06/20/2019
TO: Homeowners in Furnace Hills II with sidewalk problems
FROM: Furnace Hills II HOA Board
DATE: June 20, 2019
RE: Update on Sidewalk Buckling Problems & Trees
This memo is to let you know that, since our May 15 communication with you, we have encountered a number of issues in regard to the sidewalk problems and the trees in our development. Some are with homeowners and some with the city of Westminster and the Department of Natural Resources. There is continued disagreement over who owns the sidewalks and the trees around them.
Two common areas in our development where there were tree-root problems and sidewalk issues were fixed by Pine Ridge Property Maintenance on June 5 & 6, our contracted lawn and property group. We felt we should do these common areas first due to the safety hazards of the problems as well as an example of what Pine Ridge could do as far as job scope and completion in a fine manner. Of course, the city and DNR were “on us” immediately about the work and ordered us to go no further without permits and permissions (which we knew nothing about going in to this).
We believe there is still the potential for the city of Westminster to cite homeowners for the sidewalk problems so we are encouraging you, as a homeowner to check with the city and DNR about your situation and inquire about permits and permissions. Eric Switzer at 410-848-9000 or Andrew Gray and Donna Davis at DNR at 410-848-9290 are the appropriate contacts we have.
Our suggestion from here going forward is to have you individual homeowners contact Pine Ridge directly about any work they could assist you with. John the owner is reachable by his email [email protected].
When and if you get work done by Pine Ridge or your own contractor, we still are offering an assistance grant to you from HOA funds. The procedure to receive the assistance grant would be, upon completion of your individual project, to let us know and we would cut you a check for $250 as reimbursement. This assistance grant offer (meaning work would need to be completed) expires by the end of September 2019. Completion of your project must include the replacement of the lifted concrete slab to be eligible for the grant.
Thank you for your attention to this matter by reading this memo and then moving forward with whatever course of action you feel appropriate or not.