Exterior House Paint

Our CC&R’s say that homeowners are responsible for maintaining and keeping in good order the condition and repair of the exterior of their home. Article VII, Section 11 of the CC&R’s require that paints and stains on our homes “shall be of good quality and shall consist of earth tone colors.” The form to have paint colors approved can be found by clicking here.

Landscaping

Our CC&R’s state that homeowners are responsible for maintaining and keeping in good order the condition and repair of their lot and the landscaping of their lot. Furthermore, no owner shall remove or otherwise materially alter any shrub or tree or make any material changes in landscaping without first obtaining written consent of the Architectural Review Committee. The form to obtain this consent can be found by clicking here.

Animals Such as Chickens or Pigs

While chickens may be allowed under the Springfield Municipal code, Article VII, Section 2 states in part that “No animals, livestock or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any part of said property”. Also keep in mind that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn about the risks of Salmonella and Avian Flu from backyard chicken flocks, especially in children under 5 and adults over 65. Read their report by clicking here. In early 2017 the CDC reported that 47 states have reported cases of human salmonella connected with backyard chicken flocks and 71 people have been hospitalized. The infection is usually spread by chicken droppings which can be spread easily.

Dogs

Dogs are permitted – and even welcomed! – in our neighborhood as long as they are not kept, bred or maintained for any commercial purpose, and you follow the rules below regarding dog waste and barking. This restriction is in Section 2 of Article VII, Specific Property Use Restrictions. 

Dog Waste

Section 3 of Article VII requires that dog waste be promptly collected and stored in a “sanitary container.”

Barking Dogs

While most dogs bark from time to time, we must remember to respect our neighbor’s desire to live in a peaceful neighborhood. Section 4 of Article VII prohibits dog barking that is or may be or become “an annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood.” The HOA will send out initial notices of violation and then follow the fine schedule in the Bylaws and CC&R’s. Please also be aware that the City of Springfield prohibits loud and disruptive dog barking that continues for more than 15 minutes. The first referral to the City of Springfield may result in a warning and educational letter to the property owner. Second and subsequent violations may result in citations and fines. Homeowners wishing to file a complaint regarding a barking dog must document and log the time period during which the animal barked continuously and then contact Springfield Police Department’s Animal Control Officer by calling (541) 726-3634. Springfield Police Department’s Animal Control Office is open from 8 to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Their address is 230 4th St, Springfield, OR 97477.

Dog Fences

Fencing in dogs is prudent to keep them safe and to prevent them from running away. Please be aware that all fencing requires pre-approval by the HOA’s Architecture Review Committee. The application form can be obtained on this website by clicking here. Also please read the fencing restrictions in Section 12, Fences, of Article VII, Specific Property Use Restrictions and Exhibit B which provides the design specifications for fencing. Generally speaking, fences “shall be all wood” and “not protrude past the front of the residence.”

Moss

Moss must be controlled on the roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and walls of our property.

Trash Cans

All trash cans must be stored behind a fence or gate out of view of the street.

Vehicle Parking

Our CC&R’s say in Article VII, Section 6 “These covenants hereby include a restriction on overnight parking on the dedicated streets within the subdivision.”  Homeowners may not park vehicles overnight on the streets of our neighborhood. They are to be parked in driveways or within a garage. Section 6 also says that all “unsightly or inoperable or project vehicles shall be removed from the streets and open parking areas and parked within the confines of an enclosed garage so as not to hinder the overall beauty of the area.” Regarding boats, trailers, and RV’s, Section 6 says “All boats, trailers, and RV’s shall be stored in an appropriate area behind a screen or fence no closer to the street than the front of the garage.”

Air Conditioning Units

No window mounted air conditioning units are allowed in our neighborhood.

Fences

All fencing in our neighborhood must be wood and conform to design and specifications in Exhibit B of the CC&R’s which you can view by clicking here. Fences must be treated with natural preservatives and may not be painted. No fence shall protrude past the front of a residence.

Temporary Signs

Temporary signs, such as political signs, holiday signs, or flags are allowed for a period of not more than 30 cumulative days prior to the event. Each temporary sign shall not exceed five square feet, and the total signage shall not exceed 30 square feet.

Broken Street Lights 

Springfield Utility Board (SUB) will repair these if you call them at (541) 284-0860. They will ask you for the tag number usually located at the base of the light pole you are calling about.

RV Parking

Long term parking of RV, motor homes, trailers of any kind, and boats on the street or in driveways is not allowed. It is permissible to park them for a reasonable amount of time to load and unload them. Our CC&R’s say that “all boats, trailers, and RV’s shall be stored in an appropriate area behind a screen or fence no closer to the street than the front of the garage.” Furthermore, the CC&R’s specifically state that no trailer, camper-truck, or RV shall at any time be used as a residence, temporarily or permanently, on any part of the property in our neighborhood.

33rd Street Riparian Wetlands Easement

Many of the homes in our neighborhood along 33rd Street and Watermark Drive are subject to a Wetlands Conservation and Drainageway Easement. The homes that are subject to that easement have additional restrictions on what they can do in the area subject to that easement. The restrictions are outlined in the CC&R’s and also in the recent letter the City of Springfield mailed to all homeowners along 33rd Street. You can view a copy of that letter with the relevant CC&R’s by clicking here: 2014Springfieldletter. As generally summarized/outlined in the letter from the City of Springfield, only some activities are permitted in the area of the easement that runs behind the homes on 33rd Street: 1. Individual homeowners may plant species associated with riparian areas as approved by the Oregon Division of State Lands. A copy of the list is attached to the letter from the City of Springfield. 2. Existing non-native vegetation may be removed by hand provided it is replaced with approved riparian vegetation. For example, Blackberries and English Ivy may be replaced with Salmonberry and Snowberry. 3. A tree determined to be dangerous by a certified arborist may be removed with review of the report by the City of Springfield. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the easement and how it affects your property or Ambleside Meadows Home Owners Association, please contact Liz Miller, Planner for the City of Springfield at (541) 726-2301 or email her at lmiller@springfield-or.gov.

Watermark Drainageway and Conservation Easement

Seven of the homes in our neighborhood on Watermark Drive are subject to a Conservation and Drainageway Easement designed to protect a storm water ditch or channel that is approximately 25 feet wide and 415 feet long on the plat maps. This area extends across the northern side of each lot. The homes that are subject to the easement are identified on the plat map and in our CC&R’s as lots 60 through 66. Their street or mailing addresses are 2359 Watermark Drive, 3320 Watermark Drive, 3348 Watermark Drive, 3352 Watermark Drive, 3360 Watermark Drive, 3368 Watermark Drive, and 3384 Watermark Drive. You can view a copy of the plat map that shows the location of the Conservation and Drainageway Easement on each lot by clicking here:  Conservation and Drainageway Easement Behind Watermark Drive Those seven home that are subject to an easement have restrictions on what they can do in the area of the storm water ditch or channel that crosses the northern part of their lot. Our CC&R’s say in relevant part in Article VIII, Section 5 (b): “As partial mitigation for filling of wetlands elsewhere in the subdivision, the Army Corps permit requires this drainage channel be maintained as a buffer along the northernmost 25 feet of these lots. This buffer area is shown on the Plat as “25′ Conservation and Drainageway Easement.”” The specific restrictions for the area covered by the easement are:

1. Vegetation control of vegetation in the buffer area shall be without mowing.
2. No chemical applications shall be allowed within the buffer area.
3. The buffer area shall be kept free of temporary or permanent structures and storage sheds, fencing, lawn furniture, vehicles, yard clippings, debris, and similar materials that may damage the natural vegetation or impede flow in the channel.

You can read a copy of Article VIII by clicking here: CC&R -Article 8, Additional Easements and Wetlands

Important – Please Read

These statements or summaries are provided to help the homeowners who are a part of the Ambleside Meadows HOA understand the CC&R’s that apply to property in our neighborhood. They do not replace, waive, or supplant the CC&R’s, and are not a substitute for reading and following the actual text of the CC&R’s. Please take time to read the actual CC&R’s and become familiar with their terms, conditions, restrictions, and rules regarding property ownership in our neighborhood. If you have any questions regarding the CC&R’s, please contact your HOA Board or speak to a qualified attorney. Ambleside Meadows HOA adheres to all fair housing laws and welcomes requests for reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications pursuant to the law. Ambleside Meadows HOA does not discriminate according to Federal law on the basis of:

• Race • Color • National Origin (also referred to as ethnicity) • Sex • Familial status • Disability (physical or mental)

Ambleside Meadows HOA also does not discriminate according to Oregon fair housing law which includes the basis of:

• Marital status • Sexual orientation (this includes gender identity) • Source of income including Section 8 as of July 1, 2014 • Domestic violence

If you have a request for a reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification, please address it in writing to Ambleside HOA, 2300 33rd Street, Springfield, Oregon 97477.