Frequently Asked Questions
Is membership in the Association required?
Yes. The deed for each property in Oakview Heights
Homeowners Association (OHHA) ties the lot to the OHHA Covenants,
Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R’s) filed at
How much does membership cost?
The current Annual Dues Assessments are $275 for each lot per year.
What services does the Association provide?
The primary functions of OHHA are to maintain the
common grounds, such as the front entrance lawn areas, roads and storm water
drain areas. OHHA
also pays to insure the common property.
This is especially important as we have an active railroad that each lot
owner must cross in order to get to their property. The OHHA Board runs
the daily activities of the Association and enforces the CC&R’s.
Residents are encouraged to attend the Annual Member Meeting and scheduled Board Meetings in order to voice their opinions on how funds should be spent. Per OHHA CC&R Article 6, the Board of Directors has the responsibility of delegating how all funds are spent.
When was the Association started?
The developer formed the Oakview Heights Homeowners
Association before any houses were built in the subdivision. The developer
controlled the Association until a certain percentage of homes were completed.
Control of the Association was then turned over to a Board of Directors made up
of members of Oakview Heights Homeowners Association
that were elected at the first Annual Member Meeting in January 1999.
What does the Association spend our dues on?
The Board of Directors spends the Association money handling office affairs
like billing and collecting dues, insurance, monitoring compliance with deed
restrictions, paying for landscape maintenance, common area maintenance,
website maintenance, community newsletters, advertising for a community yard
sale, utilities for the common area and a host of other items.
Not all funds are spent each year. The Association holds bank accounts to contain excess funds. This money, called Reserve Funds, is earmarked for future projects such as road repair, CPA audits and storm drain cleaning. The Board deposits this money in interest bearing savings accounts for maximum interest earnings.
Is collecting
Association Dues legal?
Yes. The authority for the collection of dues is found in the OHHA CC&R Article 6: Budget and Assessment for Common Expenses. The deed for
your property ties it to the OHHA CC&Rs.
How and when are dues collected?
Your Assessment is billed annually, so you receive one bill each year. You may
choose to pay for the entire year in advance, in which case you would not
receive a bill until the following year. The Treasurer handles the billing and
collection process.
What happens if I don´t pay my
Association dues?
The Treasurer will first contact you in writing requesting you pay your
bill. After several notices without
payment, the Board may chose first to suspend your right to vote on OHHA matters. The Board may then choose to put a lien
on your home and/or send your account to collections, if you still fail to pay.
A Notice of Claim of Assessment Lien is filed with
The
Association does have the right to foreclose on your property, however, our
goal is to collect the money due and not force a sale of your home.
The
cost of placing and removing the Notice of Claim of Assessment Lien will be
assessed to the member, including any legal fees incurred by the Association.
Any
unsatisfied liens must be settled before you can sell your home.
Can any member of the Association serve on the Board of Directors?
Yes. The Board of Directors is made up of members that are elected at the Annual
Member Meeting. There are three directors on the Board and each position is up
for election each year. Board Members may be re-elected. After the Annual Member Meeting, the Board
meets to elect officers chosen by the Board.
Please
note that lot owners are members of the
Association, but renters who rent a home in
Are Board of Directors paid for their service?
No. All Board Members volunteer their time because they are interested in the
well being of the community.
Board Meetings are held several times a year at the City of
Where can I get a copy of the CC&R’s
and Bylaws?
You can obtain electronic copies of Association documents online at the OHHA website, Governing Documents
page at www.OakviewHeights.org.
If you do not have access to the web, you can contact any Board Member and one
will be provided to you. A copy charge may be legally charged to you for this
service.
Why do I have to submit a form to the OHHA
asking for permission to build or change items on my property?
Submitting the Request
for ACC Approval of Plans form is simply a review step to ensure that home
improvements in the subdivision conform to the deed restrictions. These
restrictions were put in place by the developer to promote a common look in the
subdivision and to protect property values.
This
process also provides you with assurance that the OHHA
will not ask you to make any changes to your work after you have already paid
for it to be completed.
What types of things should I ask the OHHA
about before making improvements to my property?
Any permanent improvement to the exterior of your home should be cleared with
the OHHA before you start. Doing so will ensure that
you will not be asked to go back and make any changes in order to comply with
the deed restrictions. Examples of improvements that should go through this
process include fences, outbuildings, sheds, extensions, gazebos, changes to
your driveway, etc.
As a
homeowner, you can paint, remodel or decorate the interior of your home
in any way that you feel is appropriate.
Keep
in mind that for many improvements, you might also need to obtain a permit from
the city. Contact the City of
What kinds of issues should I ask OHHA
about and what kinds should I call the city or other authority about?
Contact OHHA for issues with your dues, if you plan
to make improvements to your property, such as building a fence, or to report
any OHHA related problem, such as an issue with the
common grounds or to report a possible violation of the deed restrictions.
For
issues of a criminal nature, please call the City of
How many houses are in
There are 83 lots in Oakview Heights Homeowners
Association, with no undeveloped lots. There is a map of Oakview
Heights Homeowners Association on the website.
Is there a new subdivision being built next door to
Yes, a new subdivision called Oakview Heights
Addition has been proposed. Many of our
members saw the extensive clearing and burning the developer began in late
2007. More
information about this project was discussed at the Annual Meeting in May
2008. The developer has been issued a
Stop Work Order in 2008 by the City of
A member has also informed the Board that some of
the areas cleared between the houses on 294th and McKenna Meadows
have been declared wetlands by the Army Corps of Engineers. No
homes can be built in wetlands areas. Please see the minutes of the Annual
Member Meeting on 5/17/08 for further details.
Update 2009:
How can I keep up to date with all these developments?
The Board keeps members up to date on these issues with articles in our
newsletter and website. We also encourage you to attend our Annual Member
Meeting and Board Meetings. We will post
any new developments on the website, as well.
When are the Annual Member Meetings and Board Meetings?
The Annual Member Meeting is usually held in the 2nd quarter of the
year. You will receive several notices
via mail and signs in the medians as it draws near. The date is also posted on the website on the Events Calendar.
The Board of Directors meets several times throughout the year. Exact times and locations are published in advance in the newsletters and on the OHHA website. Please consult the website for the most up to date information on changes of time or location.
My tree died by the street. Who pays to replace it?
All trees on your lot are your responsibility.
This includes tree trimming of trees that overhang our roads. The
school district has expressed concern that there are trees within the community
that hang too far out and impede district school busses. Please be
aware of your trees and keep them trimmed.
When is the next Community Yard Sale?
The 1st Annual Spring Cleaning Yard Sale was held April 26-27,
2008. We will keep you posted for future sale dates.
How do I report a violation in the community?
If
you wish to report a violation, please complete a Member Complaint Form and mail
it to the Board at: OHHA,
Member complaints are
investigated only if the Member Complaint Form is completely filled out. Include the details regarding who, what, when
and where the violation occurred and a solution you propose. You must sign your
letter for it to be considered.
May I sell or lease my home?
Yes, you own your home. You may convey ownership according to your
needs. You may also lease or rent your
home. Each tenant is subject to the OHHA
CC&R’s, Bylaws and Rules and
Regulations, however the ultimate responsibility lies with the member.
Is there
Yes.
Washington RCW
Chapter 64.38 deals directly with HOA's. There is also
a current legislature being proposed regarding amending the Homeowners
Association Act. Here is the Final
Report of the Homeowners Association Act Committee presented 12-31-07.
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Homeowners Association ---
Created by Linda A. Wingfield
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This Page Updated Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 11:19 PM, PST