BEAUTIFICATION  COMMITTEE

Forest Lake Homeowners' Association

  

  

Duties & Responsibilities:  (per By-Laws)

  

The beautification committee shall promote the enhancement of the beauty and general living conditions of the neighborhood and encourage homeowners in beautification of their property to insure that pride of ownership shall always exist in the community.

  

  Grant of Authority:

 

We originally received authority from the founders, Forest Lake of Florence, Inc. stating:

 

Forest Lake of Florence, Inc. wishes to grant management andsupervision responsibilities for the use of the lake waters to theForest Lake Homeowner’s Association…….to preserve, protectand maintain the lake, dams, structures, access to, use of, andmanagement and supervision of the lake water know as Forest Lake.

4.The Forest Lake Homeowner’s Association shall be responsible    in association with the property owners generally, to appropriately maintain and protect the cleanly appearance of the said portion of

   the lake and shoreline.

5.…...for recreation, fishing, boating, and the quiet and peacefulenjoyment of the lake.

  

This is the mandate of the Beautification Committee

  

I believe the original FLHA mandate only contemplated the building of houses around the lake proper and did not anticipate the many other communities developing around the original lots.  This has created several problems over the years.  The current Board has to now worry about much more than the lake itself. We are the owners of the lake now!  Clearly, others have wanted to share in the beauty of Forest Lake.   Our “total” community is now comprised of the following:

• Forest Lake Drive
• Lakeshore Drive
• Waterford on Forest Lake
• Forest Lake South
• Forest Lake West
• Forest Lake Pointe
• Forest Lake Shores  (new)
• The Reserve at Forest Lake  (new)

  

A Brief History Lesson

  

Forest Lake proper, covers both sides of Knollwood Road (Highway 103) which is most commonly referred to as “the causeway”.  When founded, the “United Shores” (of Forest Lake) only included Forest Lake Drive and Lakeshore Drive. Waterford (on the east side) never joined the union --the original covenants only included areas west of Knollwood Road.  The owners of the east side (Waterford) decided to exclude themselves from any jurisdiction of the newly forming association.  To this day, our association has no jurisdiction on this side of the lake.

  

Once the original property (Forest Lake Drive and Lakeshore Drive) was established, a new subdivision came along.  This was our first subdivision, and was it was called Forest Lake South. It was developed in phases.  The first and second phases joined the association.  Subsequent phases grew up farther and farther from the lake.  They began to draw-up their own covenants and less and less of the homeowners joined the association.  Only 20 out of about 110 homes in Forest Lake South are members.  Forest Lake West, came along later and also created their own covenants.  However, a majority of homeowners there have joined the association.  The developer also created a separate boat ramp for these homeowners..  A lakefront lot was specified as useable by all Forest Lake West residents for access to the lake.  Our association now maintains it. We do not, however, have any responsibility for maintaining the entrance into their community (from Lakeshore Drive).  They do this themselves.

This history is mentioned to be certain our beautification committee only “beautifies” what it is supposed to.  The original owners did not contemplate the type of developing that occurred.

With this in mind, it is easy to see why some confusion has developed over the years.  When, for example, we originally agreed to maintain all entryways – only three existed.  There are now four or five others.  The point here is that they are to be maintained by other associations –not us.

  

Therefor, specifically excluded from the Beautification Committee’s purview are the areas known as,  (1) Forest Lake West,  (2) Forest Lake Pointe,  (3)  Waterford at Forest Lake, (4) Forest Lake Shores, and, (5) The Reserve at Forest Lake.   And likely to come are, McLaurin Place and Pickford Place, both being developed by Tony Hall.

  

Future homeowner boards can decide on the inclusion or exclusion of certain subdivisions.  This committee will maintain its focus only on what is described above.

  

Here’s what we have done,

 

PROGRESS REPORT

 

WORK ACCOMPLISHED

       

1. We have replaced crepe myrtle trees on the causeway and installed beaver barriers.
2. We have trimmed all the crepe myrtles on the causeway and re-mulched.
3. We have seeded the causeway grass with rye seed for the winter.
4. The main boat ramp on Lakeshore Drive is now maintained as part of the causeway.
5. A  regular mowing plan exists for the causeway and clean-up is ongoing.
6. Landscape lighting has been added to the cherry trees along Knollwood Road.
7. White vinyl fencing & new gates have been added to 2 others boat ramps.
8. The association has assisted (not financially) with the creation of a new street entry at Lakeshore and Knollwood.
9. We have planted 600 red tulip bulbs for Spring 2005.

 

 

FUTURE PROPOSALS:

 

1. Possible lighting of trees along the causeway.                                                                       
2.  Clearing drainpipes on Lakeshore corner. A better water run-off path is needed.  Possible drainpipe, or stone gully.
3. Decorative brick surface across road at Lakeshore and Knollwood and possibly other entrances.

Discussion of these will be presented at future Board meetings together with any ideas that you

have may have.  I would like to keep a running list of things that residents are interested in and try

to come-up with meaningful agendas and maybe even yearly budgets.

 

 

 

Frank M. McIntyre, Chairperson ,  FLHA Beautification Committee