Plantings and External Paraphernalia

The Board has broken down the grounds into four (4) categories:

Limited Common Elements

These are landscaped bed areas around the perimeter of the units outside of the courtyards.  These areas are maintained by the Association including shrub trimming and replacement.  No flower planting is allowed in these limited common areas.  If a co-owner wishes additional plantings, he/she must follow the following procedure:

  • The co-owner must pay River Pines Condominium Association, after Board approval but before installation, $500.00 for each tree and $200.00 for each shrub. The Board reserves the right to deny a request if the planting of such tree or shrub would result in significantly increased landscaping costs due to the need to use smaller machines and/or more landscaping resources. The Association will then maintain them for their useful life. This includes trimming and mulching at the location in which they are planted. Mulching will be included when and if other trees and shrubs in the complex are mulched.
  • A Consent to Alteration Agreement must be filled out and executed and define the type of tree/trees and bushes, their full growth height and diameter dimensions and their exact proposed location including distance from buildings and other trees/shrubs in the area.
  • Trees must have at least a 2-1/2” diameter trunk.
  • Shrubs must be at least 24” or 2 gal. size.
  • When fully grown trees and shrubs shall not cover the driveway, walkway, street or the roof of any unit.

Courtyards

Co-owners may install landscape materials within their assigned courtyards without getting Board consent.  However, any modifications that will affect drainage of the courtyard, the unit basement or adjacent unit basement will be the modifying co-owner’s responsibility.

General Common Elements

These areas are the landscaped tree and bed areas and greenbelts that are maintained by the Association.  The Association will replace all landscape materials (trees, shrubs, etc.) once they are 80% dead.  Greenbelts will be replaced as needed.  For those co-owners who wish to plant additional trees or shrubs in these areas, they must follow the procedure outlined above for limited common element plantings.

Natural Areas

These areas are non-landscaped and shall be left in a natural state.  These specific areas will not be maintained by the Association except for situations such as a dead tree that may fall and possibly endanger a building.  If a co-owner wishes to do any planting in these areas, they must follow the procedure outlined above for limited common element plantings

Other Planting Restrictions/Guidelines:

  1. Co-owners may only plant flowers and individual bushes which do not exceed 3 feet in the limited common elements of their units (i.e., in their courtyards, between the sidewalk and the garage going to their front door, etc.).
  2. Hedges are not allowed.
  3. Hanging baskets are allowed only on rear porches and decks.  Any other flower plantings must not interfere with the mowing of the lawns or require the use of additional lawn service resources.  If such plantings do require additional lawn service resources or other community resources, the co-owner will be required to remove the flower plantings and restore the area to its original condition.

Requirements for All Planting Approvals:

  1. Completion of Consent to Alteration Agreement that details the location and type of tree/bush that is to be planted including the distance from buildings and other trees/shrubs.
  2. Request is submitted to the Board which then refers it to the Grounds Committee to review location, type of tree/shrub for consistency with area and effect on landscaping resources.
  3. If Board approves the request, co-owner must pay $500 for each tree and $200 for each shrub.  The Board reserves the right to not approve a request for planting of trees/shrubs if such planting would result in significantly increased landscaping costs due to the need to use smaller machines and/or more landscaping resources.  These costs must be paid prior to installation.  The Association will maintain them for their useful life.