; this information is on the website. Homeowners remain responsible for violations of the CCRs and resolutions by renters. Please be aware that rental or leasing signs are not allowed on properties or common area (CCRs 4.11 Signs).
HOA Website - For important current information about the HOA please check our website www.sunnyside-highlands.org. Here is posted information about board meeting dates, agendas, minutes of meetings, as well as all of the governing documents of the HOA. You can find the CCRs, Bylaws and resolutions that regulate the Association in one location for easy reference and printing. The website also includes some information that may be helpful to homeowners, such as lawn care and similar information.
Address Changes - Please notify Kathy Hutchinson, the Association’s manager, of any changes in postal and email addresses at rosie@superiorcommunity.com or at P.O. Box 4585, Tualatin OR 97062.
Common Areas - The Association is responsible for more than five acres of common area. Please do not dump debris or damage plantings in the common area; the costs of debris removal and replacement plantings in the common areas is paid by all of us.
Projects - The Association is doing several projects in the common areas. Work has started on adding a concrete pad and picnic table to the area by the playground. The concrete is done and the board is working on ordering the picnic table. Recently the rocks around all the stairs were moved and barriers were installed for safety. The mailboxes were all cleaned in January 2019.
In the spring the Board will consider fence repair on Idleman and also tree pruning and bringing in more bark dust.
Maintenance Suggestions - If you notice any maintenance needs, or have any suggestions, please contact Kathy Hutchinson at kathy@superiorcommunity.com or by phone at 503-684-1832; or any of your officers at the email addresses given on the website.
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HOA Board of Director's Meeting
The next Board of Directors' meeting will be announced on the Welcome page. The draft agenda is posted at the BOARD MEETING AGENDA tab on the left. The final agenda will be posted the day before the meeting.
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Yard and Exterior Home Improvements
ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS - Please be aware that exterior improvements to your property require review and approval by the Architectural Review Committee (See CC&Rs Article 6, Section 6.1 - CC&Rs are located in the HOA Documents page). Please submit your request for review at least 30 days prior to your planned start date to our community manager. Applications must be submitted to the HOA manager using the Sunnyside Highlands Application form, see below menu bar.
STREET TREES - The street trees on Pheasant Ridge and Turnberry Loop in our community are Acer campestre 'Evelyn' or also known as Queen Elizabeth Hedge Maple. This variety is considered an excellent street tree that is well adapted to our environment and this is the tree that the ARC requires for replacing dead or damaged street trees.
Street trees are the maintenance responsibility of the home owner on whose frontage the street tree is planted. When trees die it is the homeowner's responsibility to replace the tree. A planting hint - much of the soil here is dense clay. If the street tree is planted with amended soil, as is usually recommended, water will collect in the tree well during the winter and eventually the tree will suffer and might die. Adding a drain of gravel wrapped in filter fabric to drain the tree well several feet down slope in the parkway will allow the tree roots to grow into the clay and will assure a healthy tree. This will minimize future replacements. Street trees need regular deep irrigation for the first two or three dry seasons until their root systems expand and penetrate deeply into the soil. Placing two- 3" or 4" diameter perforated pipes that extend from the bottom of the root ball to just above the ground surface, on each side of the trunk, will make deep irrigation easier. An alternative is to use a tree root irrigator (a small pipe with a sharp tip that connects to a garden hose that with water pressure can be pushed deeply into the soil). These are available at landscape, hardware and farm stores.
When staking new trees be sure to leave plenty of room in the ties at the tree trunk to allow for growth and to prevent damage to the bark. Stakes can be removed after one year, by then the tree will have developed strong, well-developed roots and can support itself. Leaving supports after one year actually weakens the tree.
As the trees grow, homeowners will need to consider pruning. The City of Happy Valley requires 11 feet of clearance over the street and seven feet of clearance over sidewalks.
STREET FRONTAGE MAINTENANCE - Property owners are responsible for maintenance of the sidewalk, landscaping, including grass parkway, and street trees on their street frontage, including side yard frontage on corner lots (City of Happy Valley Ordinance 8.08.290). The City requires that street trees be maintained at least 7.5 feet above sidewalks and 11 feet above the street level. Any plants in the parkway or on lots should not encroach into the sidewalk. If you would like to modify the parkway planting please submit an Architectural Review application as any changes to front yards and parkways are subject to review by the ARC (CC&Rs Section 6.1).