Note: This policy has been taken from Tony Prendergast’s August 2016 newsletter.
High Point Six has long been the envy of the other sections for our beautifully manicured, neatly arranged grounds. Plantings are planned and installed to be beneficial to the environment and to convey a handsome appearance. The beauty is not accidental. Much planning and considerable resources are involved in achieving this look.
As a condominium association we are obliged to care for the grounds in a professional manner. To that end, we have contracted with Quality Landscaping to mow, fertilize, trim, plant, and otherwise provide landscape services throughout the premises. As our contracted vendor, Quality Landscaping is the exclusive provider of these services.
Unit owners, wishing to plant or trim areas adjacent to their units, are required to obtain approval from the board. Because water is essential to plant growth, our recently renovated sprinkler system works to maximum efficiency. Watering is automatically controlled from our wells, and municipal restrictions placed on watering are strictly followed.
All greenery planted adjacent to the buildings on common ground must conform to the landscape plan for HP6. That plan is as follows:
- Plantings in front of windows must remain below window sill level.
- At the corners of buildings and along those areas with no windows only approved plants are allowed.
- Privacy plantings around patios are subject to approval and restricted to seven (7) feet in height.
- Planting is not allowed on common ground beyond three (3) feet from the building unless approved.
- Fruit trees and vegetables of any sort are banned as they leave litter and attract rodents
The common areas contain piping and wiring essential to our everyday living as well as easements for Comcast, FPL, and Delray Beach public works. Haphazard, unauthorized digging and planting have caused disturbances to those systems in the past, and roots from certain plantings are a current problem. Consequently, any variations from the landscape plan need to be remediated.
The board is in the process of inventorying existing nonconforming plantings and determining a plan for removal or remediation of any problem growth. Unit owners who have planted on common ground will be given notice of the board’s plan in advance of any action. That action may include removal of the nonconforming growth by the owner. Removal of plants must be done by professionals with access to easement drawings as well as wiring and piping blueprints, and with proper permitting and board approval.