Woodgate Standards and Expectations

When you bought your home in Woodgate, you likely considered curb appeal, layout, value, location, and the overall upkeep of nearby homes. All these factors can shape day-to-day quality of life and long-term property value.

What was less visible is the framework of ordinances, services and governing documents connected to every property. These rules help set expectations and support neighborhood quality. They also define certain responsibilities and place limits on what can be done.

The Rules We Follow

At the city level, they're found in the zoning and property codes that create a baseline for safety and livability: from what can be built to basics like street parking limits, weed height, tree limb clearance over alleys and sidewalks, trash set-out timing, sprinkler schedules, etc.

Woodgate has standards and expectations also:

• We accepted them at closing: Our Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs). They're part of the deed restrictions of our homes.
  

• Some CC&Rs overlap with city code, but many are Woodgate specific (for example: fencing materials, garages and carports, and mailbox standards).
  

• Because somethings in our CC&Rs can also go beyond city code, the city does not enforce them.
  

• The CC&Rs are shared standards: any homeowner may ask that they be upheld. To keep things consistent (and reduce neighbor-to-neighbor friction), our Architectural Committee (AC) serves as the primary, organized process for review and follow-up.

Unlike the city, the Architectural Committee doesn’t have tax funding to support enforcement, so the process must be practical, fair and respectful. When a concern is raised (by the Architectural Committee or by a resident), the goal is a consistent, de-escalating approach:

• (1) Notify the homeowner when something appears out of compliance.

• (2) Discuss options and agree on a reasonable plan and timeline.

• (3) Consider further steps only if repeated attempts to resolve the issue are unsuccessful.

The Architectural Committee operates at arm’s length but coordinates as needed with the Woodgate Neighborhood Association (WNA) board. As the member-elected group, the WNA board communicates with residents and collects voluntary dues to support neighborhood activities and priorities.

One question that could be asked: Is it important to follow our covenants now when we have not always done so in the past?

Factors to Consider

As the neighborhood (and many homes) age, maintenance needs increase and exterior upkeep can become more challenging. Another factor is the increase in rental homes. Some rentals are well maintained, and we appreciate our responsible landlords and residents. Others may not be as well maintained. Renters may be reluctant to spend time or money on a home that is not theirs. Owners (and property managers) may also have a short-term perspective with profit potential being the most important consideration. Clear expectations can help owners and renters alike.

To maintain Woodgate's appearance, enhance its livability and support property values, the Architectural Committee and the WNA Board support a more consistent focus on the standards in our CC&Rs. 

I Believe our Greatest Attribute is the Cohesiveness of our Neighborhood. 

The intent is to be practical and reasonable while also preserving the common expectations tied to our deed restrictions. Continued progress depends on our shared understanding across the neighborhood.

Important Question To Consider

This brings us to a question for Woodgate: What do we want our neighborhood to be? 

• Do you feel the Architectural Committee and the WNA Board are on the right track?

• Should the standards already outlined through the CC&Rs be upheld?

• Or do we limit expectations to what the city enforces and treat the remaining deed restrictions as less active?

Either we approach this has potential trade-offs related to neighborhood appearance, value and neighborhood continuity.

I'm interested to hear your perspective. Please feel free to reach out to me via email with your thoughts. You can reach me at president@woodgateneighbors.com.

Sincerely,

Rick Wood WNA President