Frequently Asked Questions

Questions that seem to come up again and again...

Where do my dues go?

Homeowner dues are used to pay for improvements and maintenance such as landscaping throughout the development, landscaping at the front entrance, green belt area, playground and retention pond maintenance.  Other annual expenses typically include postage, printing, legal, insurance and utilities.  In addition, a portion of the annually collected dues are set aside in our reserves.  These reserves are to save for long-term projects such as building or replacing entrance signs and to ensure we have adequate cash for any unexpected needs.   The board presents financial results prior to and during the General Meeting of Homeowners held annually.  

I want to make some improvements to my property.  What do I do first?

Print and fill out a copy of the ACC request form.  Give it to any board member or mail it to the address on the form (same as on our contact page).  You should receive a written reply within two weeks.

What are the "Native Growth Protection Areas" NGPA's we have in our complex?

Taken from the Snohomish County Public Works FAQ page:

What’s a Native Growth Protection Area?

A Native Growth Protection Area, also known as an NGPA, is an area designated by legal statute to protect fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, geologically unstable areas, wetlands, and their buffers. These portions of the landscape are either particularly sensitive to development or are potentially hazardous to public health and safety. Streams, wetlands, erosion and landslide hazard areas, seismic and volcanic hazard areas can be classified as NGPAs.

Who owns an NGPA?

Most Native Growth Protection Areas are privately owned - either as part of an individual property or held in common by property owners in a subdivision.

In terms of ownership, NGPAs are similar to the building setbacks that have been in place for many years. While a building setback defines where buildings may be constructed in relation to property lines or waterbodies, an NGPA defines where buildings may be constructed on a property in relation to streams, wetlands, steep slopes and other important public infrastructure. In both cases, the landowner has ownership of the property and is responsible for maintenance and upkeep.

Many new developments place NGPAs in separate parcels that are owned by a homeowner association or collectively by neighborhood landowners. Those landowners are collectively responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the property.