Board Buzz
BOARD BUZZ - June 2025 by Jack Espinal, President
Posted on Jun 1st, 2025
The NTRA Board Struggles with Landscaping Services
In March I wrote about the changes that the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) Board was initiating in landscape services for 2025. At that time, we promised to survey owners concerning changes that might be made to our governing documents regarding landscape services. It’s time for that survey now and the Board would like to receive a robust response from Members.
Here is the background on where we are and why this survey will help the Board move forward.
The NTRA is executing a new concept for landscaping within our community by contracting with three different landscaping companies. Each of the three landscaping companies is providing services to two neighborhoods. This allows them to specialize in and concentrate on the specific needs of our diverse neighborhoods. While these contractors have been at work for only a few months, the number of landscaping problem tickets has declined and the NTRA Board has received numerous favorable comments.
Why a Survey?
The NTRA Board has also been rigorously following the requirements of our governing documents regarding landscaping. Those documents (specifically our Supplemental Declarations) prescribe that only mowing/edging of turf, pruning trees and shrubs can be provided by the Association as part of homeowner assessments. They did not allow for the application of mulch or for leaf removal in the fall. Further, they also are silent about providing any landscaping to 69 specific lots in Charlotte Park.
The NTRA Board believes that it is essential to remove dead leaves from our common areas and from private lots in the fall. This removal effort must be performed at the same time. If not, Mother Nature will redistribute leaves into all of the cleared areas. The NTRA governing documents must be amended to authorize the Association to remove leaves and we will require two-thirds vote for passage. Since we are committed to holding a vote to permit leaf removal, we should consider other landscaping changes to our documents.
The landscaping services survey is being conducted to provide direction to the NTRA Board of Directors regarding what the Association should provide for landscaping. The survey results will be used to draft additional amendment proposals regarding the landscaping that our homeowners wish to receive.
The survey is not about the quality of services currently being provided by our three landscaping companies. Rather, it will gather information to help us determine the level and direction of future landscaping services provided to private lots in our community.
When you receive the survey email, please take a few minutes to respond to each of the questions. A high turnout for the survey will help ensure that the NTRA moves forward with the types and level of services desired by our homeowners.
Comment By: William Butler
Posted on Jun 6, 2025
We completed the survey but wanted to reach out and let you know of the excellent service that we receive from Phan's Lawn Svc.
Last Edited: 06/07/2025 at 08:05 AM