Fall 2015 Landscape Committee Report

✉ by Bob Vaughan, Chair, Landscape Committee

Phone:

Since I reported to you last April, major projects have been designed, bid, managed, and completed at SMVE Community intersections and roadways to enhance SMVE HOAs property values. The Sempreverde (“Barbell”) Project (east side) was completed (see later article). Approximately 588 linear feet were upgraded (located between addresses 5172 and 5380). We also designed and implemented a complete removal and replacement project near the Sempreverde north mailbox at Largo Salici.

The Sempreverde and Largo Salici intersection really looks spiffy as new, colorful plantings grow. That mailbox area and intersection had never undergone a complete updated design, demolition, re-contouring. New irrigation systems, riprap drainage. and colorful plantings with new (24 inch box) Desert Museum Palo Verde trees were also installed. What a joy to watch the beauty of native plants grow and flourish.

Another major intersection project has been completed at SMVE’s biggest mailbox area at Via Velazquez and Gelsomino. Both west and east intersection corners were redesigned and bid, then begun in 2015 with drainage swales, new riprapping, removal of dying and diseased plantings, all new native plantings, and native trees (24 inch box), water irrigation infrastructure, and added water harvesting design along with effective desert storm drainage. All other intersections in the Community have been refurbished and trimmed for line-of-sight visibility to enhance safety and security. We have deferred the final major intersection infrastructure and redesign at Territory and Sempreverde until next year.

I also wanted to thank, those summer Homeowners who promptly reported pesky water leaks in the Community. About 7 small leaks were repaired beginning in early May through August. An unwelcome “surprise” was the occurrence of another group of leaks from old (greater than 25 yrs.) buried irrigation valves. These valves broke apart with copious leaks usually on evenings and weekends when drip irrigation cycled on to avoid the extreme temperatures. Additionally, a large south pool backflow valve needed special plumbing repair with a new plumbing kit replacement and copper plumbing because of two separate slow-drip areas. We appreciate a really excellent custom repair job from professionals at Pioneer Plumbing. Good news! Prompt reporting and in-town landscape committee members allowed prompt notification with immediate leak repair. Results: barely a bump in water loss or costs in our neighborhood.

What about packrats? Packrat projects received extra attention because of the welcome rains. Our 2.5-year packrat surveillance program proved essential for the protection of all homes in our Community. As of September 15, 2015, 96 packrat nests have been removed throughout the SMVE Community. In fact, since May of 2015, I have personally received calls and e-mails from 21 different Homeowners regarding packrat activity impinging on their property. Why has this proliferation occurred? Extra monsoon moisture produces a “green flush” all over the usually dry Sonoran desert. Explosive plant growth provides ample food and new shelter as well as readily available water. Result: packrats reproduce in abundance. They build more new nests that encroach on SMVE properties. Thankfully, Homeowners have alerted me promptly so we can help avoid packrat damage. Our contractor, Mr. Packrat (Kris Brown, owner) has been especially responsive to community needs. When nests do appear on or near Homeowner’s property, costs to remove nests have been allocated amicably between your HOA and the Homeowner. SMVE HOA enjoys a negotiated discount and a 60-day warranty after nest removal. Tracking nests with an ongoing packrat surveillance program allows tracking of all subsequent activity in the Commons to be displayed on a comprehensive map cumulatively. Conclusion: this popular, volunteer-monitored HOA service has been managed promptly on target and on budget.

Pleasure Alert! Drop by the corner of lower Via Velázquez and Territory and look at the area (northeast corner) formerly named “Cox Parcel” and that our Association now owns as Commons. Mother Nature helped transform this previous “eyesore” of deterioration and neglect into a beautiful native Sonoran common area. As a result, the south entrance to our Community is now beautifully remediated with natural native plant growth rather than a deteriorating building, infested with packrats. What an enhancement to all our property values.

“Before”, “after”, and “during” project photos on the website give all Homeowners a sense of pride in these improvements to our community.