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WildernessPropertyOwnersAssociation(WPOA)HomeownersGreenbeltandNeighborhoodSurvey

SurveySummaryFall2018

TheWPOAHomeownersGreenbeltandNeighborhoodSurveywassharedwithWPOAHomeownersinOctober2018throughthefallnewsletterandviaemailandtheWPOAwebsite.HomeownersweregivenuntillateNovembertocomplete.Therewasatotalof40responsestothesurvey.Roughlyathirdofparticipantshavelivedintheneighborhoodfiveorfeweryears,athirdhavelivedherebetween10-15yearsandathirdhavelivedhereforover15years.KeyTakeaways

• WhenaskedwhataretheprimaryfunctionsoftheWPOAgreenbeltthemostpopularresponsewasthepreservationofthe

naturalenvironmentinsuburbandevelopment(32responses),followedbyprivacy(29responses)andvegetativebuffer(18responses).

• WhenaskedwhattheBoardshouldprioritizeindevelopingagreenbeltmanagementplanthemostpopularresponsewassafety(22responses)followedbysustainabilityofthegreenbeltoverthelongterm(21responses)andthereplantingofremovedordeadtreesinthegreenbelt(15responses).

• MostoftheparticipantsprefertheBoardcommunicateworkandplansaroundthegreenbeltmanagementviaemail(32responses)followedbyupdatespostedtotheWPOAWebsite(10responses).

• WhenaskedwhathomeownerswouldconsidercontributingtogreenbeltmanagementmostidentifiedanincreaseinHOAdues(17responses)followedbyin-kinddonations(11responses)andphysicallabor(10responses).

• Whenaskedwhatdohomeownersseeforthegreenbeltinthenext5or10yearscommonthemesemergedaroundsafety,

sustainability,privacyandrecreation.

• WhenaskedaboutideasfortheBoardtoconsiderwithregardtoneighborhoodimprovementsideasfocusedaroundincreasingopportunitiesforsocialandcommunityengagement,safetyandgreenbeltmanagement.

• WhenaskedtosharechallengesandopportunitieswiththeBoardcommentsechoedpriorthemesincludingsocialengagement,

safety,andsustainabilityofthegreenbelt.

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Q1.WhatdoyoubelievearetheprimaryfunctionsoftheWPOAgreenbelt?

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Q2.WhatshouldtheBoardprioritizeindevelopingagreenbeltmanagementplan?

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Q3.HowwouldyouprefertheBoardcommunicateworkandplansaroundgreenbeltmanagement?

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Q4.Whatresourceswouldyouconsidercontributingtogreenbeltmanagement?

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Q5.Whatdoyouseeforthegreenbeltinthenextfiveortenyears?

Clearhazardssuchasjunkpeoplehavedumpedinthere;cuttopsofhazardtreesbutleavesnagsforwildlifehabitat;makeparkswhereresidentscansit,play,gather;clearpathsthroughthewoodedareaforwalkingsothatwedon’thavetowalkonthestreetwherethecarstraveltoo;fastreplant.Forthemostpart,leaveitalone.Removeonlyproblemtreesandpossibynoxiousweeds.Limithumaninfringement.Safetyisourmainconcern.Treescoveredinivyhavedifficultystayinghealthy.Couldregularivyremovalhelpourtrees?Eradicateivy.Leaveasnaturalaspossible.Removehazardoustreesasdeterminedbycertifiedprofessionals.Replantnativetrees.Hopetocontnuetohaveasustainableandhealthygreenbelt.Nohikingtrails.Noencampments.Nocrime.Amorecared-for-look;i.e.deadtreeremoval,necessarytrimmingclosetoprivateproperty,clearedwalkingpaths.Debris,deadtreesandvegetationremovedforfireprotectionpurposes.Fireworksbanforfiresafetypurposes.Nopathdevelomenttopreventcrimehomeinvasionandevasionofprivacy.Inthefuture,Iseeivyremoval,perhapssomedangerouslimbremoval,treere-planting,basictrailmaintenance.Maintainandprotectthegreenbelt,andpossiblyplantadditionaltreestoensureahealthy,flourshinggreenbelt.Thegreenbeltisabigdrawformanyresidents.Itneedstobeapriorityforthisneighborhood.Maintainingahealthygreenbeltthatissafeandfreefromdiseasedanddamagedtrees.Itwouldbenicetokeepthemasnativeaspossible.Cleanouttheinvasivespecies(ivy)andactivelymaintaintgereesbeforetheybecomeaproblem.Alsothecommonareasarehardtofind,andthetrailstogettherearemostlyunmaintained.Identificationandmoremaintenancewouldgoalongwaystohavingthoseareasmoreactivelyused.

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AvolunteerarboristfrmT.E.S.C.sharingresultswiththeassociationmembersforfurtherdiscussionisacceptableaslongasthispersonisnotaccompaniedbypotsmokingliberalaffiliatesprowlingbehindandnexttoourhomes.Homeownerswouldhavetobenotifiedpriortoprivacyinvasion.Removalofinvasiveundergrowth.Or,thepossibilityofhomeownerstopotentiallypurchasegreenbeltareasbehindtheirhomeswiththestipulationinthebylawsorconvenantthatnotreeswillberemoved.Iwouldliketoseeimprovementsmadetothissothatourcommunityhasvibrantpathwaystowalkaroundon.I’dliketoseeitstillremaining.ItisthereasonIboughtahouseinthisneighborhood.Itreallybreaksmyhearttoseeneighorshavetreescutdown.Oneneighborbehindushadalltreesinthegreenbeltremoved.Nochangetocurrentpolicy.MaintaintheWiggins&BoulevardRoadentrances,mowthelawnsbetweenduplexesandsinglefamilyhomes.Rightnowmostofthegreenbeltareasarefullofweedsandundergrowthsocouldn’tbeusedforanywalking.Theyaremoreofafirehazardthenbeautyorpleasant.IfeelthattheywerebetterbeforetheassocwastoldtonotdoANYTHINGinthegreenbelts.Letthepeopleclaimit.Atleastitisclean.Overgrowthanddeterioration,needstobethinnedout.Takeoutalltreesthathavevinesgrowingonthem.Notjustcutdown&lefttorot.IthinkdoingacleaningupeverytwoyearsforthegreenbeltareasandtakingouttheBlackberryvines.Preventativemaintenancetopreservecurrentgreenbeltwhilealsofactoringinsafetytoownersandtheirproperty.Cleanthemup,ourshasbeenusedasadumpingspotandthereisalotofgarbagethatneedstobehauledoff.Limb/removetreesthatcausesafetyissues.Concerns-possiblehazardustrees,downedtreesthatprovidedrymaterialsthatcouldfuelfires.Wouldnotwanttoseewholesalecleaningoutofgreenbelts.Havingreadyaccessforpeopletotravelisaninvitationforbreakinsofproperties.Wanttokeeptheprivacyandwildlife.

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Keepingthetreeshealthyandsafe.Maintainingtreesthathavebeentoppedoff.Wehaveseveraltreesthathavebeentoppedbehindourhousethatareunsafe.Wewantthegreenbeltsstaunchlypreservedasgreenspacesfornativetreesandplantsperhapssomenativeplantplantingparties?).Withoutgreenbeltsandacommitmenttotrees,WildernesswouldnotbeWilderness,Welovewhatmakesthisneighborhoodunique!Thereisnoneotherlikeit.Removalofivytoensurematuretreescontinuetogrow.Ifleftunchecked,ivychokesoutthefernsandOregongrape,andeventallycankillethelargetreesaswell.Mypropertyissurroundedon2sidesbygreenbelt.Alargemajorityofthatgreenbeltiscoveredinthickblackberries.Iviewthegreenbeltsasaconstantsourceoffrustrationandheadachetryingtomanagetokeeptheblackberriesoffmyproperty.Removingunhealthyovergrowntreesandshrubsasneeded.Walkingpathsarenice.Curbeappealisimportant.Iwouldlikethegreenbelttobemanageedsothatallcanenjoyit,thinningandaddingsomewalkingpathsandremovingsomelargetreesandreplacingthemwithnewonestoletinsomemorelightwhilekeepingthesecludedfeel.Isupporteffortstokeepthegreenbeltfrombecomingahazard.

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Q6.AstheBoardconsidersneighborhoodimprovementswhatideasdoyouhave?

Perhapsaneighborhoodsocialcommittee.Agroupthatofferswaysforthecommunitytogettoknowoneanother.Groupwalksaroundtheloop,SoupNights,4thofJulybikeride/walkparade,Easteregghunt,EarthDaytrashpickup,workparties,etc.ThanksforallthatyoudoontheBoard!Keepthegreenbeltclearedofdeadtrees/branchesthathavefallenduetostorms,plantnewtreesorreplacedeadonesinareashardesthit,determinedifthereisoldgrowthforestinourgreenbelt,andensurethattheENTIREgreenbeltislookedatandmaintained.Thelightingimrpovementsaregreatlyappreciated.Speedsarestillaproblemandvariousmethodsneedtobelookedtokeepspeedsincheck.Anarboristthatdoesproactiveworkandwatchingforthetreesthatneedhelpsomehowbeforethetreesfall.ItbecomeshazardoustodrivearoundWildernesswhenPeoplewhohave4or5carsparkedinthestreeteveryday&night.PleaseaskthemtoparkoffthecurveStoppeoplefromtakingdowngoodtrees.SpeedbumpsonWildernessdr.,Donnelly,DonavanDr.SWtoslowdowntraffic.Continuewithbetterlighting;clearingplantsalongtheroadsforimprovedvisibilityofoncomingcarsforwalkersandtoseestreetsignsbetter.Askfiredepartmentorforestservicetodoaninspectionofourwoodedareawithfiresafetyinmindandmakerecommendationsforreductionofrisk.Havetreestrimmedaroundstreetlights.Keepitsimple.Don’tcreateortrysolveproblemsthatdon’texist.Sidewalksandaplaygroundwouldbenice.Havinganarboristcomecheckallthetreesisreassuring.Greatnextstep.Continuelightingimprovements.Theyareawesome!Considerimprovingtheparkwithamenities.RemovejunipersbyentranceatBoulevard.Replacewithgrass.Createotheramenitiestoimprovetheneighborhoodsuchasplaygrounds,sidewalks,opportunityforthecommunitytogather.

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Workwiththecountytodevelopanoverallplantoimprovestormdrainagesystems.Oursaresorelyinadequate.Createasavingsprogramandfundraisingtopurchsenewsolarpoweredstreetlighting.Establishaminimumstandardforyardlandscapingtoprotectpropertyvalues(withapenalty).Theneighborhoodiswonderfulasis,buttherearemanylotsnotwellmaintained,toomanycarsonroad,tomanystreetlightsblockedbyhomeownersshrubberyand/ortrees.Also,atleastoneresidencehaspitbullsbreakingthroughthefence.Speederscontrolled.Firehazardousdebrisgone.ContinuationofthestreetlightstobeconvertedtoLED.Maybespeedbumpstheschoolbusstopsforincreasedsafetyofthechildrenduringloadingandunloading.Keeptheexistingstreetlights,butmakethesemoredirectionallightdowntowardthestreetandofftheskyandhouses.Understandthesearenotthecurrentstyleinuseinmostplaces,buttheyaddanicequalitytoournieghborhood.Wouldloveimprovementsinthegreenbelttobemorecommunal.Greenbeltmaintaining,educationaboutinvasivespecies,communitydisasterpreparedeness,socialevents.LegalchallengetotheflawFloodZonedesignationregardingtheseasonalditchthatdoesn’tflood.Morestreetlamps.Howaboutaneighborhoodgaragesale.ManyneighborsI’vespokentowouldliketoseethisasmanyotherneighborhoodaroundusarealreadydoingthis.Selectingdarkskycompliantstreetlightswhenreplacingluminaries.ImprovingwalkingtrailswithaccestoLBA.Greenbeltmanagement.SpeedreductionmeasuresonWilderness.Notsure…maybelimitpeoplesabilitytochopdownandoldgrowthtreeinthefrontyardwithoutboardapproval,asI’dhatetheneighborhoodtoloseitscharacteristicdeep-forestfeel.TheBoarddoesagreatjob.Thankyou.WearemostconcernedaboutpreventingnewroadconnectionstoWildernessthatwouldincreasetrafficnoiseandharmitspeaceful,forest-likefeel.Wildernessisanoasisinarapidlydevelopingarea.Iagreewithhavinganarboristcomeoutandassessourgreenbeltforpotential“problemareas”andhazardsthatcouldleadtopropertydamageorposeapotentialsafetyconcern.

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Makingsureallstreetlightswork,especiallysincearepayingforthem.Dowepayperlight?IknowinHighlinewehavesomeoutthatIneedtocallabout.Removehazardoustrees,allowneighborsadjacentwhoarewillingtokeepuptheiradjoininggreenbelts.Donotplanusesfortravelinglikewalkingtrailsneedtheprivacy.

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Q7.WhatopportunitiesandchallengeswouldyouliketosharewiththeBoard?

Nothinginparticular,justthatinabigpicturesense,Wilderness’identityasaneighborhoodofgreenspaceisworthprotecting!I’dliketoseeclearingofblackberrybramblesandothernoxiousweeds.Thereissomejunkinourgreenbeltbehindourhouse.Iwouldlikeitclearedalsothepathalongthegaslinecouldusesomesprucingup.Makeitabettermoreappealingandsaferpath.Trimtreesthatblockvisibility.Thetreessafetyisnumberone.IalsoreallyappreciatetheemailsthatIreceiveaboutconcernsintheneighborhood,likesuspicouscharactersorincidents.Revitalizingtheneighborhoodforfamilieswithkidsandpets.Morefamilieswithyoungchildrenaremovingin.Idon’tunderstandthisquestion…whywouldyourequireatleast100charactersforthisspace??Neighborhoodwatchinplay.Havevolunteeredseveraltimes.Areadoesnotneedadditionalpaths,recreationalopportunities,etc.Justmaintainingwhatalreadyexists.Alreadymanyfamilyrecreationalopportunities.Onewhichiswithinwalkingdistance.Thepossibilityofahomeownertopurchasethegreenbeltareadirectlybehindtheirhomeswiththestipulationthatnotreeswillberemoved(unlessdeemdedstructurallyunsafefromtreeprofessional).TheFEMAfloodmappingdesignationforseveralpropertieshasbeenarealissue.AfewoftheneighborsdirectlyaroundmeandIhavefiguredouthowtonavigatethereviewprocess,butithasn’tbeenveryeasy.I’mnotentirelysuretheinformationusedtodeterminethefloodelevationiscorrect.SpeedbumpsonWildernessdr.,Donnelly,DonavanDrSWtoslowdowntraaffic.Ihavewrittenseverallettersbutnothingisdone.Somebodyisgoingtobehurt.Keepingtheprivacyandsafety.Allowingpeopletomaintainthegreenbeltsadjacenttotheirpropertieswithoutdoingpermanentbuilding.Permissionsfortreeremovalifnecessary.Somemaybewillngtopayforitifitisadangertotheirproperty.

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Yourbudgetandlistlookapproperiateenough.Justathought…iftheBoardandothersfindthativyremovalisanissuetheywanttotackle,youmighttryworkigwiththeConservationDistrict(EricaGuttman)toseeiftheycanofferassistance/resourcestowardsreplantingnativeplants.Wedonothavedifficultchallengesinourgreenbeltotherthankeepingtheblackberrybushesatbaysotheydon’ttakeoverouryardandpickingupthelargebranchesthatfallintoouryard.Forus,thisisrelativelyeasyandnotthattimeconsuming.http://m.mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/map-your-neighborhoodhttp://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/english-ivyAspreviouslystated,achallengewouldbethecountyandFEMA’sfloodmappingdesignationregardingtheditch.IamwillingtohelpbutamnewtotheareasoIdon’thavealotofcontactopportunities.Iwouldbeabletovolunteertime.

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Q8.Whendidyoumovetotheneighborhood?

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SurveyResponses:

• 40totalsurveyparticipants• Question2:37answersand3unanswered• Question3:37answersand3unanswered• Question4:35answersand5unanswered• Question5:28answersand12unanswered• Question6:23answersand17unanswered• Question7:16answersand24unanswered• Question8:37answersand3unanswered