Anacortes, WA
Established 1979
Clearidge
Homeowners Association
News Archive
January 2021
The clouds parted, the sun came out and a dozen volunteers all descended on the the Clearidge frontage to remove the rest of our failing and fallen-down fencing. Within an hour everything was loaded into three truck beds and two trailers, and 100% was recycled! A couple of folks here in Clearidge wanted the wood, plus a resident on West 2nd street, so none went to the dump or was wasted. Plus no dump fees.
It felt good to get out and personally meet the neighbors we hadn’t yet, or simply put a name to a face. Volunteers included Les Darling, Chris Davis, Don Church, Janel Dills, Jason Flowers, Mary (Kelly) Gronholt, Dave & Coralee Hassee, Phil Iannaccone, Kent Peterson, SuAnn (Sam) Stone, and Warren Walz. Many thanks to all who participated!
The Clearidge Homeowners Association (CHA) does not have 100% of Clearidge owners contributing to annual dues. This year thus far we have had a great response with 137 lot owners contributing; still, there's a shortfall of funding to handle the proper pruning and trimming of the flowering trees on our frontage easement. We’ve been told from multiple arborists that the best option is to trim the trees annually using the “pollard technique.” This would keep the trees looking more attractive, reduce/remove “water-spouting” and improve/maintain views.
In January 2021, we received a bid for just over $8,000 to perform this for our 18 trees including removal of suckers, over-extended limbs, dead wood, and removal of pruning. However, we couldn’t afford the work, nor have we had that amount available in previous years and do not believe we will be able to afford that type of cost in the future. Untrimmed trees risk coming down in a major north wind/rainstorm.
As a result, we wanted to share some options we will be considering and can afford and hoping you will give us input via email at ClearidgeHOA@gmail.com prior to our next Board meeting in early October.
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Option 1.
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Remove 6 trees annually, equally distributed, over the next three years until all are removed
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Do nothing to the remaining trees annually until all are removed.
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Add additional xeriscape, deer-resistant plantings, that will not extend beyond 36-48 “tall at their maturity.
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Option 2.
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Remove 50% of the trees (9 trees), equally distributed, maintaining all remaining trees.
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Do no trimming to the remaining trees until we have funds to trim based on the “pollard technique”
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Add additional xeriscape, deer-resistant plantings as funding permits.
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Also, as the current fence has deteriorated and continues to fail. It is our intent to remove the remaining cedar, leaving the brick pylons in place. Again, bids are larger than available funding, and most homeowners have already built their own fences inside the split rail fence remaining. When this occurs, any owners that desire the removed cedar are welcome to retrieve for their personal use.
We hope you will give us input via email at ClearidgeHOA@gmail.com prior to our next meeting. Thank you!
Request for Volunteers to assist in three areas.
First, the Board decided to handle the trimming of the trees in our frontage area with Clearidge Homeowner volunteers. The volunteers would follow the direction of one or more specific persons with knowledge and experience in this area, and at a date specified in the future. It is our goal to handle each tree uniquely based on its growth pattern, waterspout height and other factors. If you are willing to assist either by doing the trimming or hauling spent limbs away, please contact us via ClearidgeHOA@gmail.com including your name and phone #. Brandon Farstad, CHA Vice-President will respond with more details.
Second, if you would be interested in potentially being on the Architectural Committee please let us know via ClearidgeHOA@gmail.com. This is just an inquiry of interest, as the
HOA Board does not have the authority to appoint individuals; rather the CC&R’s indicate after a member leaves the committee, the remaining committee can designate a replacement.
Third, and finally, if anyone has skills in the maintenance of websites and is willing to volunteer please let us know via ClearidgeHOA@gmail.com. The work primarily is related
to the posting updates/documents as they become available and potentially adding a new online payment feature.
The Clearidge HOA Board is starting to plan for our Annual Meeting, tentatively scheduled for Sunday January 24th via ZOOM. Details will follow.
In the meantime, it’s important that we find one or more generous Clearidge owners that would be willing to share their time and expertise on the Board in 2021. Even if you are a “snowbird” and fly (or drive) off to other parts of Washington or the US, you can still volunteer as our meetings are now via Zoom and don’t have to be in person. They generally last 60min or less and we have only had five thus far in 2020.
If you are interested, or just want to get more information, email the Board at clearidgeHOA@gmail.com and someone will get back to you. We really need to know sooner rather than later so complete information can be sent out with our Annual Meeting packets shortly. Thank you in advance for your consideration!